Metal Mother

Bust Magazine, June, 2011: Calling Metal Mother a band is something of a misnomer, since the album is mostly the work of musician Tara Tati. She wrote the songs, produced the record, sings, and plays keyboard. Her debut LP, Bonfire Diaries, shares the atmospheric, spaces-out vibe as Beach House; the difference is that Metal Mother is a good deal creepier. Dark, spooky melodies are layered over pulsating, seductive beats while Tati’s voice (which can be Bjork-esque at times) ties everything together. Despite Metal Mother’s moniker, these songs aren’t very aggressive. Instead, Tati has described the sound as “dark wave’, which seems far more appropriate. The ambient, sexy Bonfire Diaries would work equally well as a soundtrack for a all-night make-out session. Its not especially catchy, but it is definitely captivating. [Amy Plitt] - BUST Magazine

MTV Iggy: “ The overtly spiritual packaging for Metal Mother’s new LP Bonfire Diaries suggests that you’re either in for some angry metal, or a hokey world music compilation. Imagine my surprise when Bonfire Diaries turned out to be neither. Metal Mother, or the often facepainted Oakland pianist/singer Tara Tati, produced an album of tight, ethereal art pop filled with Bjork avant ambiance, Kate Bush drama, and tense Celtic underpinnings that steam up from the underworld. Whether by accident or not, Tati, like Bat for Lashes, has reinvented metal aesthetics for the sake of dark, tribal folk pop. The main ingredient in the album is Tati’s capable soprano. Ditching the warrior guise, Tati slurs and drapes the album with the warm, washed-out vocal lightness of Purity Ring. Her arbitrary tunes compete with chill, amorphous soundscapes and dark folk drumming, which always congeal into pleasant pop beats. The last track, “Billy Cruz” is a charming anomaly due to its accessible Afropop melody. Bonfire Diaries doesn’t “dissolve expectations of greatness or failure,” as Tati’s site promises. It’s not a “raw offering of maternaline metallescence” which will in turn “seduce the wicked out of the garden,” (I’m pretty wicked and I still enjoy a good garden. And is maternaline like Ovaltine?) but it is a very solid body of atmospheric pop that would certainly thrill a yoga studio — and the unstretched masses, too. “ -Halley Bondy , 5/3/11 - MTV Iggy

Weekly Picks, Nov. 23-29, 2011:
By some standards, Oakland’s Tara Tati came into music fairly late; she didnt take up the piano serioulsy until she was 23. But you wouldn’t guess as much listening to her ethnic fusion project, Metal Mother. On the debut album, Bonfire Diaries, the singer-songwriter bulids up a bold and elemental sound. With its trudging temp and distinctly dark temper, Metal Mother invokes 80’s goth rock, ethinic fusion bands like Dead Can Dance, and at times, world ambient soundscapes. And yet, at heart, Tati sounds like a pop artist in the same vien as Bjork circa Homeogenic, and that alone implies talent. [Miller]
- San Francisco Bay Guardian

Weekly Picks, Nov. 23-29, 2011:
By some standards, Oakland’s Tara Tati came into music fairly late; she didnt take up the piano serioulsy until she was 23. But you wouldn’t guess as much listening to her ethnic fusion project, Metal Mother. On the debut album, Bonfire Diaries, the singer-songwriter bulids up a bold and elemental sound. With its trudging temp and distinctly dark temper, Metal Mother invokes 80’s goth rock, ethinic fusion bands like Dead Can Dance, and at times, world ambient soundscapes. And yet, at heart, Tati sounds like a pop artist in the same vien as Bjork circa Homeogenic, and that alone implies talent. [Miller]
- San Francisco Bay Guardian

Led by Oakland's Tara Tati, Metal Mother proves the Bay can do dark wave and do it well (take that LA!). - The Deli Magazine

A project of Bay Area singer-songwriter Tara Tati, Metal Mother is a winsome mix of ethereal textures and tribal art-pop that do a great showcasing Tati’s expressive vocal style. Tati, a “student of many esoteric traditions,” sings about connection with the earth, politics, relationships, and freedom in way that evokes that California spiritual ethos she has emerged from. Check out the (somewhat NSFW) video for her song “Shake” (which she also directed) to get a feel for the sound, aesthetic, and vision of this intriguing new artist. - The Wild Hunt Blog

Like the sparks that soar into the night sky, Tara Tati’s voice is like an exodus from the tribal ritual that levitates through the ravines of multi-instrumental indie rock.

