Tara Lily on Channeling Something Raw and Real
The British-Bengali singer talks honestly about getting kicked out of the BRIT School, the truth behind touring, and collaborating with King Krule.
Tara Lily is doing things differently. The British-Bengali musician from South London has a unique perspective on both music and culture, combining her dual heritage to create a distinctive sound that drifts effortlessly between jazz, R&B and electronic, with threads of traditional Bengali folk woven throughout. The result is a hypnotic soundscape that feels intimate and spellbinding.
Her latest EP, Quiet Nights, is a testament to this duality. Produced alongside UK artist King Krule, who also features on the standout track “Tropical Storm,” and mastered by Dom Valentino (also known for his work with Greentea Peng and Skepta), the project is a deeply authentic reflection of London’s cultural melting pot and Lily’s evolving artistry.
Training at the acclaimed Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and also learning Indian classical music, Lily has cultivated an unorthodox vocal style and instrumentation that caught the attention of the likes of industry legends like Iggy Pop, Gilles Peterson and the late Virgil Abloh. With her previous EPs Last Flight Out and Lost in London, the musician has carved out a distinct space in the UK music scene, sharing stages with King Krule and Grammy-winning artist Raye, cementing her rising-star status.
Now, as she embarks on her debut UK and EU headline tour, including a milestone performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall on November 18, Tara Lily continues to prove she’s one to watch. We caught up with the musician to talk creativity, inspiration and her must-haves on tour (spoiler: it’s not what you’d expect). Read on for the full interview.
How did you first get into music? What’s your journey been like so far?
My mum was a Scottish punk singer, my dad was a Bengali folk musician, and I was born and raised in South London. I got kicked out of the BRIT School for bad behaviour and undiagnosed ADHD… I then studied jazz at the [Trinity Laban] Conservatoire all alongside composing, collaborating and performing. It’s been pretty up and down, but I’m here for the passion and the journey of being an artist… whatever that looks like.
How did the collaboration with King Krule come about?
We’ve known each other for quite a long time, as we’re from the same area and social scene, but we started working together properly over lockdown.
What’s your ideal setup when making music? Can you share a bit about your writing process?
I usually start songs alone at the piano or synth in the dark (drink by my side) and let the night carry me. There’s a view from my bedroom window that looks out over London’s skyline, so I gaze out sometimes when I play.
Your music occupies such a unique space, combining genres from jazz to electronic. Where do you find inspiration for your work?
From my heritage, my surroundings, my intrigue, my schooling, my mistakes.
Does the EP have a message to it, something you want listeners to take away?
Quiet Nights are some of the early sketches from a deadly quiet and beautiful period of time. For myself, it was a time of stripping back, dropping down into the ground and channelling something raw and real.
You’ve previously played with King Krule and supported Raye. How do you find the performing and touring lifestyle? Are there any comforts you always need with you?
Everyone has their own little routines and things that they do to survive tour. I’m a bit of a health freak and I toured America for the first time this year, and it was really hard getting decent food on the road. I would stock up on Whole Foods seaweed, dried mushrooms and spirulina and drink it in boiling water.
It was the coldest I’d ever been at minus 30 degrees Celsius, and I would sleep in the bottom bunk of the bus, having to wear all of my clothes in bed to stay warm: Afghan coat, hat, gloves and goatskin boots. I would arrive at venues and try to wash myself before show time and then get back on the bus. Honestly, it was pretty brutal, but an incredible experience playing shows out there.
What can we expect from you in the future?
My next record in the making! Watch this space…
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