Asian Tones: Tara Lily + Shalini Rani

Growing up in south London within a British-Bengali household, Tara Lily developed a singular perspective on music and global culture.

Immersed in the vibrant sounds of her multicultural surroundings, she absorbed everything from jazz and electronica to alternative R&B and classical Indian soundscapes. This rich tapestry of influences, paired with her deep musical insight, vulnerability and strength, forms the foundation of a sound that is entirely her own.

This genre-defying blend – and her authentic understanding of the cultural worlds behind it – has drawn the attention of tastemakers and icons alike, including Virgil Abloh, Jamie Cullum, Gilles Peterson, Iggy Pop and Motown Records UK, who signed Lily as their first British artist.

Her music refuses to be boxed in; she is, in every sense, a musical anomaly. Her debut album Speak In The Dark explores the unspoken – desires and ancestral memory. Fusing jazz, trip-hop, electronica, alt-R&B and South Asian instrumentation, the record is shaped by the emotional turbulence and creative fire of living with ADHD. It is at once bold and introspective.

Presented in collaboration with Asian Tones.

Asian Tones champions and celebrates those with heritage from across West to East Asia within the music industry. The platform aims to shatter stereotypes and bridge the gaps between genres, languages and sub regions – evolving the definition of what being Asian in music entails. Representation is step one; genuine integration into the wider industry is the end game. They also focus on supporting and developing community in the live music scene.