Talyana Makes Room for Herself
written by Sydney Ling
Sitting in the middle of a vibrant, hazy forest, Talyana holds a bouquet of pink, blue, and purple flowers in front of her candy red dress. The flowers disappear, leaving her empty-handed as as she croons, “So even if they try to keep me in the room / I’m surrounded by trees / There’s nothing they can do to hold me down / I’m like the breeze,” in the music video for her single “The Room.”
21-year-old R&B soul artist Talyana renders spiritual ballads of reflection and renewal. Hailing from Sacramento, California, Talyana creates music that pulses with lush energy, drawing from iconic artists including Maya Angelou, Ella Fitzgerald, and Aretha Franklin. She recently released “Allergy Meds” and “The Room,” both ambient, melodic tracks. In “The Room,” Talyana constructs symbolic rooms of memories, taking listeners through a forest walk of healing.
Introduce yourself!
Hi! My name is Talyana and I am a 21 year old Pop, R&B/Soul artist.
Who or what inspired to start music? How did you get into the music industry?
For me, I have always had a love for music and singing ever since I was little. Whenever I saw a film or performance that had people singing, my inspiration for music and songwriting grew even more. I got into the music industry through the support of those I love and who believed in me as well as by putting myself out there and not being afraid to ask for help or opportunities. Through my endeavors of trying out for contests, performing, and posting online, I was able to meet some amazing artists and producers, including AYOJAZZ! who produced this song and ZEROSCOPE who directed the music video, that have helped me on my journey in the music industry and continue to amaze and inspire me.
shot by Elizabeth Tang
What was the inspiration behind your track “The Room”? What was the inspiration behind your music video?
My inspiration behind the track, "The Room" first came from the imagery of buildings that have been abandoned and years later plants have grown through and around it. The plants turned the untouched structure into a natural living building. This imagery perfectly paints the picture of what the song is about, as it's about my personal and spiritual journey and how I had to let go of what others want me to be and allow myself to grow my own organic truth of who I am and what I want to be as a person. The inspiration for the music video came from not only the idea of being surrounded by natural life, but also the renaissance era, with the gold and white ethereal vibes being present in the second part of the video. I wanted to have an all Asian cast, so it was amazing to have my friends, Padmaja Gujje and Jasalle Rose Mangaran, in the video with me to play the "Ladies in Red" as well as the talented Elizabeth Tang who was the photographer for the video and cover art.
At one point in your music video for “The Room,” there are two other versions of you with a split bouquet of pink, blue, and purple flowers. What do the two copies plus you represent, and what does the three colour flower bouquet, which later becomes a larger bouquet, represent?
I'm so glad you noticed those details! The pink, blue, and purple flowers represent all the things about me that make me who I am, whether it's my quirks, my interests, my pain, and especially how I love. The two ladies in red represent inner reflections of me. In the beginning, you see these two ladies in red taking my flowers away. This is to show that for a long time, I have felt like I've had to take away or hide parts of who I am in order to be accepted and loved. We are all wearing red to represent my fears and flesh being draped on me and overflowing inside me. Keeping me from seeing my true worth and losing what makes me myself until I stopped to realize how much of myself that I've lost along the way. Near the end of the music video, when these copies begin dressing me in gold and bringing back the flowers, everything is given a new meaning. I am wearing white to represent being renewed, like a blank canvas. Although the ladies are still wearing red, they now have a new meaning of love and acceptance as they begin to acknowledge me and give rather than take. They are giving me back my flowers and even making the bouquet bigger to show how now I am finally embracing the person I am called to be and everything I have yet to become.
What do you hope listeners feel or learn from after listening / watching “The Room”?
I hope listeners, after listening and watching "The Room", feel a desire to give themselves a big hug. We are all beautiful in our own ways and I want my listeners to learn to love all the colors in their own big beautiful bouquet.
How do you think “The Room” differs from your previous music?
"The Room" differs from my previous music because it is not only about a topic that is a bit vulnerable for me, but in the music video, I decided to leave subtle hints about different things about me and how my views of myself and the world have changed overtime. This is the biggest soul window I've ever given to my audience to look through and I am both grateful and terrified.
How do you think you culminated and grew the energy of your music, which can be described as soulful and calming?
I believe a lot of how the energy of my music has grown has a lot to do with the people I have been surrounding myself with, both good and bad, and how it has shaped me into the artist I am now. From beginning my journey with therapy, to working with different producers and other artists that help fuel my creative flow, I have become more honest with myself and my desire to bring people joy and comfort as it reflects in my most current music.
What’s next for you?
I have a lot of new music I have been working on with AYOJAZZ! that I am so excited to share. I also have been working on a project outside of my usual R&B music that I think many will enjoy, as it shows a whole new side of me as an artist (Maybe a new alter ego? haha). As well as that, I plan on doing more live shows, since California is opening up, as I love connecting with people in person. Whatever the music road may take me, all I know is that it's only up from here.
Videographer: ZEROSCOPE
Shot in The Set 916