Talia Keys Opens Up About Latest Album, 'From The Ashes'

If the music industry is crumbling under the weight of unsustainable streaming economics, then Talia Keys is rising from the wreckage like a phoenix, guitar in hand and message in tow. With her new album From The Ashes, the Salt Lake City-based one-woman band is setting a new standard, not only for sound, but for survival. This isn’t just an album; it’s a battle cry.

Known for her explosive live performances, genre-blending grit, and unwavering commitment to social justice, Talia Keys has long operated on her own terms. But From The Ashes marks a new kind of rebellion: an open challenge to the broken systems that have made it nearly impossible for independent artists to earn a living through their recorded work.

That’s why Talia is the first artist to release an album under the Buy Before You Stream initiative, a bold campaign that gives musicians the ability—and support—to delay streaming releases and sell physical copies first. With 0% micro-loans for vinyl production, partnerships with indie record stores, and built-in promo tools, Buy Before You Stream isn’t just about economics—it’s about empowerment.

Beyond its industry significance, From The Ashes is a deeply intimate and spiritually grounded record. Talia spent over a year bringing it to life, self-funding a string section, and collaborating with longtime creative allies to craft a sound that is expansive yet grounded in raw human emotion. From soulful protest anthems to hushed ballads of personal reckoning, the album reveals an artist evolving from fiery resistance to radical gratitude.

Take the lead single, “Matchstick,” a standout track written on the day of her friend Sarah Johnson’s passing. A disability rights advocate, Johnson coined the Matchstick Theory—a riff on Spoon Theory—to describe how people with chronic illness ration their energy. Talia channels that metaphor into a cathartic, powerful track about endurance, legacy, and the fight to burn bright even when your resources are dimmed. It's not just a tribute—it’s a torch.

And as the album’s title suggests, From The Ashes is about rebirth. As someone who’s lived with Type 1 diabetes since childhood, Talia brings a lived-in understanding of limitation, and yet this record is anything but confined. Instead, it’s a triumphant blend of funk, rock, soul, and folk, held together by unshakable truth and fierce independence.

You’ve always been fiercely independent, but “From The Ashes” feels like a full-circle moment—sonically and personally. What made this the right time to take such a bold stand with Buy Before You Stream?

In many ways I feel like it's now or never, there really is no better time than the current moment we are in to truly start believing in the value of our art. Music seems intangible, but in many ways, it exists everywhere in our lives. The soundtracks to our stories, soundscapes to our days, and inspiration to keep dreaming. It also isn’t created for free, and it takes a huge team to pull off albums these days. So Buy Before You Stream is a crucial way for fans to help fund the artists and music they believe in.

“Matchstick” is a stunning tribute to your late friend and disability advocate Sarah Johnson. Can you talk about how her philosophy and energy continue to influence your life and music beyond the song itself?

Thank you so much, Psarah was a stunning human being who’s message and activism will be felt for years to come. I am disabled myself, being type one diabetic as well as other immunocompromised diseases. My disability has affected my entire life. Psarah is the one to make me aware that it was even a disability. She gave me the strength to admit when all my matches are burnt and the courage to speak about my experiences more. Self-care awareness and a reminder to keep burning bright.

You’ve spoken openly about living with Type 1 diabetes since you were 10. How has that shaped your resilience as both a human and an artist—especially in an industry that demands so much from independent musicians?

I have had to keep on moving. Being so young and facing mortality was a thing that shaped me forever in good and bad ways. I listen to my body and my mind, and I try my best to take care. Unfortunately, it's the type of disease that can turn on you out of nowhere. Creating hard days and sleepless nights, countless other complications, and depression. But I am aware of my health, my Body, and my soul. I pay attention to how I feel more. I also do my best to stay active, eat well, and get rest, especially while touring.

You spent over a year crafting this album, even self-funding a full-string section. What were some of the most transformative moments in the studio that made this record feel different from your past work?

Even on days one and two of tracking, we all felt it was different. More space and breathing room. Different types of songs make you play your instrument differently. From the beginning we knew we had something new and also something that felt old and familiar. Then we add all the piano and keys, strings, vocals, and backup vocals. It becomes so special at every step. Everyone brought their hearts and talents to this record. A transformative moment was hearing the string section on the song “Sky is Falling.” They play hauntingly beautiful melodies and add a whole other vibe to the record. It is truly different from anything I have done before!

The Buy Before You Stream initiative is game-changing, especially for indie artists. What do you hope this release signals—not just to fans, but to the music industry at large?

That our craft, art, and sounds are something to be valued, listened to, held, and collected. It is a tangible form of music that will last as long as the vinyl it is pressed to, often finding new hands and record players to be played through the years. One fan buying one record is worth tens of thousands of streams. I really hope to see more indie artists do this, even releasing exclusive physical-only music. I also hope we see legislative change for fair pay from streaming platforms. I believe we can make and be the change.