Tamara Hey

Artist Information

Biography

TAMARA HEY: ONE OF NYC's LITTLE TREASURES

Tamara Hey, is a New York City, AAA, folk/pop/rock singer-songwriter influenced by massive doses of The Beatles at a very young age and later on by Fleetwood Mac, Shawn Colvin and Suzanne Vega. Tamara�s quirky music and storytelling prowess move her listeners to giggle, gasp, sigh or cry through her carefully-crafted lyrics and infectious poppy music.

CURRENTLY, Tamara Hey is riding an exciting wave of TWO NEW RELEASES: 'Miserably Happy', (her 3rd AAA indie release), and Leeny and Tamara - Sharing the Same Stars, a CD of 14 original 'funducational' children's songs. Both projects keep her busy with interviews, promotion and live shows with and without her band in renowned NYC venues such as Arlene's Grocery and Rockwood Music Hall and with Leeny and Tamara' in venues (and private parties) throughout the North East.

In RECENT NEWS, legendary producer, Phil Ramone (Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel and countless others), enlisted Tamara to work with him on a song entitled 'The Heart of America' for the acclaimed PBS series 'National Parks - America's Best Idea' (2009), directed by Ken Burns; her voice appears on the recording of the song as well. Other of Tamara's original compositions have found their way into the 2008 Olympics, a Canadian documentary, independent films and 'Teen Idol' winner, Catalina Gaglioti's upcoming recording. Numerous compilation CDs feature live and studio recordings of Tamara's songs, including "The Beatles on Ukelele" which features Tamara and singer/songwriter, JJ Appleton performing "I Want You", Don Rosler's Recording Booth" project featuring a song Tamara and Don co-wrote entitled "First I Draw The Sun" and 3 Fast Folk Musical Magazine recordings (Smithsonian Folkways), alongside Rachel Sage, The Nudes, Richard Julian, Susan McKeown, and others.

SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO host, Deepak Chopra and Tamara, recently spent one chilly winter morning live on the air. While her appearance was only supposed to include the performance of one song, Deepak invited Tamara to stay longer, perform more songs from her upcoming record and discuss The Beatles, George Harrison and the creative process. The popular show re-ran every few hours that day and again months later.

Called "A QUIET AND OBSERVANT SOUL" and "ONE OF THE BEST SONGWRITERS IN TOWN", Tamara's live shows with and without her band are rapidly growing in popularity, due to her solid songwriting and stage presence. Not to mention her band, which always consists of NYCs finest players. Whether with a full-band, small combo or stripped down to guitar and vocals only, this is how Tamara's audiences have described their experience at her shows: "Great energy! I was so wound up I couldn't fall sleep!", "Definitely fun...time flew by!", "...songs are great and the band was spot on!"

Tamara's BACKGROUND in music extends all the way back to the first few years of her life and continued with formal and informal musical training on various instruments and in various schools (New York City�s High School of Performing Arts -- the �Fame� school) and Boston's Berklee College of Music. Since then, Tamara's musical education has been practical experience in and around New York City, the Northeast and Nashville, TN, as a performing singer/songwriter, co-writer, session singer, songwriting consulant, and music educator. She can be found performing in festivals such as Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Philadelphia Songwriters Festival, Cornstock (Tamara was sponsored by Jolly Time Popcorn for this one!), The Songwriters Hall of Fame, Durango Songwriters Expo, SESAC's Writer's on the Storm, NYC's Chick Singer Night and many more.

LATELY, Tamara Hey's musical presence extends beyond the reaches of her AAA audiences. This past year, she discovered a new and adoring audience when she founded "Bouncing Baby Music". As it's main artist, armed only with her guitar, voice and a few toys, Tamara performs original and popular music for privately-hosted gatherings of New York City's "power moms", their babies and toddlers. She refers to this experience as "the best day job ever".

For more information, reviews, whereabouts, etc, please visit the following online sources:

TamaraHey.com or MiserablyHappy.com
LeenyAndTamara.com
Facebook.com/TamaraHey
BouncingBabyMusic.com

Instrumentation

Tamara Hey: Solo Acoustic Guitar & Vocals or witha band:
Art Hays: Elecric Guitar & Backing Vocals
Tim Lefebvre: Bass
Brian Delaney: Drums
Henry Hey: Keyboards & Backing Vocals

Discography

Leeny and Tamara - Sharing the Same Stars (2009)
Miserably Happy (LP, 2008)
Right This Minute (LP, 2005)
A Little Space Left (LP, 1998)

Audio

• Drive
  Listen  
• Round Peg
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• David #3
  Listen  
• Miserably Happy
  Listen  
• You Wear Me Out
  Listen  
• Somebody's Girl
  Listen  
• Isabelle
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• Long Dog Day
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• Umbrella
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• October Sun
  Listen  
• Up In The Air
  Listen  

Lyrics

• DRIVE
• DAVID #3
• You Wear Me Out
• Round Peg
• Somebody's Girl
• Umbrella
• Isabelle
• Long Dog Day
• Miserably Happy
• October Sun
• UP IN THE AIR

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Tamara Hey: Miserably Happy [+ Show ]
  

  Tamara Hey, a New York City-based singer/songwriter, follows her 2005 debut Right This Minute with a...Tamara Hey, a New York City-based singer/songwriter, follows her 2005 debut Right This Minute with an expertly crafted sophomore release, Miserably Happy. Refreshingly, Hey - all smiles in the two photos on the cover of the CD jacket - brings lighthearted optimism to a singer/songwriter genre often skewed toward the brooding and depressive.
  