“Shake” is beautiful prowess from an out of body experience that makes you want to roll your eyes into the back of your head and seek out heaven. Where Telepathe is like a sexual celebration of self, Metal Mother is the religion. And If five minutes feels like the entire night, then “Ashes” glows like the breaking dawn.

Tati and the group keep things on a slow and persistent level where the tempo is used more as punctuation than as drive. Where the emotion comes from is within. “In The Bones” works like a processional with lyrical story as movement. Metal Mother is great at accomplishing this while keeping the essence of the music very real.

Bonfire Diaries weaves urban tales as if they were recently recovered after years lost within the Badlands. And every song feels as if they are treasures of the past while being firmly embedded in the present. You suddenly forget about time and place and transcend into Tati’s vision of beauty and spirit. Once you conjoin the two together within her songs, that is when you realize just how special this album is.
- Zap Town

If you ever had a craving for Avatar to be mixed with the TV show Charmed than you may be a creepy nerd. Now if you wish that happened with a soundtrack akin to Bat for Lashes than you are just avant-garde and have received your wish through the latest Metal Mother video. The beauty of her voice resonates throughout the track and is captured in a dark tale told through green and blue highlights. The woman behind Metal Mother is Tara Tati and her ability to sing a creepy lovespell is not common in the least but feels effortless. If you find yourself as entranced as the staff over here at IRR after this song than you may want to head out and grab her tracks, and start you off on that trail, we have a freebie for you right here.
- Indie Rock Review

Oakland’s Metal Mother (aka Tara Tati) will be taking her bewitching sound and style on the road for a series of west coast shows. Interest in the artist has steadily increased since the release last month of her self-produced, directed and styled video for "Shake," the first single from the debut Metal Mother album 'Bonfire Diaries'.

The popularity of the "Shake" single and video has drawn the attention of remix artists who have been posting their interpretations of the song. Tati is especially fond of DJ Shawna's mash up of "Shake" with "All That" by Diamond Bass. The "Shake" remix by Alpha Code is also a favorite. You can hear them both and watch the music video "Shake" down below the tour dates.

Tati developed 'Bonfire Diaries' with nearly a dozen musical madmen, including Tommy Cappell of Beats Antique and Micha Grainger of The Yard Dogs Road Show. The 11 songs on 'Bonfire Diaries' were mixed by Jeremy Black of Apollo Sunshine.
- Pure Grain Audio

When someone first hears about the artist known as Metal Mother, they might be expecting a band with long hair, thrashing guitars and lots of screaming. Or perhaps they’re expecting a female Ozzy Osbourne: a wild woman with a penchant for sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. They’d quickly learn that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“I like metal but that is not my sound at all,” says Tara Tati, the woman behind Oakland’s Metal Mother. You see, Metal Mother is Tati’s musical alter ego, one where she is in complete control of what she creates and puts out into the Universe. Tati decided on a stage name that would embody the power and strength that comes with being maternal. There is also a Chinese myth that heavily inspired her stage name. “There is a Metal Mother who protects the world with her precious metals like gold and silver,” says Tati. “They keep the world intact. The name embodies a force of nature. Strength and fierceness,” she says.

While she may not be heavy metal, her sound can be described as very tribal and earthy. Words like ethereal, ghostly and delicate also come to mind. “It’s dark and emotional. It has a tribal, world music sound to it. It’s haunting,” says Tati about her sound – a sound that is earning her new fans every day.

Metal she is not, but she is still dark. “I like music that is dark and has an elemental core,” she says. “I think the best kind of music makes you think about things you otherwise never would have thought about before,” Tati continues.

