Tamar Berk releases new album ‘ocd’

Tamar Berk is an artist in a constant state of motion, both literally and artistically. From Chicago to Portland and now San Diego, she’s built her sound across cities, bands and various creative impulses, staking her claim as one of indie rock’s most consistently compelling voices. Fusing the drive of indie rock with the infectious hooks of power pop, she’s nurtured a fiercely DIY approach that’s made an impression far beyond her local scene, winning over a global audience that finds both energy and solace in her music.

Her path to solo artist was long in the making, after years of performing in bands and steadily building her catalogue, she stepped out in 2020 with her debut single “Shadow Clues.” The following year saw her release “Better Off Meditating” alongside her first full-length record, The Restless Dreams of Youth. The album brought together her songwriting flair with contributions from drummer Matt Walker, best known for his work with Morrissey, Garbage and Smashing Pumpkins as well as producer Sean O’Keefe, whose credits include Fall Out Boy and Beach Bunny. It drew wide critical acclaim, securing nominations for Best Pop Album and Album of the Year at the San Diego Music Awards, marking Tamar as a talent to watch.

Just as her debut was beginning to find its audience, tragedy struck; the death of her father became the driving emotional context of her 2022 sophomore album, Start at the End. Taking on even more production duties herself, she channelled grief into poignant power pop, transforming personal loss into a record that was both cathartic and relatable. By September 2023, she’d already unveiled her fourth full-length, Good Times for a Change, going from strength to strength as a prolific songwriter.

Now, she returns with what’s arguably her most personal and ambitious work to date, her brand new album titled ocd, a fuzzed-out, reverb-heavy exploration of looping thoughts, emotional spirals and the idea of overthinking. Across twelve tracks, ocd moves between therapeutic noise and thoughtful confession, with distorted guitars, dreamy synths, warm piano and intimate vocals running throughout.

Opened by lead single “stay close by,” the think buzz of warm guitar distorted forms a soft rock backdrop as Tamar’s dreamy voice floats above and the roll of drums adds a building energy. Gradually rising with pattering percussion and surging instrumentation, the track reaches an anthemic sound of epic indie rock that’s equally mesmeric and invigorating.

The title track “ocd” showcases her knack for pairing unease with catchy melody, driven by an arrangement of woozy Wurlitzer tones, trumpet and hypnotic lyrical repetition, it’s equal parts grooving and sombre, framing the cycles of anxiety. “It’s about the chaos I live with internally — the constant loop of anxiety, memory, control, regrets, and perfectionism. But it’s also about trying to find the humour and beauty in it, too,” she shares.

“you ruined this city for me” lands with an uptempo indie rock energy where pulsing drums and bright guitar rhythms underpin Tamar’s bouncy vocal leads to craft a thrilling sonic ride cut with intricate lead guitar flickers. Other highlights on the album include songs like “any given week” with it’s stripped back acoustic arrangement, hushed vocals and tender storytelling lyricism, offering a different side to the release.

With “my turn will come,” the lilting sway of elegant string give way to Tamar’s soft voice and graceful piano notes, casting a soothing sound that gently builds with the downtempo strike of drums to form an immersive and truly affecting listening experience. “i’m in the day after” puts her pop-focused songwriting on full display with an uptempo jam packed full of lively rhythm and instantly memorable choruses.

Closing the record with “ghost stories,” a minimal intro of soft piano, percussion and quiet vocals builds with bright synth lines and smokey guitar leads to craft a dazzling finale to her sensational new album. To mark the release, Tamar will return to her hometown with a performance opening for Material Issue at Chicago’s Schubas Tavern on September 27th, a full-circle moment for an artist who continues to operate at the very highest level.

On the new record, she offers, “There’s a linear order and bigger picture to the way my brain thinks. It’s the same way I build songs, which very much mirrors what’s going on in my brain. It’s an itch I have to scratch and see all the way through to the end. Every song is like one little word in a bigger sentence, a piece of the puzzle. Sometimes it feels like I have 10 marathon runners in my head all going in different directions to get to the same place.”

Listen to ocd below