Fast rising Canadian singer and songwriter Tamara Grace, is already changing the narrative of what a good music should be through the kind of music that she make. The multifaceted, songstress who went into music at a very young age has written and released many songs to her credit.. The multi-talented songster recently released her classy new single dubbed ‘Sad Boys’ where she showcased her musical prowess, bold lyricism and stunning vocals.
However, Tamara who is gradually breaking into the mainstream with her own style of music joined us on today’s episode of #SM interview where she shared some pertinent information with us. In this Rising interview, Tamara, talked about her music career, forthcoming project and her personality in general. Tamara, who is gearing up to release two more singles before the year runs out is equally working on releasing her first EP next year.
In summation, Tamara on her speedy rise is an artiste that you all need to watch for as she is getting ready to take over the music industry with her great musical talent soon. Check out the interview below and be sure to air your view about this interview and her new single “Sad boys” by leaving a comment in the section beneath.
STREAM ‘SAD BOYS’ BY TAMARA GRACE BELOWWho is Tamara Grace?
I am a 20-year-old singer/songwriter and musician from Montreal, Canada. I’ve had an enormous admiration for music for as long as I can remember! My parents discovered my passion for music even before I was able to acknowledge it, so when I turned 6, they enrolled me into piano and vocal lessons. I started performing at the age of 7. But when I was the age of 9, I participated in my first local music competition and participated in several more throughout the years. My sophomore year of high school was when I started working with a music producer and that same year, I released my first single “Teddy Bear”. After balancing my education and my music career for a couple of years, I finally decided to entirely commit myself to my music.
You usually describe yourself as a “shy girl with a big dream”. How do you balance your shy nature with your music career?
Growing up, it was definitely a challenge! Whenever it came to both conversating with people and performing on stage, I would get very anxious. But somehow, I would still be able to manage and get everything done. Over the years, out of performing more and more, controlling my shyness and anxiety became easier over time. Now, I’m at a place where the shyness has pretty much vanished. I used to fear being on stage, but I now consider it to be where I feel most comfortable.
What drew you to music and what fascinates you most about your singing career?
With complete honesty, I have no idea how music all started for me because it just came so naturally. My parents have told me that when I was a toddler, I showed many signs indicating that music was my calling. When I was in elementary school, coming back home was a treat because it was time for me to have my ‘mini concert’. I would pick out an outfit and ask my mom to film me with her old video-camera. I would sing tunes from High School Musical, Avril Lavigne and Rihanna. Karaoke as also such a big thing in my family. Any chance I would get, I would turn on the karaoke machine and sing my heart out. What I find very fascinating about my singing career is simply the amount of control I have with my creativity and decisions.
You grew up surrounded by various music styles such as Pop, R&B, Hip Hop/Rap, Jazz, Country and Classical, all of which have hugely influenced your sound today. Which amongst these genres are you basically into?
I really do admire every genre! What I love most is exploring new artists, sounds and genres. I’m very open-minded. I listen to each of them depending on my mood and the environment I’m in. However, if I had to choose a favourite, I would say that I’m really into ‘Pop’ music.
You wrote your first song ‘Rainbow’ at the age of 11. How were you able to write a song at such a tender age?
‘Rainbow’ was actually not my first song. Songwriting for me started at the age of 8. But the first song I took more seriously was indeed ‘Rainbow’ when I was 11 years old. I would tell you that it all started by writing in my journal and my lack of talking about my feelings both combined. The process would usually start with writing everything I’m feeling down on my notes… write as much detail as I can, and it would basically go from there. Looking through the pages, choosing and trimming the words, finding the perfect melody that would suit the concept and vibe, finding a suitable song title and by then, the song would practically be done! Not sure how it all came about, but I still can’t believe I’ve been doing this since the age of 8… it’s insane to wrap my head around sometimes!
You were often bullied as a child, which made you grow up with insecurities, anxiety and depression. How has this brutality affected your relationship with people and your personality in general?
Being bullied very young, then having to deal with insecurities, anxiety and depression definitely had a big impact on the way I interacted with people. I always had a very tall emotional barrier, so it would be extremely difficult for me to open up to literally anyone, including those I was closest to. Then going through the waves of insecurities and mental illnesses was very challenging because it impacted the way I saw and thought of myself. I feared judgement, but ironically, my biggest critic was myself. It affected things I really wanted to do. My heart would always tell me to go for what I believed in, but my mind would overpower it and tell me otherwise.
Will you be releasing any new song, EP or an album anytime soon? If yes, what should your fans expect from it?
Yes, I have great plans for 2021 and 2022! This year, I have two upcoming singles as well as a music video for my single “Teddy Bear”. Something you could expect from the two singles is that they’re upbeat, catchy and definitely different from what I put out with “Sad Boys” and “Teddy Bear”. I always try to keep my music in the ‘pop’ world, but I love to experiment new things. So, I’d say for these two upcoming songs, I definitely had to take one step away from my comfort zone. They were very cool to work on as it was a new experience for me, as I am very used to writing ballads. As for 2022, I am working on to release my first official EP of which all materials are ready to go! I’m really excited to introduce it to the world as I know the impact will be huge! This EP would probably be one-of-a-kind as each song has a different genre and concept. I’m super proud, ecstatic and I am really looking forward to releasing my upcoming projects for the world to hear! Please stay tuned!
Through music you acknowledge your emotions, heal anxiety and depression. Do you think the kind of music that you make normally have the same effect on your listeners?
Probably so! Making music really does help me cope with everything. Whenever I am in a create mood, I always feel like I’m in a different world! About 95% of my songs are based on my personal experiences. I keep my craft as honest and raw as possible. I’ve actually had some people tell me that my honest lyrics was what they appreciated most about my music. So, I definitely hope that my songs can impact, inspire and comfort others in the way it does for me.
What are some of the major challenges that you have faced in your career so far and how were you able to solve them?
I don’t think I’ve ever encountered any major challenge in my music career so far.
Who or what influences your kind of music?
It really does depend. I would take the time and listen to different genres and artists. Some artists that I really look up to are Lady Gaga, Adele, Freddie Mercury and Stromae! When exploring new artists, I like to pay very close attention to everything… from their songwriting style, instruments, song meanings and more. And in the process, I would often learn new things and mostly use some elements that I’d find in some of my songs as an influence and inspiration. Also, my experiences always tend to inspire me: the good and the bad. Relationships, friendships, mental health, you name it! One example I can think of right now is… one night, when I was at a very dark place in my life, I was experiencing sleep paralysis for the first time in years. I couldn’t move or speak and was pretty shaken. The next morning, I wrote about it and ended up using it in a song. That song is actually one of my favorite songs that I’ve written so far. And it will be one of the tracks in my upcoming EP in 2022.
