Tal Arditi im Interview über seine neue EP „Open Heart“

Tal Arditi im Interview über seine neue EP „Open Heart“

Tal Arditi hat ein starkes Faible für José Gonzalez und James Blake. Seine neues EP „Open Heart“, die am 10. Mai erschien vereint darin wieder all das, was ich an diesen Künstlern auch so schätze. Intime Songs und Tal Arditi ist wirklich ein wahres Wunderkind. Er tauch ein in ziemlich deepe Themen um seine eigenen Kämpfe, die er führt, das, was ihn antreibt und die Ängste, die ihn heimsuchen. Tal zog es nach Berlin an die Jazzschule und hat sich in der dann doch recht kleinen Szene schnell einen Namen erspielt. Das war kurz vor der Pandemie. Als dann alles in sich zusammenstürzte isolierte er sich gezwungenermaßen und es entstanden zwei EPs.

Mit gerade mal 25 Jahren kann Tal Arditi gleichermaßen noch so angreifbar und verletzlich klingen. Hat aber auch schon so eine wahnsinnige Stabilität in der Stimme und seinen Arrangements wie z.B. in „You And I“. Ein rasanter Song, dem viele Elemente aus dem Jazz innewohnen. Der Song wirkt wie eine Jam-Session, die er mit sich selbst unterhält. Er macht einfach, stürzt sich in diesen Song und lässt sich in den ruhigen Momenten ebenso wieder auffangen.

Writing about how I feel is an extremely helpful thing that aids me in processing my feelings, and actually, a week after the song was released, I managed to cry for the first time in 3 years.

„Open Heart“ klingt gar nicht nach Schlafzimmer-Produktion und wer Herzschmerz-Musik erwartet, der wird hier genauso enttäuscht. Es ist nicht der Schmerz, sondern die musikalische Nähe, die durch seine teils nahen, aber auch abstrakten Melodien entsteht.

Tal, your EP „Open Heart“ presents five powerful tracks reflecting a personal and musical journey. Could you tell us more about how your personal experiences and musical style manifest in this new release?

Tal Arditi: „I wrote this EP during a time when I experienced many personal changes in my life. I had just gotten out of a significant relationship, embarked on a huge trip to Senegal, and felt a lot of emotions that needed expression. I often use music as a means to channel my feelings, and on this EP, it felt like the closest I’ve ever come to truly expressing myself through my music and lyrics. Musically, I aimed for a more minimal approach, especially in production, to reach the core of what the songs really needed. Many times, I found myself removing parts, stripping things down, and t trying to leave only the essence.“

Your song „You and I“ was recently selected for Spotify’s New Music Friday playlists in Germany, transporting listeners to a starry night in Senegal. How did you come to choose this specific setting for the song, and how does your wanderlust and cultural diversity influence your music?

Tal Arditi: You and I started with this catchy guitar line, which I came up with in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. This incredible city has something extremely special; it truly feels like music is everywhere you go. Everyone is drumming on the beach, people are dancing… I just remember wanting to capture that somehow and feeling incredibly inspired to write and write. I’ve travelled to many places, but I’ve never been as inspired as I have been in Senegal. I’ve always felt like a bit of a musical chameleon because of my diverse background – maybe that’s part of the reason I was able to connect musically with a lot of people in Dakar.“

With „I Wanna Cry,“ you reveal your raw emotional side after a breakup. How does writing such ballads help you process your own feelings, and what role does music play for you personally in coping with heartache?

Tal Arditi: „In this specific song, it was really more than a therapy session than a songwriting session. I truly have a problem with not being able to cry often, and this song felt like a significant release of emotions. Writing about how I feel is an extremely helpful thing that aids me in processing my feelings, and actually, a week after the song was released, I managed to cry for the first time in 3 years. It might sound like a weird thing to be proud of, but it is an achievement for me.“

The title track of your EP, „Open Heart,“ explores the theme of self-discovery and self-acceptance. Could you tell us something about the creative process behind this song and the message it conveys?

Tal Arditi: „“Open Heart“ began with this line I had in my head: „All I want from you is your love, your love, your love, and it’s enough.“ I really like this line because it’s delivered as if it’s not a big deal, just a simple request for love. But in reality, it’s one of the hardest things to truly receive from someone. As this line stayed in my mind, I began to get the idea of the song in my head – a person who gives their all to someone but doesn’t receive the same in return. Throughout the song, this person comes to realize that perhaps they deserve someone who will love them equally. However, they also don’t regret giving their all because it’s part of who they are, and they want to remain true to themselves. I suppose the message of the song is: don’t be afraid to love someone, and don’t be afraid to get hurt – it’s all part of the journey.“

„Mother“ is a heartfelt homage to your mother, inspired by a surfing trip on the West Coast of Africa. How do personal experiences and relationships influence your creative work, and how important is it for you to share such intimate moments in your music and in general?

Tal Arditi: „My mom and I have a very special relationship. We travel and surf a lot together, experiencing many beautiful moments. This song was inspired by a conversation we had about the importance of creating such beautiful experiences with the people you love because, in the end, those memories are all that remain after they are gone. I want to share these intimate moments in my music because I want to give people the most authentic version of myself and write about things that might also help them. Recently, I received a touching message from someone who said my music helped them cope with the loss of their parent. This really moved me and inspired me to go even deeper and share more of my life in my music.“

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