By: Staff
Tara Van's recently unveiled single "Hello Human" is an absolute delight that offers a captivating perspective on the world through the eyes of other living beings. The track marks a significant achievement, featuring adorable and thought-provoking visuals that perfectly complement the captivating vocal performance. The song immediately grabs attention with its unique acoustic guitar sound, setting the stage for the wonderfully uplifting lyrics. Lines like "If we fall (x4), we fall (x4) together. If we fail (x4), we fail (x4) together" convey a powerful message of unity and perseverance, uplifting the spirits of all who listen. The visuals are a true highlight, depicting a charming scene of a bee with an endearing friend riding on its back as they journey through our world. This imagery beautifully complements the song's proclamation, "We have the answer to heal our own pain." While the ending touches on more somber themes with visuals of our worst polluters, the overall feeling is one of hope – the belief that by coming together, we can overcome any challenge. These themes were necessary and great in further assisting us all in taking this seriously.
Tara Van has crafted a true gem with "Hello Human," blending infectious enthusiasm, profound wisdom, and a beautifully rendered audiovisual experience. This single will resonate with listeners, inspiring them to face the future with optimism and a renewed sense of unity. Be sure to check out, stream, and share Tara Van's newly released single "Hello Human" today!
Wait, there's more! We caught up with this exciting and emerging artist in “The Cage” to talk about music and much more.
Here’s how it went:
When did you start making music?
When I was four years old really! I've pretty well always been writing little songs and singing them since I was able to talk. Only started properly sharing them in 2023 however.
Can you tell the fans something they might not know about you and why you create music?
I literally couldn't stop if I tried, haha. It's like breathing to me. When I'm not being creative and writing, I know that something is suffocating me. In that way, it's always been a good gauge for me to reflect on my life and what might need to change.
Can you walk us through your songwriting process and where the inspiration comes from for this latest project?
I predominantly write with a voice so the lyrics and melodies come together in my head, and then I find ways to express them through other instruments and collaborators. It's my way of articulating and processing all my senses and emotions. With this last release 'Hello Human' I was in Panama and had just finished Astra Taylor's book 'The Age Of Insecurity' which I thought was wonderfully done and it was refreshing to get a female perspective on political and social theory. More often than not when I'm reading books on philosophy and politics and the future there is this formidable presence of hopelessness and a sense that there is nothing to be done. I think the female perspective can be refreshing as we literally carry the future and life within us. I think this often makes us more inclined to be hopeful and optimistic because in some ways we have to be. We are also so deeply in tune with the cycles of time and seasons as it influences our own internal functions. To be a woman is to be on a neverending rollercoaster ride haha. So I was thinking a lot about life, balance and hope staring out at the sea and sky. I had also been stung by a stingray recently and was quite humbled by the amount of pain and the sharing of space as well as respect for all the creatures we share it with.
Where do you create your music, i.e. in a home recording studio or with a producer? How do you finalize your finished work, ie self-mixed/mastered or another source?
I write my tunes anywhere and everywhere but when it comes down to recording I have been working with two absolutely wonderful, talented and creative producers Malory Torr and her partner Patrick Cederberg for mastering at their home studio in Baby Point and Mark Calderone for production, mixing and mastering at his phenomenal recording studio and music hub Apartment Sea Sound by Broadview.
Is any part of your music's message or your personal purpose you feel fans should know more about? If so, what is that element, and why is it so important to you?
We just have to do better. We have become very selfish creatures us humans and I think if we keep it up it will indeed be our demise. The sort of ironic thing is that our selfish practices not only are harmful to the planet and the other people and creatures we share the planet with but they are also harmful to us personally. Selfishness in the long run leads to unhappiness and what we are all generally reaching for at all times is in fact happiness. But we look for happiness in all the wrong places; possessions, money, sex, power, status, influence, entertainment ect. The things that make most of us happiest are community, variety, physical activity especially complex and demanding physical pursuits which allow you to reach a state of 'flow'(the best boost for our dopamine levels) and practicing mindfulness! Happiness is infectious, the happier we are ourselves the more happiness we will bring out in others.
What has been the most motivating force in creating your music?
A need to try to make the world a better place as well as a want to be seen in my entirety. We judge constantly and people are always trying to be these perfect versions of themselves but we are messy and flawed creatures. The only way to be truely know and in a sense to be truely free is to be known in your entirety which of course is a neverending life pursuit as we evolve, grow, learn and change.
If there was one thing you could change about the music industry, what would it be?
The value of art or more importantly the supports for artists to be able to create. Art has always and will always be difficult to put a monetary value on and some of that is to do with tastes but most of it I think is to do with skillsets. The majority of artists are creative types and not very business savvy. They also do it because it is their life force and there is a long long list of people who will do it for free for simply the love of it, which of course is wonderful but also undervalues the profession. Greed is at the root of the problem. There are many business savvy people however who do make tons of money off of artists. Allowing businesses like Ticketmaster to be in bed with scalpers is criminal. Companies with the sole purpose of buying up huge amounts of tickets just for resale should not be allowed to exist. It grossly inflates the cost and prices many fans out of being able to see their favourite artists with absolutely no benefit to the artists themselves. Same as companies like Spotify which are phenomenal tools as a user however undercut artists and have essentially made recorded music, which costs a ton to produce, free. Artists are essential. Much like a lot of woman's work the arts are undervalued and overlooked and yet they support us in and allow us to access our emotions, feel connection, be empowered, exercise, reflect and create community. All of which fall onto the list of things that boost happiness levels.
Where do you see your sound and artistry heading in the future? Are there any exciting new directions you're exploring?
Soul baby! I am absolutely going crazy for the soul, Motown and disco resurgence going on right now. I want to create music that moves and motivates people not just emotionally but physically. It does need to be dance which I absolutely adore but to go on a walk, a hike, a run, a ride, event just step away from the computer and take a moment to meditate, create or ruminate.
What instruments do you play? Which is your favorite?
Voice firstly but I also play rhythmic guitar and ukelele and dabble with keyboard here and there. I love most instruments honestly but voice is definitely the one that I will always and forever gravitate towards as a storyteller.
Tell us about the last time you performed. Where was the show, and what was your experience like?
Well the last time I performed was a new song a few days ago at the wedding of two close friends who I introduced five years ago. It was pretty emotional. My ex was there too with a new partner and the whole experience was very uplifting and soul moving as well as hard. The song is called 'Some Love's Will Never Die' and I wrote it back in January. It was originally written about my ex but it was nice to repurpose it and breathe new life into it as a love song more about hope, which I do believe is at the root of love, rather than loss.
Have you ever been on tour and can you tell us a little about the experience?
I was on my first international tour to the UK and Denmark earlier this year and it was pretty amazing. I just went on my own to play for the International Pop Overthrow Festival in both Liverpool and Copenhagen and it was very confidence building and reflective. It was the first time I've ever actually allowed myself to represent myself exclusively as a singer-songwriter for two weeks
What advice would you give your younger self?
Go see a therapist.
End Interview
Check out this latest release and listen to more of Tara Van on Spotify & YouTube.
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