Tarah Who? is a female fronted three piece Rock band that is killer! They are one of the most original bands I’ve been introduced to since starting The After Hours Review. Tarah Who? draws influences from so many different bands of varying genres. One of the coolest aspects of this band is that each influence can be heard throughout their songs. From Punk Rock to Grunge to Metal, this unique band has put out some bangers that will please almost all music fans!
Below is an interview we conducted with Tarah Who? ! Something I especially enjoyed with this is that each band member gave their own answer to the questions. It’s always great when a band is able to comprise their thoughts and views into one coherent answer, but being able to gain insight into each individual member adds so much depth! Enjoy the interview with the powerhouse band, Tarah Who?, and make sure to check out their music on the blog’s Spotify playlist: After Hours Review!
Band: Tarah Who?
Members:
Tarah G. Carpenter (TGC): Vocals, Guitar
Joey Southern (JS): Bass, Backing Vocals
Coralie Hervé (CH): Drums, Backing Vocals
Band Social Media:
What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences in the genre?
TGC: Loud and Raw! We are a rock band and we have different influences. I grew up listening to a lot of Alanis Morissette until I was introduced to L7, The Distillers, Motörhead, Pantera, Rage Against The Machine, Tool etc.. I think that we definitely have our own sound going on but I am sure that you can hear a little bit of those bands I have just mentioned in some of the songs.
Still the best description of our band is what people have been saying from The West Coast to the East Coast on our past tours :” you guys sound like If Motörhead was fronted by Alanis Morissette!!” I thought that was so accurate. It was really funny to hear this for the first time I think it was in Pasadena? Then we heard it again in Buffalo, NY, and now it’s just what people say about us. I like it because It is easy to picture. Also like I said earlier, I did listen to Alanis for the longest time and then to Motörhead. I am sure that my writing has been influenced and that the sounds and tempos I choose too. It is better than calling us “Punk” When, yes, we do have some songs that sound punk, but we’re not really punk. Or what do you guys think?
JS: I agree with Tarah… to add to what she said, and for an example it’s evident in Tarah’s finger’s how hard we play. I have had fingers bleed as well over time, however Tarah’s fingers continue to bleed upon constant use and driving strumming. Tarah drives Coralie and I to play harder and louder than ever before. We play hard, we play loud and we play with purpose!!!
CH: I’ll say that we are a mix of genres like rock/ punk/ grunge but at the same time unique. Tarah, Joey and I have three different backgrounds and influences, so I think it really interesting. We all bring our own style to Tarah Who? which is pretty cool !!!
I’m a big fan of Nightwish, a Finnish symphonic metal, so I’ll say that this style is my main influence. But more generally rock and metal.
When did you first take an interest in the music scene? What inspired you to make music?
TGC: I have never really thought of it. I really wanted to play the drums and the bass guitar. Later I started to play the electric guitar. I am a self taught musician.. I started playing in bands when I was 14 and I just never stopped playing. It was never really a choice to make. I just did it and I keep doing it. I make things work so that I can keep on making music. I am really depressed when I don’t play.
JS: Growing up around Rock n Roll music shaped me I’m sure. My dad and I listened to 2112 every morning on the way to school my fourth grade year. We were in the process of moving and the drive was roughly twenty two minutes away. I remember him explaining how Geddy was talking about his guitar like it was a new discovery. Although my parents didn’t play music they were avid music lovers and to this day go to concerts and music festivals!!! I love playing all genres of music and find that I always learn something new when doing so. The style of music we play is an intense emotional hard punk rock rollercoaster.
CH: I started playing drums at the age of 10. I had a problem with my heel and needed to stop sports so I turned myself into music. I never stopped since hahaha. I took lesson in my hometown in France and moved to Paris after high school to take lesson with Nicolas Bastos (Dagoba), at Agostini’s and at the Drumming Lab for three years. After that, I came to LA to study at the Musicians Institute, it was so awesome !!! I graduated in March.
Do you have a record label? Are you a member of any music organization?
TGC: We have our own record label. I have started Kurukullā Records to help with our releases, distribution and publishing. We are members of BMI.
How has your music evolved since you first began making music?
TGC: It has definitely matured. When I first started writing songs, not only I was younger and had gone through some events, but I was not as confident, or open to share stories. Sound wise as well. I was working producers and musicians “who knew better” but they did not really care about what I wanted to sound like, they just wanted to have a product. Over the years and by working with a lot of personalities I have learned to know what I wanted to sound like. I am really happy where we are now and what we do. I would not change anything. Those experiences made us stronger today. It is part of it. The evolution of our sound is exactly how anyone naturally grows. What you hear is what we have gone through. Literally and Musically. The lyrics I write now, the sounds we choose now. Everything is still online for this specific reason. The evolution of who we are.
JS: We evolve day by day…I can’t begin to count that every single time we play we add something new. Maybe a new piece of gear or a new intention and emotion. Always growing…ever changing…we are alive!!!
CH: I think that you’ll always be evolving. It depends of the people you are working with. I love playing with Tarah and Joey, it’s super fun !! And like Tarah’s said the sound of Tarah Who? is more matured. We really have a good chemistry together and we feel the music the same way, it just awesome !!! I never had that before and I’m really glad to have found them.
What has been your biggest challenge as a band/artist so far?
