Tali chills out after hot year wowing Brits

MC Tali is back home to show us the style that's made her popular in Britain.

An expat she may be, but you can't take New Zealand out of the girl. Although MC Tali now lives in Bristol, the musician still embraces Kiwi values.

Tali was back for the holidays, resting at her parents' Oakura Beach home near New Plymouth after a hectic year of touring following the release of her debut album Lyric on My Lip.

Although Tali is a well-known musician in Britain she remains anonymous in New Zealand.

Not surprisingly, this rankles with the petite musician, who is proud to wave the New Zealand flag overseas - boasting about our lifestyle and commitment to issues such as remaining nuclear-free and GE-free.

"I'm breaking it in the UK, but I still fully represent New Zealand," Tali says. "People are always asking me what the scene is like in New Zealand and I have so much to tell them about the country, the people and the incredible musicians we have out here.

"But there has been no real promotion for my album here, and I can't help but think, 'what is my country doing for me?' New Zealand is so rock-oriented. There's no other artist like me in the country. Maybe it's taking some time to catch up."

It has been an intense year for Tali and tiredness has taken its toll. "There's been a lot of pressure and you can spend days just going between gigs, lying on these cramped little bunks. There's only three girls and 15 boys on this bus and it gets claustrophobic. But then there is also a sense of support when you are touring, because there are good shows and bad shows.

"We just try to make each other feel good, but it can be stressful and tiring and I ran myself into the ground. I needed to come home and chill."

She is working on new material for her second album to come out in Britain within a year.

She is represented by underground label Full Cycle but wants to work with a major label to move her from drum'n'bass into the mainstream.

"I want to do more soul and hip-hop, really get back to my roots. I always used to hop on the piano and play soul and funk, and by aligning myself with a major record label I can cross over into the mainstream market. I thought with the first album I would make my name and get a good solid reputation - a credible name behind me."

While the first album introduced Tali to the world and expressed her feelings about her transition from New Zealand to Britain, the next album "gives more of an insight into situations and how I feel about them".

As a prolific songwriter, Tali had 30 tunes to select from for her debut, but it wasn't always her preferences that made it. "Sometimes you don't have an option, even if you don't like the track you know it should go on the album. The tracks I favour have more lyrical content about politics and conspiracy theories, but then I realise there are songs that will do blatantly well and make some money.

Tali says the albums are like snapshots in time, and integrity is an essential ingredient. "When I listen to each tune I remember who was pissing me off at the time, who I loved ... on the inside sleeve of Lyric there are all the snapshots of my friends and me and that has definitely been an influence on my life and songs."

Tali will be back in New Zealand next month for a series of gigs. "It will be an exclusive tour. I normally have a full live band, but over here I am not big enough for people to pay for me to be able to afford to bring the band over.

"So it will just be me and my two backing singers, and people will be able to hear stuff off the album as well as some newer material. There's a bit of expectation and anticipation, but it will be cool just to play in my home town." -

- NZPA

Performance

*Who: MC Tali, expatriate British-signed drum'n'bass vocalist

*Where & when: Sandwiches, Wellington, Fri Jan 21; Fu Bar, Auckland, Sat Jan 22; The Mill, New Plymouth, Sun Jan 23