Tara MacLean – That’s Me (2023)
Believe it or not, critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Tara MacLean did not want to become a musician. In our interview with MacLean, she shared that “…music was the last thing I wanted to do. Having grown up in a musical household of hippies, I decided to rebel and become a lawyer. Music was too unstable. Before I could go to law school, I was discovered with friends jamming on a ferry boat. I was offered a record deal and a publishing deal and figured I should walk through those doors that life was opening for me…” – and we are so pleased she chose to take that chance! Now, we have the sound of Tara MacLean to soothe our souls.
This is not our introduction to Tara MacLean but the first time we’re taking a gander at her melodies to share our opinion. Yet, we are not the only ones whose heads she has turned. From Billboard to The Spill Magazine, Red Guitar Music, Entertainment Focus, Roots Music Canada and even praise from musician Dido, MacLean is captivating audiences across the globe.
Taken from her well-received ten-track album Sparrow, ‘That’s Me’ is a soft pop single with flecks of folk sprinkled throughout the arrangement. Soothing and gentle, it is a song you can easily listen to on a long road trip; however, a depth lurks within the melody layering a sense of melancholy atop the laidback tone. Reminiscent of Dido, ‘That’s Me’ has a haunting quality enhancing the otherworldliness of the track. Sending shivers down your spine and chills along your arms, MacLean has a stirring presence that you can’t help but love.
Just as the melody is intoxicating and heart-breaking, the poetic lyricism of ‘That’s Me’ is the core of its melancholic nature. Interestingly, despite the desperation heard in the single, there is a sense of hope and optimism flowing throughout the track. Penned almost 30 years ago, the song is one of the older tracks in her catalogue; however, MacLean explains, “this song reflects my core nature and continues to be my North Star. I wanted to revisit this song as a woman to see if I could break ingrained patterns my psyche refused to let go of. I lowered the key and wove in fresh maturity, insight and perspective…”
For more from Tara MacLean, check out her official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
