Tara Williamson

Look closer for three song lyrics and five song titles: “Not to us, but to Your Name, we lift up all praise” (credit-Hillsong Worship Love so Great – performed 05-13-2020 for Gateway Church Austin); “That’s why I wear my rubbers when it rains and eat an apple every day and see the doctor anyway”(As Long As I Live); “Is your soul crunchy like mine?” (Neon); Messenger; Get On with It; Hey Anywhere; Breaking Things; A Fighter

The story:

California born and raised, Tara Ann Petree moved to Texas and found her songwriting roots. For Tara, there isn’t a memory without music in it. She started singing weekly in church at age five, songwriting at the age of sixteen, and dabbled in the live music scene of Portland, Oregon after college. Austin’s welcoming spirit, endless sunshine and pool of talent brought out her best voice as a singer, songwriter, and musician.

After relocating to the Live Music Capitol of the World in late 2012 Tara spent a few years as a background vocalist with touring Austin soul band, The Nightowls. Among others, their accomplishments were to play at ACL Festival 2014 and 2015, Leon Bridges opener, Kool and the Gang opener, SXSW Official Act 2015 and 2016 and 2 National tours. While touring with the Nightowls, Tara continued to write several original tunes on the side. Those songs needed to have their time in the spotlight.

Acquiring the producing skills of fellow former band member and Austin keys player, Sean Giddings (Fall River Footmen), and more than a handful of Austin’s most talented musicians, she took to the studio in December of 2016 with her songs and influence from varying genres to produce her debut full-length album.

Tara brings concise, smart vocal hooks that converge into untamed melodic surges that invitingly distract and mesmerize. She draws from a wide variety of styles in her vocal-centric tunes: Patty Griffin, Dolly Parton, Norah Jones, Ingrid Michaelson, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Don Henley, Tracy Chapman, Joan Osborne, Sara Bareilles, and a little bit of soul from Aretha, Ella, and Etta. All these references make for her sensitive, decisive, raw, powerful and intermittently unhinged singing style.

Organic acoustic rhythms, spaghetti-western electric, pedal steel, intimate piano, B3 organ swells…the instrumenta-tion comprises every bit of Tara’s wide range of Americana, jazz, R&B, soul, folk-rock, country, and pop influences.

Recorded at David Boyle’s Church House Studio in East Austin, the album is chock full of vibrant, rumbling, live-room energy. Literally an old church redesigned into a recording space, the vintage equipment, instruments, and microphones of the studio coupled with the unmatched talent of the Austin music community made Church House an easy decision for Tara’s rootsy, soulful, honest sound.

The first two of three EPs are available on iTunes: Evolutions One (April, 2017) and Evolutions Two (2018).

Thirteen songs recorded in five days, mostly live, is a large feat. Producer Sean Giddings, Engineer Matt Meli, and the band of hand-picked Austin musicians worked tirelessly to create what Tara calls her “Empowerment Album”. Each song has a clear message surrounding struggle, forward movement, and personal growth with tracks like Messenger, A Fighter, Get On With It, andBreaking Things.  

– credit tarawilliamson.com

The artwork:

Each illustration helps a non-profit fund raiser. The first print of this illustration will be sold in a silent auction.

Digital Print on Archival Matte – Original illustration done in graphite and the following Prisma Colors: Sunburst Yellow for the sunshine Tara found in Austin; Olive Green for two reasons – the olive branch is a symbol of peace and green for the green light in Hey Anywhere; Process Red for the process of life – “I know the journey is worth it” (Hey Anywhere); Indigo Blue for the Blues influence in Tara’s vocals.
drawing done in May of 2020 – ©Tobin Signs/Look Closer Illustrations
DERIVATIVE Work – photo credit: Tara Williamson’s Facebook

What you get:
$40 (36.95 + 3.05 tax)
11 x 14 Print Package with Authenticity Sheet
signed and numbered (run of 20)
Domestic Priority Mail $8 (Free shipping)