Exclusive Interview With TARA HACK

Returning to the scene, singer-songwriter Tara Hack is taking her trademark soulful sound to new heights with her most recent single, “Who Is Hurting Who.” With this emotionally charged, garage-influenced new single, Tara Hack further demonstrates the range of her voice, building on the success of her previous release, “Sweet Nothing.”

‘Who Is Hurting Who’ is an exploration of a troubled love story, where two people grapple with the complexities of their relationship and the looming question of whether it even matters who is causing the pain when it’s clear that it’s coming to an end. The track’s soulful and evocative lyrics are sure to resonate with listeners, showcasing Tara Hack’s gift for storytelling through music. Check out the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

TARA HACK: I grew up on Long Island in a suburb about an hour outside of Manhattan. My father, a conductor on the Long Island railroad, would notice people playing music in Penn Station. He suggested I give that a try. So, I started my career busking in the train stations of Manhattan and Atlantic Terminal, in Brooklyn.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

TARA HACK: I guess I would be considered more self-taught. I’ve taken a couple of online classes with Berklee College later on in my musical journey, in an attempt to smooth out some of the rough edges that come with being a self-taught musician.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences?

TARA HACK: Coldplay has and forever will be a massive influence for me. I also grew up on Long Island, the birthplace of Billy Joel, and I would definitely say a huge part of my youth was spent listening to him as well. A lot of the classics were part of my upbringing, The Beatles, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Van Morrison, T-Rex, Bob Marley my dad was always playing them in the house or in the car driving. So all of these artists have taken up some degree of space in my musical brain.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

TARA HACK: I think the common thread of my music is my voice. I love different sounds and genres, so I wouldn’t say I identify with one genre specifically, but I think my personality within the music is what ties it all together.

5. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

TARA HACK:

It depends really. I wouldn’t say there is one set way. Typically though, I hear a beat or melody and then the words come. Sometimes I’ll have the overall theme in my head of what I want this song to say and then it’s fitting that narrative into the parameters of the song. I’ve been collaborating a lot lately with other artists and I’m really enjoying it. For example, this latest release of singles I’ve had (Bounce, Always Sunshine, Utopia, I Wish That It Could Be Christmas, Sweet Nothings, Who Is Hurting Who) have all been a collaborative effort, working with Phil Pickett, Benny D, Nick Coler, Joe Killington, K Warren, and I couldn’t be happier with the songs we’ve created.

6. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style?

TARA HACK: I believe who I am as an artist is a culmination of all of my influences. I think as an artist you strive to sound similar and within the process of trying to emulate you create your own sound. Almost like cooking, each influence is a different flavor or spice you’re adding to the bigger picture, the song. I’ll take something I like that Coldplay does and mix that with a sound I like from a hip-hop artist or maybe a disco dance artist and try to create something a little different.

7. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

TARA HACK: I think music can be a mix of both. You don’t always want something serious sometimes you want something fun which is what I was trying to create with my song “Bounce” where it’s just about dancing and enjoying the night. Other times, I do like to get a little bit more political, like my Bob Dylan-inspired song, “Utopia,” which pays homage to the protest songs of the 1960s.

8. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

TARA HACK: I am having a blast creating the music that I’ve been releasing. Music and creating is something that is always within you. You might not do it for a while, or take longer breaks, but it’s not something you can turn off completely. I would love to be promoting that I’ll be on stage at Glastonbury. I am not there yet, but I’ll always keep striving for that.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

TARA HACK: The toughest thing I’ve had to endure in my life was the sudden passing of my father in 2021. We were extremely close, he was my best friend, and that really affected me in ways I’m still discovering. The toughest thing I’ve endured within my music career has been finding the people that I want to create music with. When you work with other members within the industry it can be tough creating because they have a vision and you have a vision and that doesn’t always align. Sometimes that is because of ego but it can also be just because you like different sounds. I’m very happy with my current crew.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

TARA HACK: I’ve had some really great moments. I recorded at Abbey Road and stood where The Beatles created their iconic pieces of work. I spent 3 months in England writing and recording with the legendary Phil Pickett (co-writer of “Karma Chameleon,” ) and Benny D (Boy George, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams), which those songs will continue to be released every 6 weeks or so. My song “Overthinking” features Ryan Cabrera, an artist I’ve grown up listening to. I’ve had songs played on Sirius XM “She Wants to Be Loved,” “Let Go,” and “Utopia.” I hope to keep adding to this list of accomplishments.