Los Angeles, a city teeming with contradictions and endless momentum, is where alternative rock artist Taleen Kali calls home. Best known as the frontwoman of the “flower punk” band TÜLIPS, Kali’s music flickers like a neon beacon cutting through the haze of the night. Her sound threads her Armenian roots with Lebanese and Ethiopian rhythms while fusing them with the raw spirit of modern subcultures.
Kali’s latest offering is a fresh reimagining of My Bloody Valentine’s “Cupid Come,” made all the more entrancing by a hypnotic remix from Canada’s dream-pop darkwavers Verttigo—fellow travelers on Dum Dum Records. This rework will feature on her forthcoming Covered EP, set to arrive on Valentine’s Day, a timely bloom of nostalgia and metamorphosis. Those drawn to the shimmering echoes of Tamaryn, the volatile shimmer of Garbage, the ethereal haze of Cocteau Twins, or the smoky grandeur of Siouxsie and the Banshees will find a kindred spirit here. Kali’s approach deftly balances spectral elegance and a punk’s refusal to obey boundaries.
Her fierce yet femme vocals oscillate between fragility and power, layered over Verttigo’s pulsing synth beats and swirling atmospherics. This collaboration breathes dark intensity into the original track, turning it into an electrifying ode to transformation—a soundscape where Kali’s rebellious essence and Verttigo’s moody allure collide seamlessly.
Listen to Cupid Come (Verttigo Remix) at the link below. You can pre-order Covered here.
The band has an upcoming set at the Lovesong Bar Los Angeles to celebrate the release of their “Covered” EP on February 8th. For more information and tickets, go here.
Beyond her musical endeavors, Taleen Kali is the driving force behind the avant-garde Dum Dum Records and the esteemed DUM DUM Zine, platforms that transcend the mere production of music and literature. Kali delves into the realm of the mystical, embracing her role as a sound healer. Through her guided group meditations, she offers a sanctuary for the soul, a space where the frenetic energy of the city gives way to serene introspection. In 2021, she briefly veered from her established path of psychedelic punk to explore the tranquil waters of sound healing with her album Songs For Meditation, serving as a bridge between the worlds of sonic rebellion and meditative harmony.
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