The songbird grew up in the small town of Occidental, California. This would be where Tati would grow an ear for music. Growing up, she had diverse tastes that inspired her own musical evolution. From hip-hop, to the Pixies to Joni Mitchell, Tati listened to a little bit of everything. “I went through a phase where all I would listen to was Grateful Dead and Wu Tang Clan for a year,” says Tati. Her brother was a DJ and she was always listening to his record collection as a child. “There was always music in my house,” says Tati. During her teen years, she started getting into techno and underground music. That is the music that has had the longest lasting effect on her. “Ever since then, I’ve always had my ear out for indie music,” says Tati.

While music was always a deep love for Tati, she didn’t initially consider it as a lifelong career path. “I never knew this was something I wanted to do. It was never something I set out to do,” says Tati. She started playing piano at 23 and performing for her friends, who encouraged her to continue making music. After a difficult break up, music felt like a cathartic release for Tati. Soon, something that started out as a hobby turned into a blossoming passion. Tati’s new goal was to make an album.

It was a goal she eventually accomplished. Tati has just released a new album entitled Bonfire Diaries. “It is super exciting,” says Tati. “It’s a great accomplishment.” She finished the record last September and admits it was on the back burner of her mind for a while. “I almost forgot about it,” she jokes.

At first, Bonfire Diaries started out as an EP, but as Tati became more emotionally invested in the project, a full-length album began to appear. It took three years to finish. “I had a feeling I could do it,” she says. “I wanted to make sure everything was right since it was no longer an EP and now an album,” says Tati. Not only did Tati write and perform the songs on the album, she learned how to produce. “We created all these different layers to the songs,” says Tati. “It was fun learning the mechanics of it.”

Bonfire Diaries is the perfect vehicle for Tati to express her signature sound. The tracks are haunting and smoothing at the same time. It is the ultimate road trip album.

While the record has only been out for a short period of time, the praise has been overwhelming for Tati. “The response has been amazing. I’m loving it,” says Tati. “I have never felt like that before. To create something people are affected by is beautiful”

Tati considers her songwriting process to be very natural. “My approach changes with every song but I do consider the recording process,” says Tati. While inspiration can hit her anywhere, driving and the shower is where inspiration is at its peak. “I will start singing the same jingle over and over again and think, ‘This is nice,’ and develop it on the keyboard,” she says. For Tati, it usually starts out with the lyrics and piano first, and then moves into the arrangement phase.

The California native plans to continue making music in the future, but not necessarily for fame. “I don’t really want to be famous. That scares me,” says Tati. “I just want to continue making music and pay my bills.” She also wants to continue learning about her craft. She knows she is new to the scene and wants to learn everything and anything about the exciting world of music that has captured her heart. “I want to pay attention to what brings me joy, an - Performer Magazine COVER STORY

Oakland’s Tara Tati (performing as Metal Mother), is proving herself a formidable talent to contend with. In addition to her fantastic just-released debut album, Bonfire Diaries, Tati has now produced, directed and styled “Shake,” the album’s first music video. The clip for the latest Bonfire Diaries single is a stunning visual experience sure to take Metal Mother (who also happened to release the album on her own Post Primal label) even further.
“The video for ‘Shake’ tells a story of an annihilation of the oppression that modern culture lays upon us,” Tati explains. Photographed and edited by Galen Oakes and Nelson Brazil of Manifest Media, “Shake” is a visually memorable and emotionally gripping video complete with alien women, smoky rooms, old buildings, gooey elixirs and the beautiful Tati herself, roaming through a dense rainforest. It’s just the kind of video one would expect and hope for from this emerging, unique artist. - Blog Rocking Beat

A number of words come to mind when listening to Bonfire Diaries, the debut full-length from Oakland’s Metal Mother. “Breathy” and “ethereal” describe the vocals, while “down-tempo” and “bottom-heavy” fit the sound. Songs are built upon webs of keyboards, bass and percussion, while Tara Tati’s ghostly vocals flit through the sound scapes like lost spirits. Oh and there’s tons of reverb, plenty of shoe-gazing spaciness, and not a power chord in sight. In other words, Metal Mother is about as non-heavy metal as you can get.

