Interview: Hope Tala Discusses the Personal Ink Stains of ‘Hope Handwritten’ - Atwood Magazine

      With ‘Hope Handwritten,’ Hope Tala has produced a deeply personal, tender, and poetic debut album that reflects her journey of coming-of-age, artistic growth, and the raw honesty she has embraced through her songwriting.

      Hope Tala has always considered herself primarily a writer. Her lyrics flow from her like ink on paper, exploring the emotional landscape of her inner self. However, it was only with the release of Hope Handwritten – her eagerly anticipated debut album – that the British-Jamaican singer/songwriter truly felt the depth of her own words, revisiting songs and experiencing their emotional impact in a way that was unfamiliar to her before.

      Released on February 28th, 2025, Hope Handwritten stands as Tala’s most ambitious, intimate, and honest work to date—an hour-long expression that has been years in the making. “It became a coming-of-age album,” the 27-year-old reflects. “I wrote consistently during a very tumultuous three-and-a-half-year period marked by considerable personal transformation. Through the process of creating Hope Handwritten, I’ve reached a new level of vulnerability and authenticity.”

      Covering themes of self-discovery, heartbreak, resilience, and the continual struggle between hope and uncertainty, Hope Handwritten transcends being merely a collection of songs; it symbolizes Tala’s journey as both an artist and an individual, emerging seven years after her first introduction to the music industry.

      Originally conceived in 2021, the album has served as a creative foundation for Tala over the last four years, influencing her understanding of songwriting, identity, and the music industry itself. “I really wanted to create something that felt undeniable, at least to me. Something heartfelt, honest, narrative-driven, and cohesive, but not so cohesive that each song couldn’t stand independently,” she explains. This balance—between cohesion and individuality, between emotional rawness and poetic grace—defines Hope Handwritten as a work that is profoundly personal yet universally relatable.

      For Tala, the album's title is more than just a label; it represents a philosophy. “It alludes to the act of writing, which is fundamental to the content and creation of the album,” she notes. In the opening track, “Growing Pains: Prologue,” she sings, “Getting ink stains all over my hands again / but I’ve forgotten how I used to write my name”—a lyric that interweaves with the album's essence. Like the ink on her hands, Tala’s artistry is indelible, symbolizing both her past and her future.

      With Hope Handwritten, Tala not only introduces her identity but also immortalizes a version of herself through sound and lyrics, creating something undeniable. In an interview with Atwood Magazine, Hope Tala discusses the essence of Hope Handwritten—from its initial inspirations to the emotional weight it carries now. She reflects on the personal and artistic development that influenced this album, the lyrics that resonate most powerfully, and the songs that propelled her into new creative territory.

      As she steps into this new phase, Tala accepts both the uncertainty and excitement that comes with sharing her most vulnerable work yet. She invites listeners to stream Hope Handwritten wherever they enjoy music, and she shares insights into her debut album in the conversation below.

      “Honestly, my primary goal for the past four years has been to create the album I needed,” Tala smiles. “Now that it’s finished, I can truly test that.”

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      :: stream/purchase Hope Handwritten here ::

      :: connect with Hope Tala here ::

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      **A CONVERSATION WITH HOPE TALA**

      Atwood Magazine: Hope, could you tell us the story behind this record? What was your vision going into Hope Handwritten, and did that vision evolve during the recording process?

      Hope Tala: I began the first draft of this album in January 2021, so it’s hard to recall what my original vision was. I definitely aimed to create something that felt undeniable, at least to me. I wanted it to be heartfelt, honest, narrative-focused, and cohesive, yet not so cohesive that each song couldn’t stand on its own, if that makes sense. It turned into a coming-of-age album; I wrote consistently during a very challenging and formative three-and-a-half-year period filled with personal change and growth.

      Why did you choose the title “Hope Handwritten”? What does that phrase signify, and how does it connect to the songs?

      Hope Tala: Hope Handwritten was the first title I settled on for the album. I initially used a different title for about a year, but I couldn’t shake Hope Handwritten from my mind. I appreciate the almost self-titled quality of it, as well as its connection to writing, which is so central to the album’s content and creation. In the first track, ‘Growing Pains: Prologue,’ there’s a lyric that says, ‘getting ink stains all over my hands again / but I’ve forgotten how I used to write my

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