Bursting onto the scene earlier this year with her debut single “Self Portrait”, amassing an astonishing 1.5 million streams in the process, Talia Mar shares her latest infectious single “Forget About Your Ex” – an infectious yet playful take on getting caught up in the beginning of a relationship.
Alongside her captivating music, Talia boasts talent across multiple media avenues. Having initially made waves on Youtube six years ago, she has garnered an impressive online presence with over 1.3 million followers on Instagram, a million on TikTok, and another million on Youtube. Her dedicated fanbase, affectionately known as “Martians”, are a testament to her magnetic personality and the connection she shares with her audience.
In this exclusive interview, Talia opens up about her musical journey, her thoughts on the evolving UK music scene and how she has navigated the industry so far. She also discusses her forays into makeup artistry and gaming, revealing how these outlets have provided a deeper understanding of her as an artist and a person. Talia’s infectious energy and dedication to her craft shine through as she delves into the messages behind her tracks. And for those eagerly anticipating more from Talia, stay tuned, as she tantalisingly hints at an exciting upcoming project that might just be an EP…
Stream “Forget About Your Ex” now…
Read the exclusive interview below as we uncover the multifaceted talent and boundless potential of Talia Mar, an artist poised to make her mark on the music industry and beyond.
How did you fall in love with music? And how did you find your own sound?
My whole family is musical. My sister’s a pianist, my Mum can sing and my Dad was a drummer at school. I was brought up loving music, it was almost non-optional for me. When I was about eight, I started writing songs and poems. Then I was like, “Wait, I want to be Christina Aguilera.” It just kind of grew from there. My karaoke machine broke when I was, 11. So I was forced to learn the guitar. I picked up a three-string guitar, it was so janky and broken, but I just started to practice and teach myself. From there, I carried on writing and started producing when I was 14/15. I think because I was doing it solo, it helped me understand what my sound was and what I liked and what I didn’t like because I had no one else producing or having input.
Who would you say have been major inspirations to you both musically and personally in your life?
Personally, my parents, they were my biggest cheerleaders. I’m so lucky that they were very much like, “If you want to do it, all we ask is that you give it your everything. You don’t half-arse it.” I’m so lucky because so many people don’t have that. I credit a lot to them. Musically, I grew up listening to a lot of 90s, R&B, like Lauryn Hill, Brandy Monica… And then Taylor Swift, who is my icon.
What is your favourite Taylor song?
“Long Live” is a favourite but I actually can’t go on record and say I have favourite because it’s too hard to choose.
You went to the BRIT School, is there a bit of advice you would give to someone who is starting at the BRIT School or starting their career within the industry? A younger version of yourself basically!
I had the best time there. I loved every single second of that school. I have no bad words to say about it. I remember getting my schedule for the first day, and everything was music. Advice, I would say, learn as much as you can about the industry because they teach you so much about music law and the ins and outs of it all. It could be beneficial to you one day and protect you as an artist.
How have you found navigating the industry, particularly as a female artist, what has your journey been like so far?
I’ve had ups and downs as I imagine every other woman in the industry says. A the start of my career, I was under a difficult management situation and it went pretty sour. It led to my single back in 2016 called “Stolen” which was essentially a diss track… Awkward. I think I’m quite opinionated. I’m quite headstrong. So if I think something, I will say it. Sometimes it’s not the best. But you know what, you’ve got to have your own back. I think, up until now, I’m really lucky that all the men around me in the industry are great. They understand the struggles that a woman goes through. I’ve had quite a lucky journey so far, everyone around me who isn’t a woman seems to get it.
Alongside your music, you’re well-known for your makeup artistry and your gaming. How have these two other outlets aided your music career? What is it like switching between music, makeup and gaming?
They’ve helped people get to know me as a person outside of music. It takes a while to get to know someone’s personality when they come through the music industry. Whereas people kind of knew me as a person first and foremost, and then they got to know the music alongside it, rather than after. I was a makeup artist, it was my job. I did proms and weddings and all that sort of thing, I loved it. But it was one of those things that I knew wasn’t my heart and soul. It was the same with gaming, I love playing them, but it doesn’t do the same thing for me that music does. They’re things that make me happy and my hobby, but music is more like my life, it’s like fuels me.
Do you have any staple beauty products?
A brown pencil. A winged black liner.
I’m obsessed with your track “Self Portrait”. Can you delve into the message behind it?
I wanted a song that captured that feeling you have when you’re coming out of like a low point. When you don’t feel great about yourself, but then you get to that point where you think “I’m over that!” It’s that feeling of coming into your own. It’s that moment of realisation when you realise, there is no one else like me, so you might as well just live your best life. Be a bad bitch!
Out of all of your releases, do you have a particular track that is most profound to you out of them all?
Do you know what I think “Jack” is probably one of them? It’s an early one. I wrote it when I was 17 at school. It’s basically about alcohol dependency. I think these things need to be said and the feeling of being on the other end of it. It’s also what kind of kickstarted my journey with my current label. So I have a special place in my heart for that song, but also for my new single!
Talk to us about your new single!
It’s called “Forget About Your Ex”. It’s so fun lyrically. I wrote it with some of my favourite people. We were just in a ridiculous mood and wanted to write something that was so emotionally detached. It’s basically about being with someone and being like, “I’m so good. I’m gonna make you forget about your ex”, but throughout the song, it gets a little bit crazy. One of the lyrics is, “I’m going to scratch my name into your bed” and then the last lyric is, “Oh, you didn’t forget about your ex?” And how we can all get ahead of ourselves at the beginning of a relationship. It’s that feeling of being so consumed in your excitement, that you don’t realise that the situation is completely one-sided.
I love that. What is your opinion of the UK music scene right now? Are there any artists you are loving? Dream collaborations?
I like it. I wish there was more R&B. I love what Raye is doing and I love what Flo is doing. I think they’re creating space for R&B. I’m so excited to see what happens over the next couple of years in that genre and in that space. I would love to do a track with either of them. They’re both bringing back something that I have wanted to see for a long time.
What is your opinion of the music industry and social media?
I love it. I think the fact that someone can have no label, and no management, but have a song and end up with hundreds of millions of streams is so exciting and special. It’s such a shame that some amazing songs don’t get heard because the radio wouldn’t pick them up but now so many more people hear new music because of social media. I think that TikTok means we’re going to get to hear so many more genres. The younger generation is going to find music that they probably wouldn’t have found otherwise.
My last question for you is, can you share any exciting projects coming up? What is in the pipeline?
I will say there might be a possible EP coming soon…