  In the latest record, Hey has surrounded herself with an individually noteworthy cast of accompanying musicians: producer and guitarist Art Hays linked with Matchbox Twenty and Carbondale, Keyboardist (and husband) Henry Hey known from his work with Rod Stewart and Jeff Watts, drummer Brian Delaney of NY Dolls, and bassist Tim Lefebvre whose played alongside the likes of James Taylor and Patty Austin. Amid such a talented backdrop, Tamara Hey's joyously soulful voice and deeply contemplative lyrics stand out, allowing her emotive ability to forge a personal connection between listener and song.
  
  While there is obviously an immense level of talent, Hey has also been formerly educated in the elite settings of both the Performing Arts School and the renowned Berklee College of Music.
  
  Miserably Happy blends humor, sarcasm, wit, and introspection to create a feel good album with tons of pop vibes. There's too too much of a full band sound to be truly classify it as a singer/songwriter record, rather the album falls somewhere in the realm of folk rock, AAA, with subtle hints of country sensibilities. Her diverse sound comes from a wide range of influences, but her interests seem primarily rooted in the realm of classic rock and its extensions, proclaiming herself as a Beatles-fanatic with a deep appreciation for the likes of Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, ELO, and Suzanne Vega. Her voice echoes the same spinnability and freedom that characterizes the era of the flower children. “Miserably Happy” the album's titled track, rides a pleasant but bare melody, yet Hey's ability to elevate a simple phrase “I'm so miserably happy” into a catchy hook transforms it into one of those songs that seems to linger in your mind long after the track is done. Hey can best be described as a blending of Aimee Mann's story telling prowess, Dido's sincerity, and KT Tunstall's poppy angst. While the CD will certainly have you bobbing your head with a smile, I imagine the real pleasure to come with seeing Hey and her extremely talented band play a live set. She currently plays a majority of shows throughout the New York City region, but as momentum gains behind this talented songstress, keep an eye for shows popping up throughout the Northeast region.
  
  

• HEY! LISTEN TO THIS! [+ Show ]
  

  Tamara Hey deserves better after speding well over a decade toiling in the East Village music scene....Tamara Hey deserves better after speding well over a decade toiling in the East Village music scene. She's unassuming and polite, and you can't tell she's one of the best songwriters in town. Her work is excellent with memorable melodies and literate lyrics that stay with the listener...While her sound has always been a spirited amalgam of influences, she remains her own animal. An impressive and thoughtful creator, Hey's a songwriter's songwriter, composing insightful stories with characters far distant from her own personality, but who nonetheless ring quite true...Good as she is now, with the successful steps taken on Miserably Happy, who knows what tomorrow brings.' (This is an excerpt from a full page review...to read more go to: http://miserablyhappy.com/reviews_full.html)

• Instantly memorable/recognizable. [+ Show ]
  

  January 2009 Tamara Hey - Miserably Happy 2008, Miserably Happy Records (excerpt: read the entire...January 2009
  Tamara Hey - Miserably Happy
  2008, Miserably Happy Records
  (excerpt: read the entire review at:
  http://wildysworld.blogspot.com/)
  
  Tamara Hey is a product of New York City. All the humor, intelligence, sarcasm and soul searching that goes with being a New Yorker is reflected perfectly on her latest album, Miserably Happy... The subtle essence of wit is ever-presented on Hey's most recent album, Miserably Happy. No subject is devoid of opportunity in Hey's capable hands.
  
  Drive is probably my favorite song on the record, nailing the angry urgency with which New Yorkers live every single day. Drive is about the need to get away from time to time to refresh yourself, and is delivered with a wink of wit. Other highlights include David #3, Long Dog Day and Miserably Happy. Tamara Hey closes out with October Sun, a musical painting of images and understandings ... the prettiest and most poignant song on Miserably Happy.
  
  Tamara Hey is quite the songwriter. Intelligent and funny lyrics back up against strong country/folk/rock arrangements that serve as perfect vehicles for Hey's sweet voice. Tamara Hey is just quirky enough to be instantly memorable/recognizable. Once you've heard her sing you'll always know Hey's voice right away. That is a quality most singers would die for. Add to that the obvious talent and you have quite a package. Miserably Happy is well-written and well-performed, and an indication that Tamara Hey should be a viable force in folk and rock for some time to come.
  
  Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

• Does not disappoint [+ Show ]
  

  Tamara Hey 'Right This Minute' Jersey Beat Robert Barry Francos December 2009 "While going t...Tamara Hey
  'Right This Minute'
  Jersey Beat
  Robert Barry Francos
  December 2009
  
  "While going to see another musician, Tamara was on the same bill. We were going to stay just long enough to hear a song or two but remained for the whole set because it was musical love at first hear. Afterwards, I went over and got this CD from her. With a mix of pop, country and jazz, Tamara is another that doesn’t follow a formulaic pattern in subject matter. The first and title cut of this CD just blew me away from the first time I put it on, and the rest does not disappoint. Many of the songs cover relationships, but again, her perspective is not standard. Included is a wistful realizing that a relationship is ending ('Up In the Air'), sadness in realizing a partner may be interested in someone else (the beautifully haunting 'More Like Melanie') and someone close who is battling personal substance demons ('In the Universe With Me'), supportively confronting a friend who has just come out ('Girl Talk'), standing up to another ('Angeline'), and even a bluegrass themed angst ('Pebble in My Shoe'). Tamara’s songs are powerful stuff that loses nothing in the music. She has just released a new CD, and I am sure it will be reviewed by me at some point in my 'Quiet Corner' column."

Setlist

All original music. Can do sets of any length.

Basic Requirements

Calendar