Q&A: Introducing Talyana With Her New Single “LEMME KNOW”
☆ BY KRISTIAN Gonzales ☆
Photo by Charli Hawkins
HAILING FROM SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA — R&B–pop artist Talyana aims to spread pure love and confidence with a free spirit. Possessing a four-octave vocal range and an eccentric sound, she unveils her latest single, “LEMME KNOW,” a provocative collaboration with K-pop producer Ionika that moves with full ambition toward love.
Drawing some serious vigor from the track’s pulsating bounce, Talyana shifts between playful and seductive raps; vibrant harmonies seek the truth from her love interest for mutual desire. Catching rays of assertive swagger, she flaunts an extra facet to her personality in contrast to her previous single, the cyberpunk-influenced “HOT PINK,” which invokes feelings of solitude and escapism.
Turning heads with the release of her debut album, Bubu, last July, Talyana strives to use her quirkiness to elevate her art. Ranging from a cover of “STAR WALKIN’ (League of Legends Worlds Anthem)” by Lil Nas X, which amassed over 30K views across Instagram and YouTube, to her introspective ballad “Cloud In My Throat,” Talyana wants her audience to expect the unexpected.
Ready to expand her style onto a universal stage, Talyana connects with Luna to give the scoop on her come-up in Sacramento, the making of “LEMME KNOW,” and her next steps as an artist. Read the interview below.
Photo by Christopher Pollard
LUNA: Hello, Talyana, I hope you’re doing well! How has your craft as an artist evolved since dropping your debut album, Bubu, last year?
TALYANA: Hello! Thank you so much, I hope you’re doing well, too! Since dropping my debut album, Bubu, last year, in collaboration with producer Ayojazz, I have been striving to create music that pushes me to explore new endeavors in my artistry — allowing myself to be vulnerable while embracing my love for storytelling and theater. “Cloud” (formerly known as “Cloud In My Throat”) was the first test in the next chapter of my musical journey.
LUNA: Have you gotten the chance to expand your performances out of your hometown of Sacramento?
TALYANA: [I haven’t] just yet, [but] I hope one day I’ll be able to soon.
LUNA: For those who are not aware of Sacramento’s music scene, especially with hip-hop and R&B, how can you describe the energy that the city gives as compared to other areas, such as The Bay or LA?
TALYANA: The energy that Sacramento brings to the music scene is definitely unique and what I like to describe as “ethereal poetry.” I can’t speak for everyone in the Sacramento hip-hop/R&B scene, but I’d like to say that unlike The Bay and LA, many artists I've encountered embrace spiritual healing and strive to break down societal norms through their music. Each has a unique story to tell and share a theme of embracing self-love and elevating their community.
LUNA: Who are some of your major influences as a rising musician?
TALYANA: Definitely a major influence that comes to mind is Rina Sawayama. I hadn't heard about her before this year’s Head In The Clouds festival, but when I saw her live I was instantly in awe and admiration. Her mix of theatrical elements in performance, genre-bending songs, and unapologetic lyrics blew me away and showed me that you don’t need to be put in a box by anyone in order to succeed. Rina is someone who is able to truly bring you in the moment with her songs, and she knows how to make you feel every word. She is a constellation of grace, resilience, and strength that I deeply admire as I’m beginning to learn how to take charge of my own artistry.
LUNA: Following your first project, how do you want to approach your story differently this time with new music in the works?
TALYANA: For me and how I want to approach my story with the new music I’m working on, I am learning to embrace the things that I used to think would hinder me in music, such as my love for musical theater, jazz background, admiration for rap, etc. I no longer want to be afraid to create music that feels like me. At this point in my journey, I just want to make music that is Talyana. I’m slowly learning to be okay with the idea that what I envision for myself doesn’t always have to translate to the majority around me. The ones who are meant to hear my story and music will, in due time. True failure is when I call it quits before I even give it my best shot.
LUNA: What was the inspiration behind the process of making “LEMME KNOW,” and what can you say about the dimension Ionika added to it?
TALYANA: Usually in my songwriting process, it takes me a couple hours to write a song, if not a couple days. “LEMME KNOW” was a song that took me about 20 minutes to write. Ionika is a natural when it comes to producing impactful music with a perfect blend of dynamics and contrast. So when I heard the beat for the first time, I wasn’t surprised when a melody instantly played in my mind.
LUNA: How did you feel gauging the vibe from the crowd when you debuted the track at the Sacramento Pride Festival?
TALYANA: I felt a mixture of excitement, relief, and gratitude. [Excited] that I got to debut this single to a huge crowd. Relieved it was so well-received and supported by many. Most of all, I was grateful I got to express my gratitude to Ionika, even though he was thousands of miles away at the time, by collaborating with Sac Dance Labs to perform a fully choreographed version of “LEMME KNOW.”
LUNA: What can “LEMME KNOW” and “HOT PINK” hint at in regard to where your musical identity is currently at?
TALYANA: “LEMME KNOW” and “HOT PINK” hint at a more colorful Talyana mixed with pure imagination and unapologetic vulnerability.
LUNA: Do you already have a vision for where you want to take your music with videos? Noting your affinity for cosplay, can we expect to see you implement it visually in your work?
TALYANA: My vision for where I want to take my music with videos is leaning more towards the cinematic world-building approach. Whether the videos for my music are driven by a storyline or have moments that hold deeper meanings and more context to the song or project’s message, I hope to use my love for cosplay to create more original characters through my music content. My first attempt was the creation of H. Pink for my song “HOT PINK”: A pink-haired AI that represented my individual struggle with depression and distrust in the world.
I am working to continue to create various personas and characters that can be revisited and help my audience better understand me not only as an artist, but as a person, as each character acts as living milestones in my journey.
