ION INDIE MAGAZINE January 2015, Volume 8 | Page 63

By Kiki Plesha
For as long as she can recall, music flowed in TALI BIRENBERG’S blood—almost from conception. As Tali
puts it: “When my mother was pregnant with me, she would hold the radio close to her belly.” And to HEAR
this riveting artist today, one could say with surety, that Tali Birenberg was BORN to be an artist.
She takes pride in her craft…as much as she does her heritage. Tali hails from Tel Aviv, and although on
another side of the world from this journalist, it is a perfect example of how music unifies and brings people
together.
Her music journey began when she took up piano at the age of 7. At 12, she admired artists like MADONNA
CINDY LAUPER and MICHAEL JACKSON, who were fixtures on the music charts and envisioned herself in
their company. Her tastes evolved as she approached 15, and she began to delve into the likes of AXL ROSE
and SLASH--often drawing caricatures of them on her schoolbooks. She also counts ZEPPELIN, PINK FLOYD,
PEARL JAM, ALICE IN CHAINS and NIRVANA as shaping her musical influences.
One of the highlights of her youth was attending a GUNS N' ROSES concert in the Tel Aviv Park in May 1993.
But nothing could have topped actually MEETING her hero Axl Rose at a recent show in Israel in 2012. She
announced to the icon, “I want to sing with you!” She has faith this will happen someday—with Rose and her
other hero, ROBERT PLANT.
Make no mistake, this is a “smart cookie”. She completed her academic studies in 2008 with a degree in
English Literature and Linguistics. Desiring to immerse herself in a creative community, she relocated to the
Florentine neighborhood, known as a hub for artists in Tel Aviv. She was now in her late 20’s and having now
taken up guitar as well, she would frequent local bars and perform for their audiences.
Apparently, all roads pointed to this time in her life and the development of her own band DSPARKS. She
mentions that she particularly treasures their appearance in 2012 at the famous Rock club BARBY in Tel
Aviv as a moment that is forever etched in her memory.
Upon viewing the video of “Don’t Turn The Lights Off”, I can best describe this legendary live performance as
MAGICAL and moving. As I write this article, Tali is getting “up close and personal” with her beloved piano
and embracing her solo career. She is writing songs for herself and others.