How Music Changed My Life: Talia's Story

January 13, 2014

Music is the only thing that has been a constant in my life. I started playing piano at age 11 and never looked back. I toyed with DJing in my early 20s (before female house DJs were the norm) and started beat-matching in large Toronto clubs on my days off before deciding that I wanted to produce. As a classically trained pianist, I went to jazz school to learn new chops - thinking if I could play jazz, I could play anything, and therefore produce even better music. Jazz school led to a chance run in to see Magda perform through a mutual friend from Windsor. Magda, and soon after Miss Kittin, reignited a desire within me to return to electronic music while studying jazz. Armed with a Korg Trinity synth and my voice I started collaborating with local producers and released some vocals on a track with Dorje that was remixed by Crystal Fake in Italy.

After a brief detour to San Francisco, I returned to Toronto to study South Indian drumming at York University. Here, I also feasted on classes including Javanese Gamelan, Samba, Cuban drumming, Middle Eastern percussion, improv piano and digital music production. I was in musical heaven and then, upon graduation, found myself scheming with locals to start a Music Festival in Nevis, West Indies - until the hurricane came. So, in good form, I returned to school, completed an MA in ethnomusicology on female Cuban raperas and met rappers from across the globe, further inspiring my belief in the power of music to give voice to those in need and be a platform for advocacy and empowerment.

Although I have hung up my DJ and academia hats, I continue to play piano and compose all genres of classical and electronic music. After working in hospitals, I became inspired to start a non-profit organization, Music Can Heal.org (www.musiccanheal.org), that places live music into hospitals, hospices and palliative care centres. It is just starting to taking off and features global music styles to match the diverse population along with world-class musicians!  

Music is my life and I know that I am not alone when I say this. It has given more to me by being a true constant inspiration and offering endless enjoyment and simple, yet powerful, life lessons. While studying improv piano I stumbled across this Miles Davis quote, which serves as a great motto for life: "Don't fear mistakes, there are none." Any "error" can become a stepping stone to something great. Just feel the beat and trust your heart.

I have, like many, had my share of diversions and stressful events throughout my life but I always came back to music. It has always been there for me, as it has for many people.

In cultures across the world, music, dance and ritual are as common to everyday life as eating, sleeping and speaking. No matter where I go, people can always find a song in their heart to soothe and comfort them or to celebrate life. For these reasons, I adore music - it is my life. It brings people together. It brings joy and solace to those alone. It empowers those who feel voiceless. It allows for communication without words or common languages. It encourages dancing and celebration, supports social movements and becomes emblems of national culture (sometimes to the detriment of the creators, but that's a side rant). Music is everywhere.