"Paradise State of Mind": Talon David’s Anthem for the Restless


There were no co-writers, no studio musicians, no studio staff—just Talon David, juggling espresso orders at Nashville International Airport's Barista Parlor and writing melodies in her mind. "Paradise State of Mind" was created during the silence of the COVID-19 lockdowns, when the urge to wander sounded louder than the airport departure announcements overhead. Equipped with a baritone ukulele and an agitated heart, Talon embarked on writing a song that would be escape and comfort—a sonic postcard from a place she aspired to reach.

Developed during the in-between times of pandemic lethargy and coffee work shifts, the song was how Talon stayed emotionally in transit when the world was at a physical standstill. Years later, having made the leap to life abroad, she still struggles with the same wanderlust. But now the moment is ripe to release this irresistibly upbeat anthem—a song stitched together with irony, joy, and a little bit of attitude to count as resistance. It's not a break from concern; it's a grin in its face. 


What distinguishes "Paradise State of Mind" is its tone: realistically hopeful, sarcastically cheerful, and never afraid to get a little irreverent. It's a special kind of optimism—one that refuses to ignore the mess of the modern world but chooses to dance through it anyway. Talon invites listeners into that same frame of mind, one ukulele strum at a time.

The song was made over the period of five years, recorded in six improvised home studios back and forth between the U.S. and the U.K. Every space, however humble, was a haven of sound. The baritone ukulele adds a lush, tropical weight to the songs, and Talon's self-arranged backup vocals add texture and emotion. All harmonies were performed by her, all details carefully crafted. As she herself describes: "Paradise has never been a destination; it is accessible only as a state of mind." And this record is proof that sometimes the most meaningful journeys begin internally.

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