Talia Schlanger

Grace for the Going (Latent Recordings) is Talia Schlanger’s intimate and explosive debut album. It’s a reflection of her reverence for the power of words, genuine love of connecting with people, and passionately eclectic musical taste. Her inspiration runs deep, from Roberta Flack’s quiet confidence to the raw freedom of Jeff Buckley, from Missy Elliott’s electric cadence to Patti Smith’s fearless poetry, and from Paul Simon’s pristine storytelling to the honest ache of Nina Simone. Schlanger’s approach to making music is the result of a lifetime of deep and broad listening, as a music fan with an open heart and hungry ears.


Known as the articulate and encyclopedic former host of the NPR-distributed radio show World Cafe, Talia has interviewed some of the most exciting musicians and artists working today. You may also recognize her as a frequent guest host of CBC's q with Tom Power or from Here's the Thing with Alec Baldwin. She has hosted numerous primetime music-related TV specials for CBC and is a Canadian Screen Award Winning producer. Talia began her professional performance career in theatre at age 14 and her various theatre credits as a singer/dancer include the original Canadian cast of Queen’s We Will Rock You and the first US tour of Green Day’s American Idiot. Schlanger has earned a reputation for her natural ability to connect with artists, especially songwriters. Yet for someone who had spent her whole life singing, she realized she was using her voice exclusively to help other musicians tell their stories. “If there’s one thing I learned from talking to artists,” Schlanger says, “it’s that nobody hands you a permission slip and says ‘you are allowed to make art now.’ You either do it or you don’t.”


While the nine songs on Grace for the Going are distinct in their musical expression, they are united by one common thread. It’s the same thread that runs through Talia Schlanger’s life on the stage, on the radio, and in the creation of this album– Schlanger has a timeless voice. She has something to say. And she means every word.