Review Fix chats with singer songwriter Tali Dennerstein, who discusses her creative process, goals and upcoming EP.
Review Fix: How did the band get together?
Tali Dennerstein: I had a lot of material I hadn’t done anything with, for a really long time, so I decided rather than getting a band together, to just see what I could come up with and do myself. I did used to be in different bands but they never worked out in the long term and I thought it would be fun to be able to hear my own sound and ideas coming together. I work with a really great multi-instrumentalist producer, who helps me along the way and we work together online, until each song sounds like I envision.
Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?
Dennerstein: I tend to get little melodies in my head every day and I try to record anything that sticks out or that I remember. I always keep my sound recorder or dictaphone near me just incase. Then when I feel like writing a song, I’ll decide which melody idea I want to work on and then I will try to come up with other song sections and instrumental part ideas. Again, I’ll record the process until the whole song melody plus all of the instrumental ideas are worked out. I’ll then leave it for a few days and come back and have a listen to see if I can think of anything else and if not that’s when I’ll start writing the vocal melody and lyrics. I usually decide on a subject depending on the feel of the song and it’s melody and just how it makes me feel inside. I inspired by different issues happening around the world or through personal experience or sometimes I try to imagine being in a certain situation and how I’d cope, even if it hasn’t happened to me.
Review Fix: What’s your standout song? How was it written?
Dennerstein: I’m really not sure what my standout song is, for other people because anyone who listens to my music will have their own favourite track that means something to them but for me I’d say there’s two. One is called “Deliveran,” which I wrote about the war in Iraq and it was about how innocent civilians are always the one’s who end up suffering or being killed. At the time, I just remember being really upset everytime I’d turn on the TV and see all these atrocities being carried out and it made me feel really helpless, so I wrote my feelings down and it ended up becoming a song, which I feel strongly about. My second track I’d say was “Fallen.” This song is about feeling forsaken by God, questioning your faith, being left disillusioned and disappointed with life and the world around you but realizing that we’re all really in the same boat and life is like some weird game that nobody really understands or has the answers to in the end and that you just have to make the best of things while you’re here.
Review Fix: What are your goals for the rest of 2017?
Dennerstein: My goals for 2017 are to keep writing and recording songs and to finish off my first album. It won’t be released until next year but I’m working on it at the moment. I also plan on getting some amazing music videos done this year, so keep an eye out for those.
Review Fix: How do you want your music to affect people?
Dennerstein: I hope that my music can uplift someone and make their day a bit better, even if it’s just that they enjoyed the lyrics or the tune. I’d like anyone who listens to my music to be able to feel something that touches them in some way and helps them.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Dennerstein: I’m going to be recording some more tracks, for my new album, plus I’ll be getting a new video done very soon for a song called “Hurt”, which is from my latest EP, “Live For Tomorrow.” I also have an 80’s inspired retro synthwave side project, I’m working on called “Night Vision” and I’m in the middle of recording my first EP for that as well, so that will be released in the next couple of months.
Leave a Reply