Our first-time intro to any music artist begins with our Artist Profile, where we learn about them and their music, directly from them.
Name: Tara Holloway
CMW Show(s):
Hometown: Born in Ottawa, grew up in Vancouver, now live in Ottawa 🙂
Music Genre: Alternative/Pop
Year it all began: First time on stage: 1994; First time on stage in a bar: 1995; First 6-song cassette: 1996
A quick introduction: “When Miss Holloway opens up, you immediately get the sense that there’s someone real here. You remember what it’s like to FEEL music rather than listen to it. She’s been compared to some of the more esteemed female artists of the present and past… to the confessional style of Lucinda Williams, the haunting wail of Stevie Nicks, the broken charm of Shelby Lynne. But there is no mistaking that this is a truly original voice – someone new.”
What got you into music? I just always loved loved loved to sing, since the beginning of time (or the beginning of my memories forming anyway!). My whole family loves music- who doesn’t though?? :)! But my Mum loved singing, and my Dad is a record collector- so probably between those two major aspects of their personalities, here I am, obsessed with the thing!
What are your sources of inspiration? Listening to music is my #1 inspiration, for sure, and then there’s hard times- those are pretty good for something after all! And for me, i dive in and write by myself, or i just as easily set a time to co-write- and either way i love the process. I’m not one of those ‘wake up every morning and write’ type of folks. I either write when the mood strikes, or i do co-writing sessions on our own appointed schedule. I find the two modes work off of each other and every song has elements of my two processes. (was that confusing? haha)
Dream gig? Playing that Bowl in Stanley Park, with say, Esthero, Sia, Hayden, and PJ Harvey. That sounds like the best night of my life! 🙂
Your thoughts on Canadian Music Week?
- Some dear friends of mine have their showcase (The Vault @ OneKingWest) officially official this year, and i’m excited to be a part of that crazy awesome evening of music! (Donovan Woods, Ambre McLean, +)
- And i’ve never played the Cadillac Lounge- i love late nights, and i’m happy to have a 40minute set here at midnight!
- My label is out in Vancouver- it will be SO fun to see some of my labelmates (and managers!) throughout CMW week!
Interesting points others don’t know about you? I spent 5 years making my last record, whenever i could get out to LA. And then spent 3 years releasing it! Over the last year I’ve been working on a record (signed to Light Organ Records) and i’m releasing that in 2014. yesssss!