An Interview With Tamara Stewart
A fresh new release from Tamara Stewart comes with a warm and beautifully honest tonality and approach that brings out the artist's presence and shows her character as a person along with as an artist.
"Mean Girl" delivers quite an impactful blow in the form of a cinematic and emotionally driven ballad that has a way of wrapping itself around you.
This track shines in a way that lets you think of situations that happen to yourself because it's so relatable and so passionately performed.
And this is where the impact comes from. With a single like this there's so much behind it because it obviously came from a real life situation so the performance of it has to be genuine for it to really come through properly. This is not a problem for Tamara as she pushes the envelope ever so slightly by delivering that Soulful and meaningful vocal.
You can feel the song in your bones, it can make the hairs on your arms stand up straight, and it's got such a lush tonality that you fall straight for it right away.
The song is like a power ballad with piano at its roots and it grows outward from there. As it plays on you start to get the feeling of the intensity growing and building much like watching a film.
And that's what this is. This is like watching a really good film or reading a really good book not so much in the form of escapism, but in the form of becoming a part of what you're listening to and being able to paint vivid pictures in your head using your imagination based on what she's saying.
This is a very relatable topic and has the ability to hit that sweet spot for people that have been in a situation similar to this or that just have an understanding and empathy for others.
A gorgeous single written and arranged with much attention to detail, "Mean Girl" will get you addicted to this artist as it showcases her ability to deliver radio ready singles.
Was such a wonderful release, we wanted to have a sit-down with Tamara Stewart to find out where this track actually came from and what inspired it.
Here's what happened.
TSWS: Let's kick things off with "Mean Girl". This track has a cinematic and very honest approach! Where did this song come from?
Mean Girl is a song written from a friends perspective, asking if everything is ok. Most of us have been in that situation where we sense something is 'off' and this song creates a space for those conversations to safely take place. The response to it has been quite incredible.
TSWS: When did this all start for you as an artist? When did you fall in love with music?
I fell in love with performing, singing and in general music at a very young age. I recall being obsessed with songs and how song lyrics were created, as young as 7. When my first guitar came at 10, I instantly started writing songs and was on stage by age 11.
TSWS: What inspires you to write a song?
Truth. Emotion. I'm quite an intuitive person, and have always had insight into emotion behind actions or words. Songwriting is a great place for me to try that on and explore the stories. I am a songwriter first, and deeply love the craft and all it allows me to explore.
TSWS: This track has some great styles! Can you give us some of your top musical influences?
I'm truly a product of many genres. I was raised country, but also rock was mixed in there with some blues and 70's Folk. I am passionate about Eminem and his lyrical brilliance and you'll find me singing every word at an Ed Sheeran Concert. With all that being said, I think if Shawn Colvin, James Taylor and Sheryl Crow had a baby, I would aspire to be in the same genre as that child.
TSWS: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music?
I love to paint. I have an art studio and have found a new stream of creative consciousness when I'm painting. Paddleboarding in the summer, and I love to walk. If I'm in a new city, I love to get 20,000 steps in a day seeing the sights.
TSWS: Who's in your headphones right now?
Taylor Swift's last 3 original records. Evermore, Folklore and Midnights. She is a genius.
TSWS: Are you doing any live performances right now?
At the moment I'm not. I write more than I perform, I have designed my life that way. I do like to do shows, but for me, it's quality not quantity. I'm looking forward to getting to the UK and touring, it's always a beautiful experience and energy exchange.
TSWS: This track feels like a big undertaking, is there any advice you'd give to other up and coming artists out there?
The best advice I could give other artists is just to honor your own ambition. No two roads look the same. I've been blessed with a good amount of success, but not too much that I had to stay stuck in any one sound or place. I've always aspired for no two albums to sound the same, and that has come from following my own creative instinct, and the advice from a few people I trust. Find your trusted people and move forward with your own vision.
TSWS: What can your fans expect from you in the near future?
For me I'm all about this new album and a couple of other side projects that are coming out. A new podcast and I'll definitely be back to do some more UK shows by the end of the year.
TSWS: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
I'm so glad that we can all gather together again. I'm looking forward to connecting with them all at the shows when I get to the UK in March/April