Could you share the story behind your latest song and what inspired its creation?
Living Blessing is a collaboration of the thoughts and feelings of song writers Alison McHugh, Jodi Jewell, Samantha Clark and myself. We were part of a Writing Worship Conference Group and decided to work together once the conference was over. We got together in a zoom call, discussing what was going on in our individual lives and families and began to speak about our blessings. This led to scripture and a title and the rest flowed easily.
How do you approach the process of songwriting, and are there any specific themes or emotions you tend to explore in your music?
I’m chuckling right now because I was recently reminded that I am a balladeer. I tend to lean towards slow, emotion filled, songs that stem from my own experiences and music that I listened to growing up. I often wake with a song idea and a tune in my head and have to jump up to write it down. I’m always blessed when I can collaborate with other writers that have a different tempo in writing or are eager to share their life experiences that lend towards different types of compositions.
As an indie musician, how do you navigate the balance between creative freedom and commercial appeal?
That’s a tough one! We all have our own ideas about what sounds best. I am very fortunate to have a good family, set of friends and professional tribe that will be very direct about when I’m missing the mark or need to tune into what is working well in my creative process. Of course, I want to be true to the message that God has for delivery, but I also want to present it so that it can be well received.
What do you find most challenging about being an independent artist in today’s music industry?
PROMOTING! I love the process of creating music, but in today’s market it is important to keep up with social media promotion. That can be difficult at times.
Can you talk about your experiences collaborating with other artists or musicians? How does it influence your creative process?
I love sharing a theme and a tune with my writing partners and then seeing it come to life. I used to think that it was best to write and create on my own, but in the last couple of years I have been so much more fulfilled with getting together with other writers in production. If you don’t share you might miss just the right hook, or tune that will make your music a great success. It’s also a time of great fellowship, not to mention that fact that you can learn so much from others who have had a little more experience in your field.
What role does technology and social media play in promoting your music and connecting with your audience?
Again, though it’s hard sometime to put together all you want to say in social media promotion, it is key to an indie artist. Sometimes it might not be as fast as you would like it to be, but there is a joy in gaining even one more follower which assures that you are being heard. It’s also really satisfying to learn the technology of your craft. For example, I have been learning to do a lot of production myself on Pro Tools. It gives you more creative space.
Are there any particular artists or genres that have had a significant impact on your musical style?
I’m wide open in my love of Christian music! From CeCe Winans to Jenn Johnson, to Tasha Cobb Lenord…I love them all!
Indie musicians often have a close relationship with their fanbase. How do you engage with your fans and build a dedicated community around your music?
I have been blessed to lead worship at quite a few local women’s conferences over the years and am always excited to be asked back. This has allowed me to build not only a fan base, but rather a friendship with the woman that bless us in attendance each year. My goal is to be involved in many more as they become available.
Could you describe a memorable live performance experience or tour that has had a lasting impact on you and your music?
Earlier this year I was leading a woman’s conference and was encouraged to ask women and girls central to the church to help with worship. On one of the songs, a teen that I had asked to help began to shine in singing through a song and you would literally see The Holy Spirit consume her. She threw off all her intimidation and just began to step out and sing. It took worship to another level. I was blown away by seeing The Lord move through someone that I was mentoring in worship leading. My cup was full that day!
In an era of streaming platforms, how do you feel about the changing landscape of music consumption and its impact on independent musicians?
There are so many more opportunities to be heard now as an indie artist. When I was younger the only way to get your music out was to be signed by a big company. Now we have the ability to create and share our music directly through steaming media. It might be costly, and may take a little longer, but there is nothing and now one holding us back!
That being said, you can find my music everywhere you stream music, such as Spotify, iTunes, and Pandora. Just look for Talia Daniels!
www.taliadanielsofficial.com
For booking: [email protected]