Album Notes

"Tamara's voice reaches every cavity of a club. Her lyrics compliment the heavy-folk groove, wrought with the primal epistle of survival and independence.” --East-Village.com

The first thing you notice is the voice: classically trained, burnished with soul, soaring and stunning one moment, then hushed like a prayer. Then you hear the words: songs of survival, cries from the dark, epiphanies and rueful truths. The melodies curl around you, insistent and electric, and the percussive acoustic guitar takes hold. Think Lucinda Williams with a gospel voice or Mahalia Jackson crossed with Sheryl Crow: Tamara Fishman is a singer-songwriter with poetic depth and bluesy soul.

The daughter of a poet, Tamara quickly learned the power of words. It wasn’t long before she also discovered the expressive and supple instrument of her voice. Tamara’s songs, built on a rock and folk base, have absorbed various influences over the years, including blues, musical theater—among other roles, she was a featured vocalist in Hair—and deep soul: she sang in Tulane University’s gospel choir. After college, she joined or created several rock bands, including Ruby Red and Ruby Girl.

Looking to perfect her sound, Tamara bought a guitar and taught herself how to play. Within months, she was a regular in the New York City open mic scene and soon began performing solo shows at such venues as The Baggot Inn, The Elbow Room, CB’s 313 Gallery, and Pianos. Tamara was also recently selected to be an Artist-in-Residence at the Makor/Steinhardt Center of the 92nd Street Y.

From child poet to gospel singer to rock front-woman, Tamara’s journey to accomplished singer-songwriter has culminated in the release of her debut full-length CD, The Hunger and the Silence.