TALIMUSIC, AudioPorn Records, Full Cycle Recordings
Musical artist
Natalia Sheppard (née Scott), better known by her stage names MC Tali and Tali, is a New Zealand[2]drum and bass singer and rapper, first found acclaim for her 2004 hit "Lyric on My Lip", which reached #39[3] in the UK Singles Chart.[4] Tali has also worked with prominent artists, such as former Mercury Music Prize nominee Roni Size.
Tali prefers to use the name "Tali" when singing and songwriting acoustically or live, preferring to use 'MC" whenever she collaborates with electronic music artists, sometimes using the former. In November 2019 Tali won the Vodafone New Zealand Music Award for Best Electronica Artist for her 2018 album "Love & Migration".[5]
Originally from a dairy farm in Awatuna, Taranaki, Tali moved to the UK in 2001 to follow her dreams of becoming a top international MC. After signing to the legendary Full Cycle Label owned and run by Roni Size, Tali went on to release her first album Lyric on my Lip with a UK top 40 single and worldwide tour. The album featured production from Roni Size, Krust, Die and featured guest vocals from Dynamite MC. From here she collaborated with some of the scene's most prolific names in both production and DJ/MC shows, working alongside people such as Goldie, Fabio, Grooverider, Shy FX, Dirtyphonics, Ed Rush, E-Z Rollers, The Freestylers, Calibre, DJ Marky and many more.
When Full Cycle disbanded in 2006, Tali moved to London for a change of scenery and music. Disillusioned with the drum and bass scene, and suffering from depression and anxiety,[6] she began working alongside hip hop duo First Man, and from here collaborated with MC’s including Skinnyman, Blak Twang, Ti2bs and Sincere. From this came her compilation CD Do It for Yourself.[citation needed]
After regaining her confidence in 2008, Tali began MCing out and about on the drum and bass circuit once again. Her skills earned her “Best Female MC” at the Drum n Bass Awards three years in a row from 2008 to 2010.[7][8] Afterwards, Tali signed to AudioPorn Records and released Dark Days, High Nights which features collaborations with Lynx, Dirtyphonics, Dodge and Fuski, Fourward, Noisses, Shimon, Ed Rush and SKisM.[9] Tali also released a live studio version of this album in collaboration with indie/folk band More Like Trees, featuring Christoph Bauschinger, backing vocals from Collette Warren and production by legendary DnB producer Ant Miles in 2011.[10]
During her hiatus from drum and bass, Tali also created an alias for herself, as a chance to explore her love of jazz and showtunes. Rogue Nouveau was born and from here Tali put together a live band, which produced jazz with a touch of her trademark MCing. Rogue Nouveau performed at prestigious venues throughout London, such as The Jazz Café and Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, before disbanding when Tali moved back to New Zealand in 2012.
In 2011, Tali was commissioned as the composer for a political comedy musical called Nicked (written by Richard Marsh), which featured at The Hightide Theatre Festival and previewed on the West End.[11] It received rave reviews in The Guardian,[12]The Observer and London Evening Standard. While working on this musical, she met her co producer Christoph Bauschinger. Their friendship and work relationship on this project led to them collaborating on her fourth studio album. Of Things to Come..., which Tali released herself upon returning to New Zealand in 2012.
Tali is a trained secondary school teacher at the Canterbury College of Education, has a diploma from The National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts (NASDA), a B.A. in English Literature also has vast experience in tutoring, mentoring, writing and vocal producing for other artists.
As well as this Tali has written for ATM, Knowledge, Nu:Soul, and Guestlist Network publications in the UK and US and for 'Her' magazine in New Zealand.
After returning to New Zealand, Tali released Of Things to Come…, produced by Christoph Bauschinger and featured guest vocals from Laura Hunter. Distributed by Rhythm Method, Tali released two singles: "JetSet Love" received NZ On Air funding (shot by Mo’Fresh Productions) and『Of Things to Come…』was funded independently (shot by Toby Ricketts).
Tali initially toured this album with a live band, before stripping it back to acoustic form with her guitarist and co-collaborator Harry Leatherby in order to focus more on her musical performance.
In May 2015 Tali finished producing, writing and recording her own independent album Wolves, which went to #14 in the New Zealand album charts in its first week of release. The first single from this - "Forces" was remixed by TREi and went to #18 in the New Zealand singles charts. Tali released two further singles from this 'Faster Than Sound' and 'Wolves' with additional music videos.
Following on from this, in 2016 Tali released 'KETA' a dreamy, downtempo cinematic EP featuring production from Tokyo Prose, Aske, and Sam De Jong and vocal cameos from Kings and Bailey Wiley. Singles from this included 'High To Get High', 'I Fly Over You' and 'Berlin' all of which have accompanying music videos.
In 2018 Tali published her first ever fiction novel 'The Little White House' under her full name Natalia Sheppard - which was published by UK publishing house Vanguard Press.
That same year, seven years since she last released a full Drum and Bass album, Tali released 'Love & Migration' on Fokuz Records (Netherlands). This album features production from Malaky, Kasper, Melinki, The Vanguard Project and Roygreen and Protone amongst others, and vocal features from DRS, Degs and Georgie Fisher. Singles from the album include 'Eye On You' and 'Paperwasp'.
This album saw Tali take out 'Best Electronic Artist' at the 2019 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.[13]
In 2020, Tali celebrated 15 years since the release of her debut album 'Lyric On My Lip' with both its first ever digital release, and an accompanying documentary which Tali produced herself, during lockdown. The digital release was launched on Tali's newly formed record label Reign Recordings, and the documentary features interviews with Roni Size, Dynamite MC, Bryan G, A.I, Collette Warren, Ray Keith, and many more.
As well as this, during lockdown Tali refined her skills as a producer, and began working on her eighth studio album 'Future Dwellers' which she released in 2022, and which was nominated for an Aotearoa Music Award. Her two single off the album were 'My Remedy' featuring UK Drum n Bass artist Ruth Royall and 'Lost Up In Your Love' featuring Pharaoh Swami. Tali was also asked to remix the indie folk song 'Hawks and Doves' for acclaimed New Zealand singer Reb Fountain. This remix was released on Flying Nun in 2021. During the same year Tali attended the Aotearoa SyncPosium, a workshop designed to bring together musicians and composers to learn about the world of composing for film and television. From here Tali went on to break into the world of composing, successfully securing contracts to make music for both online and television work, as well as currently writing the score for her first international documentary film.
Tali continues to perform and tour both as a singer/songwriter and MC, both in New Zealand and internationally, and works collaboratively with DJs and producers onstage and in the studio. She is a music consultant, mentor, inspirational speaker, and educator. Tali currently lives in Auckland with her husband - DJ and promoter, Chiccoreli. [14]
