n THE MUSICAL CHAMELEON
Her sultry voice echoes of Adele and Amy Winehouse , with even a hint of Billie Holiday . Her style ranges from bluesy singer-songwriter , to pop diva , and onward to jazz virtuoso . Her meticulously crafted music videos suggest an artist with a visual imagination that matches every octave of her broad vocal range .
For Adalia Tara , her every word , note , and image comes back to the same place : an exploration of how to help humanity through music .
“ The message behind my music is most important to me ,’” she said . “ If I don ’ t say something in my songs that I really stand behind , it feels like a missed opportunity .” Beginning her songwriting journey as an adolescent , Tara officially launched her professional career in Sedona , Arizona , where she often played six nights a week . With a visually stunning debut video for her song “ Release Me ,” she soon landed gigs at national festivals and won awards at major songwriting contests .
At a point in her life where she seemed just one song or phone call away from stardom , she followed her heart to her old stomping ground of Montgomery County . As Performing Arts Programming and Events Director at the Riverworks Art Center , she ’ s a widely accomplished performer finding joy in helping others discover their own musical direction .
“ My thoughts around the idea of what success means as a musician have changed and transformed over the years ,” she said . “ Right now , it feels really great to be helping the vision of a place like Riverworks and connecting people to their own creative artistry . I ’ m also doing something I ’ ve never done before ... I ’ m writing music for a feature length documentary film .”
If you see Tara playing locally or regionally this spring and summer , know that she ’ s doing so on her on terms .
“ When I was younger , I did feel the pressure . You really have to be touring . You have to have millions
PHOTO : WIB MIDDLETON
Singer-songwriter Adalia Tara performs a jazz set with pianist Justin Taylor and bass player Alex Nowak at a Riverworks Art Center event at Alden Farms in Beallsville . Check out her music at : adaliatara . com .
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