French RnB artist Ta-Ra’s new LP is your next summer jam

Ta-Ra talks her new LP, gratitude and her love for psychological thrillers

March 19, 2019

French RnB artist Ta-Ra released her long-awaited LP Rare1 and we are living for it. Known for her smooth-as-honey vocals, moody beats and raw emotional energy, Ta-Ra has amassed a cult-following in her home town in France and across the globe. We caught up with the talented musician on everything from the meaning behind her latest LP, her love for psychological thrillers, her dream date and why we need to have more compassion as a species.

How has your new LP evolved from your previous work?

‍I made Rare1 last year so it contains a past part of me but it’s still relevant because what I write and create gets engraved in eternity and knows no time. My perception of life evolves through my experiences. I’m not the Ta-Ra in that Lil Bit video anymore but the spirit is the same.

“I’m not the Ta-Ra in that Lil Bit video anymore but the spirit is the same.”

What was the inspiration behind the LP?

Avatar is about self awareness and self empowerment, Spyro is too. 5star is about wanting the best of life, Nebulas is about friendship, Falcon7 is about forgiving, Exit is about finding a way out of our issues and mental prison and Northstar is about guidance. My inspiration is me, the external world and what I go through.

Your LP feels very emotional, raw and authentic - does it come from personal experiences?

Always. Emotional, raw and authentic - that’s me. And passionate too. Also, a true artist must have the ability to be a messenger or a conductor of energy.

“Emotional, raw and authentic - that’s me.”

Why is it called Rare1?

Rare1 is about the uniqueness of each living thing and about existentialism. Every living thing is equally important in this thing we call life. The number 1 represents each individual thing but also it represents it all because everything is one. Sometimes as humans we get caught up in our endeavours and forget about how precious and important the source is - like the existence of a drop of water. I want everyone and everything to be aware of themselves and the world around us and be grateful.

“I want everyone to be aware of themselves and the world around us and be grateful.”

Can you tell us a bit about your lyrics in 5 star: technology getting better, while these humans getting worse?

It’s a line I wrote in 2014 in the song “Senshi”. I guess it’s a very judgy and generalising quote because not all humans are getting worse. But as humans we need to get our power back. Get enlightened about who we truly are. We get weak too easily in these society full of fear. People need to tune in to love and empower themselves by knowing their worth.

“You don’t love yourself or respect yourself if you drink coke knowing how toxic it is. Instead of being so pessimistic...let’s try to do better and think of future generations and nature”

You don’t love yourself or respect yourself if you drink coke knowing how toxic it is. Instead of making fun of ourselves 247 and being so pessimistic, let’s try to do better and think of future generations and nature. We can’t continue to be selfish and not see the bigger picture, we are the past, the present and the future...we deserve better.

Also I’m lowkey scared of AI and robot domination (check what Elon Musk said about it). Robot sex, robot armies etc. Even if I love Mecha animation and High-Tech, I can’t help thinking of AI’s negative side in the long term. Ever seen that black mirror episode with the killer robot dogs? Ugh.

“We can’t continue to be selfish and not see the bigger picture... we are the past, the present and the future”

Favorite scary movie?

I love psychological thrillers. I don’t think I have one favorite but I love Seven, Cube and The Ring. American Psycho is definitely my favorite movie ever but it isn’t really scary. I love the meaning behind these movies like how The Shining is a satire of Western society and its crimes against humanity. I also love Stephen King’s It adaptation (the 1990s one) and any story by Stephen King. The What the Health documentary on Netflix isn’t considered a scary movie but it actually is because it isn’t fiction.

“I love psychological thrillers...and any story by Stephen King”

Favorite video game?

I’m not a big gamer but Kingdom’s Heart 358/2 days, 999: Nine Hours, Nine Person, Nine Doors, Spyro 2 and Tomb Raider 2 are some of my favorite games that I’ve played. There’s games I don’t have the time to play, Abzû and Final Fantasy. I’m sure they’d become my favorite games. Also little Big Planet is fun to play. Silent hill is also great on PS1 but I’ve never finished it…it’s too scary lol.

Favorite planet?

Earth. I love living on Earth, we are so blessed yet so destructive. According to my astrological chart, Saturn and Jupiter rule me the most but I love the whole solar system and everything it represents.

Perfect meal?

Raw organic fruits and vegetables meal made with love. Otherwise any meal from SoraFune a veggie Café in Kamakura in Japan - everything is delicious there. I love Japanese curry, soba and vegetable tempura. As long as it is Japanese and vegan I’m a fan.

Perfect date?

Spending the afternoon at the science museum or butterfly sanctuary then eating a nice dinner, walking to the beach with ice cream, taking off our shoes, feeling the sand, laying down and looking at the stars and listening to music. Then we’d end up at the onsen of a ryokan and sleep there (and make love of course).

“[My perfect date would be] spending the afternoon at the science museum or butterfly sanctuary”

If you could only wear one brand forever what would it be?

Something that doesn’t exist yet but that is biodegradable and vegan. Something which looks like a mix of Charlotte Knowles London but which is as useful and technical as NorthFace and Nike for natural spaces and the outdoors, and is as modern as Cavempt but still fantasy-like.