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"Lady MacBeth said to Helen of Troy,
When they'd finished the Wine they'd been drinking
'I'm all for regicide, once in a while, but -
Helen, dear, What were you thinking?'"

Talis has been performing steadily since starting out solo several years ago at events in and around her home town of Bristol. Soon she was travelling widely and delighting a variety of audiences including festivals (Glastonbury, Bristol Community Festival), Arts Centres, and literary events. She has performed in a mens' prison, in a graveyard, with poets, authors and storytellers.

With John Jones and Kieran Taaffe, she formed a band, Mythical Beasts, which was rapidly signed to an independent label and recorded their first album, 'Receiving Stolen Gods'

However, when the project failed to reach release through internal problems at the label, Talis seized the opportunity to re-direct her music. With a new line-up behind her (John Jones, Simon Fairbourn, Tim Walker) and an ambitious but realistic set of goals, Talis developed her current eclectic and contemporary sound (which has been called 'urban wardrobe' - come and rummage and see what you find...'), gigging solo and with the Beasts. Her engaging and intimate performance style has won her admirers in Germany, America and Canada, each of which she has visited recently on the 'Archetype Cafe' tour.

As a solo performer and with her band 'Mythical Beasts', Talis also augments her narrative songs with storytelling, using the music to underpin and embellish the tale most effectively. Talis often uses her harp to illustrate the storytelling, interweaving motifs and melodies as she speaks, and blending the sung and spoken word in an intense and intimate performance.

Talis is regularly nominated for the USA-based Pegasus Awards for songwriting and performing. Listening to a few of her songs will demonstrate why: these are cunning, literate lyrics which tell stories and weave images, turning phrases that will catch and linger in your memory. Classical, rock and roots backgrounds are knitted together in Talis's arrangements, where bassoon and harp offset acoustic guitar, bass and subtle drums.

Always prolific, Talis has now been writing for many years, and American and German artists have recorded her songs. Talis's extensive catalogue includes tales of modern living, of what kind of car the Moon drives, why Rapunzel cheats at cards, and just what Lady MacBeth said to Helen of Troy. Talis relaunched her career through Marchwood Media in 1998. She is now steadily expanding her fanbase and contacts, and has a determined and mature attitude to her work.

Talis adds: 'I balance an international rock-chick personas with a domesticated creature who loves baking and moving all the furniture around. I like chocolate; I drink a great deal of tea. I like being five foot tall, really. I use henna on my hair and I don't care who knows it. I enjoy occasional bouts of arabic dancing, archery, and horse riding. I learned to ride side-saddle to arrive on a white horse at my wedding two years ago to Simon Fairbourn, who plays more instruments than I do and can pun for England. I am involved in a mediaeval re-enactment group and hold occasional storytelling evenings for local and far-flung friends.

'I'm also a comics writer, having co-created and scripted "20th Century Dryad" with Eagle Award-winning artist Alex Fox for Venue Magazine, "Zen Zebras ""Zen Zebras" (again with Alex Fox and also David Morris), which appeared in the comic "Wild Side", and lately a new strip, with artist David Morris, called "Rapunzel" which appears in the single and album packages. This seems set to spawn more comics work, currently titled 'Zed Alley', featuring the Archetype Cafe crew and expanding on their adventures.

'I make very good flapjacks, and unbelievable tiramisu. I wear velvet a lot. I have small feet and too many boots. I boss my team about a lot, but they seem to thrive on it, for which I remain ever grateful. I sometimes cry when I'm happy, and I sneeze very loudly.

'Sed in vestibularum non possum saltare.'

Read through the online songbook; catch Talis live if you get the chance. Be prepared to change your expectations of female singer/songwriters and let Talis's voice soar and caress its way into your hearing.