TGC: Finding Coralie and Joey. The hardest thing to handle in the music industry is, in my opinion to find partners. People who are willing to see and share your vision. Musicians who are pros and know when to leave their ego on the side but also when to step up. Emotional support but also physical support ( as far as loading, carrying etc..) We are independent. We do EVERYTHING on our own. Coralie and Joey have joined the project but it is their baby now, as much as it is mine. They have adopted the project and thanks to that, we are able to move forward and to make things happen quickly. Their dedication is very rewarding to the band.
JS: And luckily for us we answered your calling!!! I have found absolute meaning in this journey. I can’t even see what is to come and that in itself is amazing and beyond exciting!!! We have plans and drive towards them but the abyss is the motivator. The unknown!!!
What can you tell me about any new material, writing and recording process, inspiration for the music, etc?
TGC: I write the music and lyrics. I make demos of the songs, then I send them to Joey and Coralie. To Coralie i send a version of the song with the drums I have in mind, and another one without the drums. Same for Joey but with the bass. When everyone knows the song, we rehearse it. Joey and Coralie have different technique and bring their own personality and sounds. We usually discuss what the songs are about so that they know the intention and emotions. Why this note works and that one doesn’t even if it is theoretically “correct.” We play with out intention and emotions and we try to stay authentic to the first feelings of the song when it was first written. I usually write when I am angry, upset or sad. We don’t have to stay dark, sometimes those emotions are actually beautiful. The outcome is usually positive so there is this element of hope in the song.
For our upcoming EP called “64 Women” , Coralie and I met with Thomas Lang and recorded the drums at his studio. Thomas was really helpful with the drum recording. Coralie used his DW and everything sounded AMAZING! We had recorded the bass with our previous bass player. Matt, who had to quit the band for personal reasons. When Joey joined, he learned about 13 songs in 10 days, and then we went on tour with him! This is the best thing that could have ever happened to us as a team, since we got to know each other right away! it was a blast! When we came back It was a sure thing that I wanted to keep Joey in the band. I knew that he was solid and such a good bass player, we agreed to re-record the bass for this new EP so that we could release it with the current line up. The EP is the result of this past year, getting to know each other, and touring. We worked with Jason Orme again (Alanis Morissette) since the previous EP (“Half Middle Child Syndrome” ) was a great experience with him, I thought I’d do it again. It was a little bit difficult with our schedules. We went on tour twice during the recording, and Jason went on tour a couple times with Alanis too.I had never experienced such a long recording process but it is done now and I am really happy of the result. Matt Houdini from Lujuria, also joined us on the last recording day to add some backing vocals. It all sounds full. Full of passion, Full of emotions. I can’t wait to share it with you all!
CH: We will be releasing our new EP ‘’64 Women’’ soon so stay tune !! I’m really excited about it because it’s the first that I recorded for Tarah Who? and I’m really happy about it !! Can’t wait for you to listen to it !!
We actually gonna do a music video for our single ‘’Numb Killer’’ !! We will promote our new EP on the road in March on the South and in Europe during the summer !!! See you on the road !!!
Do you have any main themes or topics you like to hit in your music?
TGC: Actual and authentic topics. I lived and experienced everything I sing about. I can only write when I feel a really strong emotion. This is why I insist on staying true to the first emotion with the music. I have had issues in the past with musicians who wanted to change structures or notes, even length of verses or choruses. This affects the emotions and story of the song. I let it happen once or twice and did not recognize my song. I did not feel that it was authentic anymore, it just sounded “good” to the ears of others. and this is not why I express myself. This is not why i play music. Art and music is in my opinion an expression of someone’s sentiments. If you change that to please other people it is not authentic anymore. Then have another project and play commercial songs.
This is not what Tarah Who? is about. I can’t sing anything that is not true. Feelings and emotions are beautiful it’s a shame to hide them.
JS: As Tarah already mentioned…
Life…these are real stories and real people. This is not fake. The truth can be to much to swallow and we try to put it with a spoon full of sugar…
What’s the ultimate direction you have for yourself?
TGC: Authentic and Raw. If Coralie, Joey and I stay true to ourselves, we will have our own identity. There is NO need to repeat someone else’s career or sound. Be yourself, believe in yourself and move forward.
JS: Stay true and don’t stray from your path. Be true to yourself and someone else.
CH: Just live your life and make your own decisions hahaha. Do what you love !!
Any upcoming release dates or shows?
TGC: We are working on a music video for our single “Numb Killer” . “Numb Killer” is the first single from our upcoming EP “64 women” We are very excited about this first release and the whole EP.
We are going to promote this EP on a couple tours. We have a residency in January for those of you in or around Downtown Los Angeles. We will be at the redwood every Wednesday in January 2019.
In March we will be headed southwest, and in June we are going over the pond like Joey says and we will be playing a few shows in the UK and in France.
September we will hopefully be headed back to the east coast and drive up to meet our Canadian neighbors.
2019, is pretty busy. Just how we like it 🙂
Check out the music video for “Numb Killer” below!
“Brace for impact with Tarah Who?’s explosive new release, ‘Numb killer’. The female fronted power trio dives into the anger and pain caused by the recent terrorist attacks and the conditions that have given rise to those who are truly numb-killers. Numb killer’s hyper-drive guitar, hard-hitting drums and bass assault collide into a brutal, blunt and artistic narrative.“
TGC: I wrote this song in the back seat of my friend’s car. We had just heard about the news about the terrorist attacks at Ariana Grande’s concert in Manchester. While my friends kept on talking, I started wondering if the assailant had had any emotions or hesitations before going through with his actions.