Tara Macri is the kind of artist you’re never going to stop singing along to. Her credits as a Broadway performer to her phenomenal single and her unwavering charm can sell anyone. CelebMix sat down with Tara before a performance in London where we got to know the up and coming star.
Tell us a little bit about what inspired you to be a performer.
Tara: I think it happened before I could even walk or talk. I would drive my parents crazy and on Sunday dinners with my grandparents and family, I would run around the table, kind of running and crawling, making up songs and apparently I drove my parents crazy so that is kind of where it started. I feel like I started writing songs that were kind of my cathartic anything, that was happening as a kid I would just start writing and performing and yeah, that’s it. (laughs)
How would you describe your sound?
Tara: So I feel like it’s not as hard as Pink but not as soft as Cobie Caillat. It’s somewhere in the middle. And for today’s show, it’s just going to be me and an acoustic guitar but normally it’s a lot more production but I like that I can take the songs and strip them down and take them down to the bare roots.
So what are some of your musical inspirations?
Tara: I’m a huge fan of Kayne West. Micheal Jackson, I love Pink, Pink is amazing,and Kelly Clarkson. I mean there is such a variety. I also love, there is this artist called Amos Lee. I heard him play once when I was on tour and he’s just got such an amazing voice and he does completely different music than what I do, but I really love his writing, his voice everything about it.
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You’ve done a good amount of theater, what drew you to that? We know you’ve done Jersey Boys, Hairspray, shows like that…
Tara: I love being creative in many different ways and when you do theater you’re playing a character. You get to play these really fun sometimes crazy people that are not like you at all. I love that aspect. I love getting up and the challenge of getting a character and also working with a cast that is so much fun and to create something new. That’s what drew me, the idea of being creative and creating something whether it’s theater or doing animation or writing a song. They all the same outlet you’re being creative.
On that note, what is your favorite musical?
Tara: Oh my gosh, I have to say I don’t have a favorite but I did West Side Story and that was, it was such a, I mean I know it’s not a comedy, but it was so beautiful the writing, everything about it. I loved it and I loved doing Hairspray too, that was so much fun to play a completely different character. I got to play Amber who is this bratty girl. It’s so much fun to unleash that every night on stage. And that last time I got to do it was at the Hollywood Bowl that was a completely amazing experience and a great cast.
And Hollywood Bowl is so legendary…
Tara: Yeah, when you’re backstage you see all the photos on the wall and see photos of the Beatles, there set up was so small and we had the full everything.
Would you do the Hollywood Bowl again?
Tara: Yes! In a heartbeat.
They now do a new musical every couple of months now…
Tara: They do, yeah. It’d be so much fun to play there. I know Maroon 5 played there, it’s so much fun to play there. it’s such a beautiful, especially when the sun is setting. There is such an amazing energy to it with 18,000 people. It can also be very nerve wrecking. I remember the first time going out thinking ‘oh my gosh’ okay and you just got to settle in and do what you’re doing and their nerves go away but it’s a lot of fun.
What would be your dream musical role?
Tara: Oh my gosh, that’s a really good question, I don’t think I have one right now. I think what would be really cool is something that is completely different than anything I’ve ever played. If you think of something let me know! (Laughs) It would be fun to do a new show, I recently got to do a workshop of a new show, not a workshop, a full show of The First Wives’ Club. It’s based on the movie, in Chicago. We rehearsed in New York and that was so much fun to create something that has never been done before. A character that, yes has been played in the movie, but you’re making it your own. The writer is Linda Thompson. To be a part of another would be fun.
Do you think it’s an easy transition creatively to jump from musical theater to your own work?
Tara: It’s funny, I’ve been writing since I was a kid so I kind of feel like I’ve been doing it all at the same time. And just recently took some time off from doing theater so I could have time to really do it. Although I’d love to do everything at the same time, it’s hard to do 8 shows a week and your body is just tired. So this is giving me a really great opportunity to do what I’ve always been doing but just really get out there like touring and writing more songs. Have more time to do that, like Monday on your day off playing Rockwood Music Hall in New York. Playing those are such a fun time, I’m just glad to be finally doing this right now.
Tell us about your single “This Crush”
Tara: This Crush is a summer song. We’re done with Summer but I feel like it’s also the beginning of school which is the beginning of new crushes. I remember being back and there is a new boy or girl and you think they are cute now. I feel like it’s a summer song but can also fall into going back to school. It’s just a fun summer/crush song that you just want to get up and dance, drive to the beach with your girls.
So you’re working on your debut album, when can we expect that?
Tara: Very soon! I don’t have a date yet but if people follow me on social media we’ll be releasing some information coming up very soon.
Favorite song off the album so far?
Tara: That is the hardest question. Every day it changes. Today you’ll hear a lot of new songs, a couple of them I just wrote. I’ve never played them live. It’s really fun but you fall in love with that song and ‘yes this is my favorite’ and then you write the next one and you’re like ‘no this is my favorite’ It’s day to day.
What are your plans for the future right now?
Tara: We’ll be announcing the tour coming up. Also, a new Christmas song coming out. My last Christmas song, “Christmas for two” did really well so we now wrote another one that’s coming out. We’ll be realizing the album, and a third single coming out. right after that so I’m excited.
If you’d like to find out more about Tara, you can head to her website at http://www.taramacri.com
Do you love Tara? Let us know at @CelebMix!
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