Talia Goddess’s long awaited debut EP “Poster Girl” is an inspiration to young artists. This seven track EP has been in development since 2018, and three years later it is a well composed work of art. This past November, Talia hosted her EP release party at the Rubulad in Bushwick, and it was nothing short of magical. Before her performance she spoke about the process of refining this project until she was satisfied. “You just work on things and you finally get to a point where you’re confident, you believe in it, and you’re proud of it, and I feel like that’s where I’m at”, said the 19 year old, singer, song-writer, rapper, producer, and DJ. The three years spent cultivating this EP, perfecting the "Poster Girl" sound, and her skills as not only a recording artist but also as a performing artist showed that night in her comfortability with her band and confidence commanding the stage in a venue packed to the door.
While in the process of finishing her EP Talia took to the United Kingdom. It was in London that she completed the final mix and master on the project. While out in London, Thwock had the pleasure of collaborating with Talia’s label and creative agency Trance Records. Both creative teams came together to curate "Sound View", a showcase of London and Brooklyn Based artists. This event took place at “The Jago” in East London on October 10th. In addition to Talia, there were performances by Rockstar Payso, Ray Laurel, Rakim Under, Lali, Chamber 45, and Photos by Fares Akhaoui, Sharif Akhaoui, Yohance Barton, Guy Gooch, and Saz.
It should also be noted that Talia only had one rehearsal with her band before her performance, and still killed her set! Her ability to perform confidently with different musicians behind her and still maintain the integrity of her music, the essence of her sound, and performance style comes from knowing her work, and constantly honing her craft.
The EP's self-titled single, and intro "Poster Girl" is a modern love song. Talia speaks about her unwavering attraction and almost criminal infatuation with a lady that is only referred to as "Poster Girl". Starting with a striking baseline and later accompanied by the funky drums that are signature in Talia's music, it gets you moving from the second you press play.
Out of all the songs on the EP, "To Be Free" stands out from the rest. This free flowing Jazz interlude stands out on an EP mostly comprised of love songs. On "To Be Free" Talia contemplates what it means to have freedom, and asserts that that's all she wants. "I just want to be free, I just want to go somewhere where I am free...", are the first words in the song. Questioning how much control and autonomy we have in our lives is common, but where do we go to find it? Talia asks herself, "Where is freedom? Is it internal or external?". This question is left unanswered and for the listeners to ponder by the conclusion of the song.
This is only the beginning of what to expect from Talia Goddess. Whatever work she plans to release following her debut is sure to be a thorough body of work worth your attention.
Written By: Yohance Barton