WHO: Hope Tala 

No summer playlist is complete without a little (or, in my case, a lot of) Hope Tala mixed in. With a blend of R&B, bossa nova, and Latin

influences, the 23-year-old West London native has cultivated a music style all her own, amassing a cult following along the way. It would be remiss not to mention my personal favorites of her work (“Crazy” and “Cherries”), but with a new single, “Mad,” and a Pride campaign with Spotify, she’s solidifying her claim in your playlist. 

What was the catalyst that pushed you to pursue music?

A love for writing songs. I had always been obsessed with music and played instruments, but I wrote a song for my music A level at school and fell in love with the process. 

Where do you draw inspiration from when it comes to creating music? 

I mainly draw inspiration from my own life, but storylines and themes in novels, poems, plays, TV shows, and movies also inspire some of my writing.