Tamar Berk is a musician who’s enjoyed an enduring and decorated musical road, stretching across Chicago, Portland and now, San Diego, where she’s been making an impact as a solo artist. With a background in indie rock, power pop and a fiercely DIY approach to songwriting and production, her music has won over listeners around the world.
After years spent in bands and writing on her own, she stepped into the solo spotlight in 2020 with her debut single “Shadow Clues,” followed by “Better off Meditating” a year later. That year, she dropped her first solo album, The Restless Dreams of Youth, linking up with revered drummer Matt Walker, who’s worked with the likes of Morrissey, Garbage and Smashing Pumpkins and producer Sean O’Keefe, whose credits include Fall Out Boy and Beach Bunny. Released to critical acclaim, the album went on to earn a nomination for Best Pop Album/Album of the Year at the San Diego Music Awards.
Just months after releasing her debut, Tamar faced the death of her father, a profound loss that influenced the creation of her second album, Start at the End, in 2022. This follow-up saw her taking on more production duties, channeling her grief into poignant power pop anthems. Following more well-received releases, she shared her fourth album, Good Times for a Change, in September, instantly making an impression with fans and tastemakers alike.
Her latest single, “That’s Not a Lie,” lifted from Good Times for a Change, is an exploration of honesty, relationships and the tricky art of self-acceptance. With lyrics framing the challenge of confronting truths about oneself, particularly the ones that don’t flatter, the song offers a heartfelt look at human vulnerability. Serving up a pop-focused rock anthem, the track delivers an energising and infectious dose of Tamar Berk’s charming songwriting and vocal flair.
Jumping straight in with the crash of drums, driving guitars and airy vocalisations, the arrangement drops back as her alluring lead voice shines. Spinning storytelling lyricism, she wraps the poignant theme in an uptempo jam brimming with bouncy rhythms and slick layers of overlapping vocals, filtering her power pop influences through her alternative lens, resulting in a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable sound.
The accompanying video paints a vivid picture of an emotional interrogation, blending moments of accusation with a sense of solace, mirroring Berk’s message of finding comfort in acceptance and trust. Featuring scenes of Tamar performing the song cut with shots of her being interviewed and confronted with post-it notes with defamatory labels, the video offers an engaging and profound visual pairing for her superb new single.
Watch the music video for That’s Not a Lie below
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