London vocalist Hope Tala speaks her truth on new single ‘I Can’t Even Cry’.
The songwriter is a rare force, combining neo-soul, R&B, and gossamer pop to striking effect. After a flurry of singles – and a sold out Village Underground show – in 2022, the past 12 months have seen Hope Tala take a step back to recalibrate.
Working through some private emotions, she linked with close friend Anoop D’Souza to focus on some new music. As ever, her thoughts and feelings rose to the surface, and the results mark a break with her past, and the first indication of her next chapter.
‘I Can’t Even Cry’ is wonderfully controlled, the shimmering surface pointing to hidden depths. The vocal is glorious, with Hope Tala making each dip and melodic inflection count – she’s taking her chance, and seizing her moment.
Hope Tala comments…
When writing ‘I Can’t Even Cry’ I was trying to encapsulate the state of being numb, of being too hurt to feel. It’s special to me for a number of reasons, one being that it’s the first song I ever made with my friend Anoop after two false starts attempting to write together when my personal life was a mess.
It felt like a gift, our third time lucky trying to make a song together, to find this one within me, a song that ultimately sees beyond numbness toward hope. I think the broader point of ‘I Can’t Even Cry’ is about granting myself the permission to contemplate a future beyond the sorrow that was consuming my life and my spirit during the time in which it was written.
Tune in now.
