My favorite thing about TikTok is how it has exposed me to so many cool up-and-coming artists over the years. There are so many great musicians using the app to gain exposure, and I have found many of my favorite artists over the last couple of years by coming across them there. Someone I came across recently on Tik Tok whom I have become very interested in is Tala Silva. She is a very cool Filipina-American Indie Pop star with a sound that is familiar yet fresh. Tala Silva claims she makes all her music in her bedroom, and she definitely feels inspired by other Bedroom Pop stars from the last several years. Her music takes inspiration from artists like Clairo, beabadoobee, and Laufey(which is certainly a great trio to get influence from). Tala Silva has been putting music on streaming services since 2019, but only recently released her first official EP. Up until now, she has only dropped singles and done features. Her new(ish) EP, All Over Again, dropped on November 21. Below, I wanted to highlight a couple of my favorite tracks from Tala Silva’s All Over Again, then go over some overall thoughts on the project to close things out. Please let me know in the comments below what you think of Tala Silva and All Over Again, and also comment the names of any other artists I should check out!

SAY GOODBYE

‘Say Goodbye’ is not only the opening track from this project, but it is also the first Tala Silva track I was introduced to on TikTok. This one immediately captivated me and got me to look into Tala’s music. This song feels like the perfect fusion of Bedroom Pop and Indie Alt Rock. I can definitely hear the influences of Clairo and of beabadoobee simultaneously. The guitar riff that drives this one is so sweet and inviting. At some points in the song, the melody is soft and light. At other times, it is distorted and a bit rougher. I especially like these distorted bits, as they give the song a bit of a chunky texture that really hits hard. Tala Silva’s vocals for the most part are subdued and relaxing. She does hit some higher notes at some points, though, which gives the song a brightness that is very nice. On ‘Say Goodbye,’ Tala Silva sings about the struggles of a bad relationship and watching a significant other turn into a stranger.

HIGHS AND LOWS

After the softer and laid-back energy we got in the opener, Tala Silva turns up the energy a bit on ‘Highs and Lows.’ This track immediately gave me a blast of nostalgia, which I love. ‘Highs and Lows’ has a sound that feels like it came right out of the late 1980s or early 1990s. Particularly, the Goth Rock music from that time. When I hear this one, I think of artists like Siouxsie and the Banshees or The Cure. This is because of the distortion and fuzziness that is put on the guitar riff that drives this track. The melody for ‘Highs and Lows’ does have a warm feeling to it, and the mix makes the song so Goth, which I love. The beat for ‘Highs and Lows’ is pretty peppy and makes me want to dance. Tala Silva really demonstrates her vocal range on this track. The notes she hits in the hook especially add to the emotion of this one and add to the energy of the track. On ‘Highs and Lows,’ Tala Silva sings about a tumultuous relationship where things are either really great or awful. 

MAYBE IT’S YOU

Compared to the other two songs I highlighted above, ‘Maybe It’s You’ has a way softer and more Poppy feeling to it. If someone were to ask what I thought true(and great) Bedroom Pop music is, this is a song that I would recommend. The instrumentation on this one is cleaner and sleeker than most of the rest of the EP. The melody for this one is driven by a light and pleasant guitar riff. This melody is so floaty and gives the song an ethereal feel. The drums for this track are upbeat, but they are also pretty dainty. They go with the melody so well, adding to the track’s atmosphere. Tala Silva’s vocals are also pretty laid-back and soft. Once again, there are points on the track where her range gives the song life, but for the most part, the breathiness in her vocals makes the track feel calm. On ‘Maybe It’s You,’ Tala Silva sings about finally finding love and peace with a new significant other she is talking to. 

Over the last few years, I have become a sucker for Indie Alternative Pop Rock music. There is something just so fresh and nice about this kind of music; it is so nice to listen to. Tala Silva is my new favorite artist making this style of music due to All Over Again. This EP somehow feels classic and fresh at the same time. I mentioned Tala Silva’s comparisons in the introduction, and I will say, she wears these influences on her sleeve. I can totally hear aspects of Clairo, beabadoobee, and Laufey sprinkled into the music on this EP. The cool influences that I hear in this project do not stop there, though. All Over Again also has elements of retro Alternative music sprinkled throughout. As I mentioned, there is definitely a bit of a Goth feeling on a couple of the songs. I can also hear some aspects of Indie Dance and sweet Bedroom Pop music here as well, which is very enjoyable. Some of the songs are very soft and delicate, while the others are a bit more punchy. This EP is very eclectic for its length. As cool as the instrumentals on the project are, Tala Silva’s vocals are just as nice, if not more. I really like how she toes the line with the emphasis in her vocals. The times when she hits higher notes really make the tracks hit hard. The lyrics on All Over Again are very sentimental and honest. I really love how Tala Silva opens up and is honest about her emotions, as her feelings are relatable. Overall, All Over Again is a really good little Indie Pop record. I am glad I found this project, as I will continue to be a Tala Silva fan in the future!