0) Personal description in a few lines
Hello, my name is Dajla Lalia. I am a songwriter, singer, musician (piano, keyboards and bass), vocal producer, vocal coach, and music teacher. I have released 3 albums since 2006 and became known with the single “Remember Me” (album “Soul Poetry”, available on itunes). After a maxi in 2008, “The Motherland” and a 3rd album in 2009, “The Meaning of Life”, I went to London to write and find partners to produce my new album. But it’s finally in New York that I landed after meeting the 7 Grammy-Award winning American producer “Commissioner” Gordon Williams (Amy Winehouse, The Fugees, Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston, Damian Marley, Will Smith…). I have a new album ready, I lead a music collective, White Tiger Society and I am the founder of a music education program, and a non-profit association.
1) Who, what, how did you become a singer, musician, author, composer?
It is my life path and circumstances, my dreams, my faith and determination combined with human encounters that have contributed to what I am today. My parents were fans of Bob Marley, James Brown, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, Santana, but also of Arabic classical music such as Om Kaltoum… I grew up listening to these classics, and they had the excellent idea of enrolling me in the Saint-Nazaire Conservatory to start piano age 7.
I studied classical and jazz piano there, until I graduated 10 years later. Then it was the bass guitar that I learnt on my own, with the help of friends, in funk rock bands in the early 90s. I made encounters which marked me humanly and artistically like the singer of ska band Verska Vis, Gilles Rouxel, (who died in 1993) or Angelo Moore, singer of the band Fishbone, from L.A., whose voice, passion and conscious lyrics inspired me on my path.
Then I decided to go live in London to perfect my English. I played bass in several indie rock/soul/ska bands and keyboard in the rock-steady band “One Hundred Men” while working in ska shops in Carnaby Street and Camden Town. I then started writing my own lyrics, because I didn’t recognize myself in the lyrics of the singers I was playing with, and I had things to say.
When I returned to France in 2005 I met producer and musician Benjamin Bouton with whom I wrote, produced and released my albums Soul Poetry, the Motherland and the Meaning of Life, between 2006 and 2009. This marked the beginning of my career as a producer and international performer.
And then it was the key encounter with producer Gordon Williams, who supported me to go work in his music group in New York, and who became a mentor for me.
To this I must add the musical education I acquired by myself by listening to music every day, in many genres, according to my musical encounters, in each period of my life.
Finally, it is also thanks to all the meetings and collaborations (musicians, tour managers, labels, photographers, videographers, programmers…) that this adventure was possible and continues to exist.
2) Can you explain us what is White Tiger Society ?
A collective of artists and musicians, which we describe as Soul music with a Reggae spirit and positive lyrics. Feel-Good Music”, music that makes you feel good.
3) Which countries do you think are sources of musical inspiration and creativity?
It’s all subjective of course. There are the musics that influenced us growing up and then there are the countries where we live and work… Each country is a source of inspiration!
In my particular case, France, USA, England, Jamaica, Nigeria, Ethiopia…And more globally the African continent, the Middle East, America, Asia with which we are starting to collaborate…the whole World is a source of creativity!
4) What does music bring to your life, and what do you wish to convey through your creations?
Music brings me the means to express myself… To pass on a message of peace, love, and a call to take responsibility for the times we live in.
5) Can you describe yourself in 3 adjectives ? What is your favorite color and why?
Guided. Renewed. Determined. I don’t have a favorite color, I like them when they are associated with others…but if I had to choose, then Turquoise Blue, because it reminds me of my childhood Tunisia, the calm seas of the Caribbean, the sky in clouds, the rest of the warrior.
6) What are your other passions?
Travelling, discovering different cultures and teaching children.
7) What values and principles are important to you?
Spiritual and profound values of humanity and justice.
8) If you were (and why) :
An object? A drink? An animal? A work of art? A quote?
A piano. Lemon water. The White Tiger.
At the moment, I’m very fond of traditional Ethiopian painting.
“Surround yourself with those who walk the same path as you.”
9) What are your current projects?
We are preparing the release of a new single, followed by a new album. There is also production with young artists with whom I work and co-write and the making of a music documentary on my career to encourage young people to live their dreams.
Finally, with Lalia Music Education, we are running music workshops and online classes in France and abroad.
10) What question(s) would you like to ask the readers of A qui mieux mieux?
Have you listened to our new singles, and if so, which one(s) do you prefer, and why?
A little bonus single will be offered to A Qui Mieux Mieux readers for the most relevant answers 🙂
You can listen to it here : https://wiseband.lnk.to/dajla-pas-a-pas-feat-aston-barrett-jr
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