Emerging pop artist Vi Talli is ready to burst the bubble of the music industry
Last updated: 23rd February 2026
Ukrainian-born Vi Talli is ready to leave the emerging artist tag behind, thanks to her bold and vivacious pop music. Hailing from a family of musicians and performers, the singer-songwriter is carving her own path in a direction music lovers will adore.
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the singer left her homeland, travelling through various countries in Europe before eventually settling in the United States. Her debut single, You Don’t Know Me, is a whirlwind track, poignantly layered with the bittersweet notion of starting again in a foreign country. This was shortly followed by her sophomore release, Running, an upbeat canvas exploring constant flux and displacement, as she seeks to find herself within uncertainty. Her musical style is vibrantly metaphorical and compellingly replayable. If there is one artist to bet on for 2026, it’s Vi Talli.
What was your earliest memory of music?
Church, baptism, my dad singing at home. I remember so often falling asleep to church rock music. Aso my dad playing rock n roll like AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, even Queen and KISS
How did the melody for Running come together?
I knew I wanted something I considered “American” and country-pop-ish, but clearly go, go, go. I started with that in mind, and it came from there. Joanna’s lyrics truly helped push it along, too, as I was singing.
Were there any visual motifs in your mind while recording RUNNING, and how do you perceive the song now?
Well, yes, I have been on the run for four years now — literally. When Joanna first sang the song, it instantly hit me. I also realised for many, this song alludes to their own lives, whether living in the big city or a small town — everyone on the go, working to make ends meet. I love it.
Has the situation in Ukraine reshaped your musical outlook?
The situation in Ukraine is tragic. I have a hard time talking about it without crying or getting angry. I speak to my family every day. I hope that war comes to an end soon — and truly wish the world had left Ukraine alone. That war should have never happened.
What elements of your sound do you feel only Ukraine could have shaped?
Ukrainian folk, folk, folk. Joanna Alford’s lyrics, for example, immediately resonated me as American folk and I was having flashes of Ukrainian writing styles to apply to it. Also the dramatism of my music, connecting ups and downs to the voice – this all seeded in my life in the Ukraine.
Having spent time performing in a variety of locations, what experiences have influenced your work upon arriving in the US?
I grew up listening to American music. My dad always performed American songs for everyone. I admired his confidence and passion and tried to keep up with him as a child — that is how it all started.
I have been on a long journey, and my time in France in particular, hearing their varied musical styles and iconic French pop, has influenced me quite a lot — especially as I continue to find my own sound. Music is one of the most treasured things in my heart. It makes the big and sometimes dangerous world disappear.
Given the geographical shifts in your life, how would you describe your audience now?
I am starting from scratch. What “audience” I might have — I do not know them yet. I hope it’s real.
You grew up in a musical family. How did your formative years condition the style you lead with now?
Everything — what other word can I use? It is because of my family I am a singer today. It literally all comes from them.
What’s one thing you cannot do without in your musical life?
People and co-creators. I really could not do this all alone, including keeping going.
You’ve quickly built momentum. What do you credit for that?
It is very early days. The last time I did this, I was 13 years old, on TV almost every other week for a while, and was fully supported by the Ukrainian system. This time it is a very different experience. I am 25, starting from the bottom, completely unknown in a culture I just arrived in and learned the language over the last two years.
soundPUPPY has been super helpful in helping me release my early music and their partners, without a doubt — I could not have done it without them.
Can you give us an exclusive? Spill the tea!
The next track to be released from my upcoming album, ‘NO TIME FOR PERFECTION‘ is called ‘SKY HIGH‘.
Will you be returning to Europe to perform?
I would love to. I have to keep building a true audience first. I’d like to simply be a small part of others’ bigger acts and festivals.
Do you have any shows in the US coming up?
I am very focused on finding the right long-term management group and label home. My numbers are not big enough yet for my own shows — that would be incredible, but not yet.
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