Tamar-kali
Encyclopedia
Tamar-kali is an American
rock
singer-songwriter
based in Brooklyn, New York. The latter part of her name was taken from the Hindu goddess of war and power.
She attended Adelphi University where she studied English Education. She teaches and has become very involved in the North African dance art form Raqs Sharqi as well as Middle Eastern Belly Dance.
As a vocalist she has supported artists like Fishbone on tour and OutKast on the group's second album, ATLiens.
She has performed everywhere from Brooklyn Academy of Music to Lincoln Center to pay tribute to luminaries such as Nina Simone, Betty Davis and Odetta, In August 2009 She performed at the BRC Orchestra's "Four Women: A Salute to Miriam Makeba, Eartha Kitt, Abbey Lincoln and Odetta" at Damrosch Park in the Lincoln Center.
She was the Musical Director for the Black Rock Coalition's Tribute to Nina Simone which held concerts in NYC (2003, 2009 and 2010) as well as Paris and the South of France (2009). She has shared the stage with Paramore, Fishbone, Dubwar, Joi, Cassandra Wilson, Saul Williams, The Dirtbombs, Jean Grae and Earl Greyhound.
According to MTV.com she is well known and considered a “favorite” on the NYC underground punk rock music scene. She often performs with her Pyschochamber Ensemble of Strings and has been featured in VIBE, Village Voice, Trace, The Fader and Arise Magazine.
In 2006 she released her first music video for the single “Boot” off her debut EP Geechee Goddess Hardcore Warrior Soul. The theme dealt with a young black girl lacking awareness of her own beauty, being left vulnerable to sexual exploitation.
She is preparing the release of her debut studio album entitled Black Bottom in Fall of 2010.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6-WQTjiIyU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Daxf8GDa5c&hd=1
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
based in Brooklyn, New York. The latter part of her name was taken from the Hindu goddess of war and power.
Early life
Tamar-kali was born and raised in Brooklyn where she grew up equally entranced by punk and hip-hop in New York City. She spent the summers of her childhood with her mother’s family on St. Helena Island, South Carolina where she was exposed to Gullah culture, a mixture of The South and West African customs and languages. She attended Catholic School for 13 years, which she credits for her rebellious nature and sound. Her musical inspirations include PJ Harvey, Grace Jones, The Mars Volta, Deftones, Betty Davis and Quicksand.She attended Adelphi University where she studied English Education. She teaches and has become very involved in the North African dance art form Raqs Sharqi as well as Middle Eastern Belly Dance.
Recordings
After tenures as a member of Funkface and Song of Seven, Tamar-kali became a solo writer, musician and composer in 1997. She rose to prominence starring in James Spooner's award-winning documentary Afro-Punk. The indie film spotlighted her performances and made her the official face for the DVD cover artwork.As a vocalist she has supported artists like Fishbone on tour and OutKast on the group's second album, ATLiens.
She has performed everywhere from Brooklyn Academy of Music to Lincoln Center to pay tribute to luminaries such as Nina Simone, Betty Davis and Odetta, In August 2009 She performed at the BRC Orchestra's "Four Women: A Salute to Miriam Makeba, Eartha Kitt, Abbey Lincoln and Odetta" at Damrosch Park in the Lincoln Center.
She was the Musical Director for the Black Rock Coalition's Tribute to Nina Simone which held concerts in NYC (2003, 2009 and 2010) as well as Paris and the South of France (2009). She has shared the stage with Paramore, Fishbone, Dubwar, Joi, Cassandra Wilson, Saul Williams, The Dirtbombs, Jean Grae and Earl Greyhound.
According to MTV.com she is well known and considered a “favorite” on the NYC underground punk rock music scene. She often performs with her Pyschochamber Ensemble of Strings and has been featured in VIBE, Village Voice, Trace, The Fader and Arise Magazine.
In 2006 she released her first music video for the single “Boot” off her debut EP Geechee Goddess Hardcore Warrior Soul. The theme dealt with a young black girl lacking awareness of her own beauty, being left vulnerable to sexual exploitation.
She is preparing the release of her debut studio album entitled Black Bottom in Fall of 2010.
Albums
- Geechee Goddess Hardcore Warrior Soul EP, (OyaWarrior Records, 2005)
- Black Bottom LP, (OyaWarrior Records, 2010)
Singles
- "Boot" (2006)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6-WQTjiIyU
- "Pearl" remix f/ Jean Grae (2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Daxf8GDa5c&hd=1