RSM People: Tally Koren
A lifelong passion that has taken singer-songwriter Tally Koren from Haifa to London was nearly derailed earlier this year thanks to health complications and the loss of her voice. Read how she got her start and how RSM was able to help Tally get back to doing what she loves most.
Can you tell us more about your career and what made you want to become a performer?
As early as three years old, I remember singing and playing the first chords of the Moonlight Sonata by ear on the piano. At the age of seven, I competed in a local charity talent competition in my home town of Haifa, Israel. Sadly, I only got a few points and the judge’s reasons were that I’d copied a famous Israeli singer. That event was quite traumatic, it made my mother leave the charity, and made me stop singing, but maybe as an artist, it gave me the biggest gift, the understanding of how important it is to develop your unique way to stand out.
Fast-forward 18 years, and at the age of 26, I went to a karaoke shop to see if the dream of me singing in front of an audience, which I had carried with me all those years, had anything to do with reality. The demo cassette I recorded impressed my neighbour, who was a singer that had won the Eurovision Song Contest, and that made me go searching for a singing teacher.
In the first lesson, when I sang the ‘do re mi fa so…’ scale for her, she was very impressed with my low register voice and said that I had Karen Carpenter’s qualities. After that class, I knew that I could take my career further than just singing in front of the mirror!
How has your Israeli heritage influenced your career in the UK?
My Israeli heritage is very much used in my vocals in some songs in Mawwāl, a traditional and popular Arabic genre of vocal. Some of the melodies that I have composed also have a Middle Eastern flavour.
When do you first hear about The Royal Society of Musicians and what made you apply for support?
I heard about RSM through the Musicians’ Union, when I reached out to them for support as a result of medical concerns and financial issues.
RSM has saved me in the last few months, after I lost my voice and needed to have a biopsy inside my left nostril. It was a very difficult time, I was unable to work, and also, I was naturally very worried about having the test.
For me, like many musicians, music is my life, and the fact that there was someone there who listened to me and helped me in hard times, meant the world to me. I never thought that in my life I would need to ask for help, but I’m not embarrassed that I had to do it.
With your help, I was able to plan my next release, and although I couldn’t sing again yet, I was able to finish the production and the planning of the release.
What are your plans for the future?
Thankfully, the biopsy was a success, and my voice is now back to normal. I’m so thrilled to be able to share my music again and to now be part of RSM as a Member. Making music with all the challenges involved has been the best thing I have ever done.
To help others like Tally, please consider donating to The Royal Society of Musicians here. If you know anyone in the music profession who might need our help, please point them to us at [email protected] or 020 7629 6137.
Listen to Tally’s music below, or meet her at The Camden Club in London on 23 November.
