Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Jane.
Tara, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My first guitar I got when I was about nine. My mom pawned her wedding ring and told me I could have anything in the store, after a quick glance around the room I pointed at a Spanish style nylon string guitar hanging from the ceiling, this kick started my forever obsession with music.
My roots lay heavily in LA’s Underground Goth/Punk DIY scene. Going to backyard punk shows in the Southbay, South LA and Hollywood areas when I was a teenager. Punk Rock shaped my attitude and opened my world to a community that was beyond anything I had ever known and feel so special to be apart of.
I’m lucky in a way growing up here and being exposed to so many different genres and scenes. In 2014 I started my first band project, a shoegaze/post punk band ‘Blood Candy’, and have played guitar in other projects as well. Guitar being my first instrument making oceanic soundscapes and layers with a sea of guitar pedals opened my mind to the more experimental darker side of music. Which brought me to start Caress.
Caress is my dark wave solo project, I founded this year. The sound took years of cultivating. My favorite musicians have always been more on the goth side and electronic. The Cure, New Order, etc. I’m excited to say I will be releasing a full album for Caress where I get to showcase everything I have learned so far both stylistically and emotionally.
Has it been a smooth road?
Ever since I can remember getting into music as a queer woman, even as a young girl being faced with a mountain of misogyny. I think its truly incredible all of the female identifying & lgbtqia+ collectives/managers/bookers/labels/music professionals etc. that are surfacing working together to make the industry a more inclusive place where its truly about the music and community.
There was a moment with Caress before I started where I felt very disempowered and discouraged learning how to program drum machines and synths and moving more into electronic music production after being a guitar player for so long. I realized that any person who tries to tell you that you can’t do something that helps you grow is just not the kind of person you need to listen to. I needed to take a risk and make what I’ve always wanted to make shamelessly and unhindered.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Caress – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Caress is a solo music project, best described as a blend of haunting melodies that reign over echoed drum machines, airy synths, and reverb drenched guitar. Heavily inspired by 80’s dark wave and modern synth pop.
The live performances are dancy but fueled with raw emotion. Caress is known for its glamour and seductive gothiness.
There are elements in the writing that are unique. For the demo EP, “The Cherished”, I explore different ideas of what it means to Cherish. Traversing through darker themes like betrayal and failure, but also challenging certain ideas of the meaning; if it’s possible to eternally cherish anything.
Each song explores a concept relating to this theme and are tied into personal experiences with desire, isolation, sacrifice and even absurdity.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I’ve encountered some of the best creatives and inspiring people. What I love most about Los Angeles is how open people have been towards collaborating with me and seeing creatives supporting each other be it if you’re a photographer, filmmaker, musician, artist, etc. it’s incredible how the art scene sustains itself through this form of community.
What I like the least? Probably the traffic.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://caress.bandcamp.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Other: https://caress.bandcamp.com/album/the-cherished-demos
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