WORDS RACHEL EDWARDS - PHOTOGRAPHY FAWN KONGSIRI - STYLING, HAIR & MAKE-UP STELLA DICKSON
Toronto born, London based singer songwriter Tallulah Argue broke onto the scene last year with 'The Things I Wish I Did to Seduce You'. Something about her style makes you think of a good coming of age film, one that encapsulates the complexities of love and girlhood and recklessness. Self funding and self-promoting her first gig in the London Lexington, she sold it out quickly and it wasn't long before she was snapped up by management.
Argue is a storyteller as much as she is a singer and watching her perform, you feel like you're granted a glimpse into her world - a world where she's sitting in a roofless car, her hair blowing in the wind, reflecting on her own journey. Like a trailer to a film, she pulls the audience in only to leave them wanting more. And isn't that what a good seductress does?
We caught up with Tallulah as she prepares for the release of her EP later this year, with photography by Fawn Kongsiri and styling, hair and make up by Stella Dickson.
Rachel Edwards: You're in Toronto at the moment! What's a typical day like in Toronto vs London?
Tallulah Argue: In Toronto I’m on island time, it’s currently 12pm and I’m naked on the terrace, covered in Hawaiian tropic, untroubled about what the rest of my day entails. I have more opportunity to reflect, stare, and absorb the greenery. I’ll spend my afternoon meandering through High Park, staring up at the trees and perhaps have a cocktail at my favourite French diner, Le Swan.
In London, I’m much more focused on a stricter, independent routine, a typical day would be a songwriting session that would last the whole day, then straight to a three hour evening rehearsal with my band. My anxiety may be higher in London, but so is my productivity…In Toronto I tend to revert to a passenger-seat mama’s girl mindset.
R.E: What's your favourite part of the day?
T.A: When no one is home, my voice is warmed up and I can belt Les Misérables.
R.E: When did you first decide you wanted to become a musician?
T.A: I was driving home in the passenger seat looking out the window and listening to The Rolling Stones, and got pissed off I may never hit the stage with Mick Jagger.
R.E: You have such an amazing stage presence! Has performing always come naturally to you?
T.A: Thank you so! I have always loved performing, but for most of my life I thought it was uncool to care, so I avoided the opportunities to avoid embarrassment. Swallowing that pride has made me realize performing is my favourite part of being an artist. Discovering that I loved it so much was scary and I found it hard to deal [with]. At the start I went through a period of having actual heart-palpitations. But the further I waded in, it began to feel like a magical path I couldn’t see the end of but knew I needed to explore.
R.E: When do you feel most confident?
R.E: What are you working on at the moment?
T.A: I just drove back from Nashville to Toronto where I spent time taking field notes at Honky Tonks and shooting visuals for an EP I am working on. At this very moment I am working on finding a connector for the camcorder charger because it’s super old.
R.E: You remind me a bit of a character from a Sofia Coppola movie - what was the last film you watched that left an impression on you?
T.A: That makes me so giddy! I actually recently watched a short film by Sofia Coppola called Lick the Star. I love seeing artists’ early work influencing their future work, and it inspired me to unravel my own perfectionism and just share my damn music already. I also just watched Pearl and X and those were realllllll good ones.
R.E: Aside from music, what do you do in your spare time?
T.A: Alongside my music I am entering my final year studying Fashion Communication and Promotion at Central Saint Martins, which has really helped me be in control of the aesthetics. I also love to bring people together through dinner parties and thematic experiences, and have meaningful conversations with friends and strangers. Last but not least, I love to roleplay ;)
R.E: What can we look forward to?
T.A: Being seduced, a little bit of twang, a wet hot summer, raunchy ranching and music that I am really proud of.
R.E: What's your favourite F Word?!
