Interview With 'Tarah Who?'
Firstly, introduce yourselves and tell us a little bit about the band and how you came to be?
TGC: Hi, My name is Tarah. I am the lead singer and guitar player for Tarah Who? I started this project as a solo artist in Los Angeles about 10 years ago. I write all the songs and all the parts ( Drums, Bass, Guitar, Lyrics/Vocals), sometimes i record everything, other times I involve other musicians. My current band mates are Paul Costanza (Drums) and Matt Peltcher (Bass/Backing ocals.)
PC: Hey my name is Paul, I play Drums and Sousaphone. There are not too many parts with the Sousaphone so my main focus is the Drums. I joined the band back in 2012, a buddy of mine introduced me to Tarah and I played with her on and off for the past few years.
MP: My name is Matt and I play bass for Tarah Who?. Tarah Who? is in-your-face, intense hard rock with Grunge, Metal and Punk elements. I had been looking for an awesome band for some time and when I heard Tarah Who? for the first time I impressed with their sound.
What were you all up too prior to the band, was this always the chosen path or did you have other dreams and aspirations?
TGC: I am always playing on different projects outside of Tarah Who? I play the Drums and the Bass in different bands or when people ask. So I was doing that, I still am. I have never really thought of it as a path or career that I chose. I started playing when I was 14 and i just didn't stop. I just play... that is all I know what to do too!
PC: Before I joined I played in other projects around LA. I applied to be a hostess at a Denny's, but I never heard back from them (keep your fingers crossed, their's always a chance!!). I like to dream BIG.
MP: I had been in a couple bands prior to being in Tarah Who? I had tried college, several times, but got bored. Music was what I really wanted to pursue.
Tell us about your latest EP and why our readers should check it out.
TGC: "Federal Circle Of Shame" was recorded in one day! It's a live EP (5 songs) that I recorded with super high energy Drummer Jo Ko, the Bass player at the time Ash Orphan, who is now pursuing his solo acoustic career dreams (Check him out!), Nicolas Bazin was playing the Bass VI, an instrument that I own, that he had not had even heard of before this recording! Angie (Under The Skin) did the backing vocals on every song, and all of this was recorded with Alien Records. I am really proud of this new EP. There was such a great vibe and energy at the studio and between all of us. A short behind the scene documentary (thanks Myriam) will be released some time next year. I felt really lucky and supported working with all of these people. Musically, the EP is angrier, very raw, Rock with hints of Punk. There is a lot of screaming involved and tension. Here is what reviews had to say about it:
"The fierce power trio is back with a new EP: “Federal Circle Of Shame” 15 minutes of infectious Rage Rock that will leave you compelled to want more!"
I mean.. Come on..15 minutes... Just Check it out! It will make you want to break things. Not that you would want to.. but you may feel like it after hearing it. :)
PC: The last EP is amazing. I didn't get to play on it, but we do play most of the songs live. It's fast, has great energy and great vibes. Not too many bands out right now with a strong female front woman with something to say, so it stands out from typical rock radio.
MP: What Paul said. I'm not on it, but it's awesome. Get your copy today.
Have you ever come face to face with someone within the music scene who has left you awestruck and why?
TGC: The first time I met Jack Black, I was picking up my dog's poop. Also, the first time I ran into Chris Shiflett I sorta shat my pants. I was a huge Foo Fighters fan, Ash and I were leaving the studio one day, and Chris was coming to rehearse with our friend/lock out neighbor. We all talked outside for a bit, well.. I didn't. I couldn't. I just stayed quiet the whole time hoping to look cool (I didn't want to look like a crazy fan) but in my head I was shouting "Oh my god oh my god oh my god it's CHRIS FUCKING SHIFLETT!!) then they went inside to practice Chris Shiflett & the Dead Peasants (sounded JUST like the album, I couldn't believe this was really happening). Ash and I have very different music backgrounds, he had no idea what had just happened!
PC: No one in particular. But outside of the music scene, I was awestruck when I got to meet Bob Barker (former host of The Price Is Right) while walking Tarah's dog. Incredibly nice, and he looks pretty good for 92!
MP: I did get a chance to meet some of the members of L7 once. I was impressed how humble and down to earth they were.
If we were to head out to one of your live shows what can ourselves and others expect?
TGC: A fun time! Bring your ear plugs because we are loud, but it goes with the show.
A lot of people tell us they are afraid to come to our shows.They tell us that they are not young anymore or that it is not their kind of music etc..Well first of all, from our tours, we have noticed that the people that are enjoying Tarah Who? are all ages, but especially from 25 to 50, even older sometimes, and they tell us that it reminds them of when they were young. They say things like "I felt young again during your show" and we know, we have watched them dance! We hear a lot of: "It feels good to hear good music again." Or "Finally a band that can play instruments!" We've had people bring their kids to our shows (in Europe), the kids loved it and jumped all around. They usually get to come on stage and Rock out with us for a bit. I am truly hoping that they will have a great memory and continue to listen to rock music!
We LOVE the UK! Every gig that we have played in the UK was a blast, people go crazy, mosh pit etc...One time we played in a punk bar in London, a girl had broken her arm during a mosh-pit and did not want to leave! She yelled at the security man because she wanted to stay!
And all the people that have told us that it wasn't their kind of music said " I am really happy i came anyway! I usually don't like this type of music but you guys are very fun to watch and I actually like YOUR music!"
AWESOME!
PC: You would see a group of tight, super loud musicians playing catchy tunes. And meet a lot of our fans who come from all over, to see us play. Most of them have seen us multiple times and keep coming back for more.
MP: Our shows are always full of energy and fun. We really vibe off our audience too.
If you had one artist/band that you could go on tour with tomorrow who would it be and why?
TGC: Brody Dalle or Juliette Lewis but that's because i want to hang out with them!
Dead Sara: I think it would be a cool tour because we both are female fronted Rock Bands, and even though we don't have the same sound or show, we probably have the same audience.
Foo Fighters. I think it would work. Loud Rock- Male lead/ Loud Rock- Female lead.
PC: The band I would like to see us play with would have to be The Distillers because we have a similar vibe, and the same type of music.
MP: I’d love to go on tour with Queens Of The Stone Age. I hear their tours are crazy fun and those guys are great musicians.
You can spend an hour with a musical icon living or dead, who would you pick, why and what would you speak about?
TGC: Lemmy. I so wish he was still around. I think it would be easy to talk to Lemmy, I would just be happy listening to his crazy stories, drinking Jameson and Coke while he is chugging his Jack Daniels for a whole hour.
PC: I would hang with Jimi Hendrix. His music is definitely a huge influence on me. We probably wouldn't talk much, just hang, do a bunch of drugs and jam out on the guitar and drums.
MP: I would love to spend an hour with Kurt Cobain. I think he and his music were brilliant. I would just love to talk about anything he’d want to talk about.
And finally and most importantly is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?
TGC: Die Who? Yes, Die Hard is THE Christmas movie for dudes.
PC: Die Hard is the best Christmas movie...ever.
MP: Die Hard. Um, it’s Christmas Eve in the movie, so yea Xmas movie for sure.
We just want to say thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.
Website - http://www.tarahwho.com
