Tara MacLean is an internationally renowned and multi-award-winning singer/songwriter hailing from Canada. She’s toured with the likes of Nelly Furtado, Dido, Sarah McLachlan, and The Cure. Oh, she’s also a best-selling author! To say that she’s “made it” feels like just scratching the surface of her incredible career, which is why we wanted to get to know her better.
Honoured that she agreed to chat with us, Tara takes us through her brand new live album ‘Live in My Hometown,’ what it was like touring with Courtney Love (Hole,) and who some of her biggest musical influences have been throughout the years. So, without further ado, please give a warm welcome to our new friend Tara MacLean!
Hi Tara, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us! I’m so excited to re-introduce you to our ever-expanding audience! What first drew you to music, and how did you discover your passion for it?
It is an absolute pleasure and thank you for being interested in my music!
I have been singing since I was very small. My mother says I sang before I spoke! My father was a gospel/country singer/songwriter so we were always around music. It was just what was always there. Singing was always how I expressed myself and it still is. I have had an amazing career so far and am as passionate as I have always been, maybe even more so!
We were honoured to feature your previous studio album ‘Sparrow’, a record we labelled as having “the ability to speak to our inner souls”. Which tune on the album are you most proud of, and what makes it stand out for you?
Thank you for supporting that record! Your review was beautiful. I think on this EP, I am super proud of ‘Beneath the Path of Crows,’ a song I wrote about what it is like to be born and raised on land that was stolen. The former chief, now a senator, Brian Francis from Epekwitk First Nation, was in the audience and had written the chant in the middle of the song, so it was very special to perform for him and his family. We have done a lot of high-level, meaningful reconciliation work together and it has changed my life. I think the live version captured the power of that love.
Now, onto your latest release ‘Live in My Hometown’. What inspired you to release a live album and can you share any memorable stories or behind-the-scenes moments during its creation?
I had just written a best-selling memoir, and my dream was to create a show that told some of the stories from the book through film, and also share the music from the ‘Sparrow’ album, as well as my favourite songs.
I approached the Confederation Centre of the Arts, which is a very important stage for me. I grew up singing there so it felt very nostalgic. Filming and recording the performance felt like an important thing so I could remember it, and maybe tour the show as well. Having my mother, father and sister in the audience was a life highlight! I wept at the end!
You’ve toured with the likes of Nelly Furtado, Dido, and Sarah McLachlan, and opened for legendary acts like The Cure and Garbage. How has performing with such a range of artists shaped your approach to live shows and your stage presence?
Everyone I have ever opened for or toured with has impacted me in some way. Courtney Love had me kicked out of my dressing room after I played because she didn’t want anyone backstage. Robert Smith from The Cure chatted with me for the longest time and was so kind. Sarah McLachlan is such a sister in music and supportive of everyone around her. Musically, Dido was a massive inspiration. She is masterful in her compositions and how she was able to translate them live, using space as much as sound, and it’s part of why her music feels so spacious and brilliant. Plus she’s hilarious and kind.
Who would you put down as some of your biggest musical influences and who would you ultimately credit for helping shape and mould your overall sound?
I’d say Peter Gabriel, Daniel Lanois and Stevie Nicks. ‘Belladonna’ was my first album, and her songwriting was epic and deep. I loved her serious, goddess-like way. Gritty and beautiful. Peter Gabriel, from ‘Passion to Us’ to the whole ‘Real World’ catalogue. Incomparable. And Daniel Lanois. ‘Acadie’ is one of my all-time favourite albums. And his productions…Emmylou Harris’ ‘Wrecking Ball’… masterpiece. I have to say, I did see Sinead O’Connor live and I was in the front row and I have never been the same.
German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said, “Without music, life would be a mistake.” What would your life look like without music and what fills your days when you’re not busy creating?
I love that quote! Without music, I would just write books, walk along the ocean, have coffee with friends and cuddle my kids and my gorgeous partner.
What, to you, is music’s role in society?
Music spans so many dimensions and is essential for our expression and survival. It’s a connector and a way to speak for our time, which is extremely tumultuous at the moment. We need our songwriters to tell the truth. And we also really need to dance!
Thanks again for taking the time to chat with us Tara! It’s been an honour having you here! Do you have any words of wisdom that you’d like to leave us with?
Thank you for having me! I don’t know about words of wisdom, but I’ll tell you that every day I think of the Mary Oliver quote and ask myself, “What are you going to do with your one wild and precious life?” We have one life. Live it fully. Be of service to the world and love love love with all your might.