There’s still lots to enjoy, though. Opener “Shake” gets the proceedings off to a throbbing, swooping start, while “Lost Story” uses Tati’s ululating vocals to good effect and “Vices” flexes its percussive muscle. The album is consistent—maybe too consistent—in following its sonic template, but on the upside, that template is unlikely to remind you of anything else you’ve heard this month. That counts for something, doesn’t it? - PopMatters Blog

“I don’t like fluffy music,” says Tara Tati, the woman who records as Metal Mother. “I like music with a dark, elemental core. That’s why I chose Metal Mother as the name for my project. It’s not a reference to heavy metal, although I love that kind of music; it’s about the mother that lives in the heart of the Earth. There’s a Chinese myth about the Metal Mother who holds the world together with her precious metals—gold, silver, platinum. It’s an organic name that evokes the ferocity and strength of Mother Earth. Precious metals are the elements that keep the world intact.”

The music Tati makes as Metal Mother is as dense as the Earth’s core, full of beautiful, eerie, unfamiliar sounds. Tribal drum loops pulse like the beating of a gigantic melancholy heart, an acoustic piano sprinkles teasing notes that twinkle like far off stars and guitars play wailing sustained tones that blend with the processed sounds of trumpet. This creates a timeless expansive atmosphere wherein Tati’s multi-layered vocals phase in and out like the sounds of spirits being channeled from another dimension.

“Music puts us in touch with worlds that are beyond what most humans can see or consciously comprehend. I believe there are things going on around us that affect our lives, even if we don’t perceive them directly. I want to tap into the unknown source in myself that is somehow aware of these alternate realties. I think that’s what art always attempts to do, even if not on a conscious level. I want to ask the big questions. How did we come to be here? What confluence of culture and events has made it possible for me to be talking to you at this moment in time? This is the future, but it’s hella gray and it looks like the Earth is going down. I want to make music that restores hope and creates beauty.”

Tati’s musical journey started in Occidental, California, a town she says that exists in the middle of nowhere. “My brother is a DJ, so I always listened to the latest records. There was always music filling the house. When I heard David Byrne and the Talking Heads, it made me realize music can be unpredictable and quirky, but I didn’t start learning piano until I was 23. I took a few piano lessons from a girlfriend when I was a little girl, but I never thought music was something I could do. I was living in the woods with a lot of time on my hands, so I started learning piano and writing songs. I didn’t think I’d ever play them in front of anyone, but my friends told me they were unique, so I tried performing. I knew people who did circus and vaudeville performances. I learned ragtime and gypsy music and did shows dressed in theatrical costumes. After I went through a crazy breakup and a few close friends passed, I turned to music for healing and therapy. It helped me deal with unfathomable emotions. The music got more somber and serious.”

After moving to Oakland, Tati began working on the tracks that became Bonfire Diaries, her first album as Metal Mother. “It took three years to finish,” she says. “I learned how to produce as I went along and got into that dreamy ambient vibe. There are so many instruments layered into the mix, you can’t perceive them all. It creates new sounds when you can’t hear everything plainly. I also like vocals that are hard to understand. I wanted late night music that invites you to make up your own stories, imagine your own lyrics. I wanted songs that could shine a light on some of the harder shit we go though.”

“The earth and its people are in need of healing right now,” Tati concludes. “Japan is having the worst disaster that has ever happened to a country. They won’t be able to clean it up for thousands of years. I’m not religious, but I do pray and send positive wishes to the places and people that need it. Some people say the more you fight the machine, the more power you give it, but I believe we have a responsibility to dismantle those dysfunctional systems and take care of each other and the land. If we can manage some of the small catastrophes in our own lives, maybe we can prevent the big ones from happening.”

- J. Poet - SOMA Magazine

Mastermind Tara Tati commanded the stage in a sequined top, black hot pants, warpaint, and super shredded tights. She mesmerized the audience, dancing and marching to the steady thump-thump of tribal drum beats like a sexy warrior princess. “She’s got, like, the best stage presence,” I overheard one dude say to another between songs. Though the band contributed chilling keyboard melodies haunting vocal harmonies, it was hard to take our eyes off Tati. She draped herself in a plaid scarf for a spooky rendition of “In The Bones,” had us howling along like coyotes during “Willow,” and was hopping around in a NSFW lace leotard by the end of their set. It’s hard to believe this was one of the first live performances for this burgeoning Oakland band, who just released their first full-length, Bonfire Diaries. - Owl Magazine