Tamara Stewart’s new single BUTTERFLY is a song of evolution. A New Beginning. There is no doubt her musical journey to this point has been ‘textured’ with both triumphs and challenges, but BUTTERFLY, is without a doubt, painted against a bigger and brighter sky…
Born and raised in Central Victoria, Tamara grew up sing songs from old Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland movies.
From the age of ten she started learning guitar and became with obsessed with learning songs – Dolly Parton, Dr Hook, Billy Thorpe, John Farnham all the way to Meatloaf !. However country Music was always the genre that kept her attention and motivation to pursue as a career on the stage.
By the time she was 13 she had her first paid gig as a country singer. By 18, she embarked on a solo career, doing four and five hour gigs to a variety of audiences. Cutting her teeth as an entertainer, holding her own.
These were the nights where Tamara really learned to take control of the stage. “When you’re an 18 year old chick with a perm, entertaining a rural pub of beer infused blokes, you need to take control of that microphone and keep them entertained!”
“I’ve loaded many, many PA’s and speaker boxes into the back of my 1980 Mazda 929 and been pushed away from the microphone and replaced by a sweaty beer wielding chisel fan” Tamara laughs. “I really earned my 200 bucks those nights!”
It was during this time that this ‘Girl Singer’ learnt early that a career in music meant more than bright lights and an adoring audience.
At age 22. Tamara was invited to be a member of the infamous “Brian Young Show” Tour. Three and a half months across Australia, 77 shows, 27,00 km’s in the back of a Toyota, sleeping on dirt floors, schoolhouses and tin sheds, and staying within many Aboriginal Communities.
“Those kinds of opportunities are very hard to come by, and I have photographs and a diary that I kept during that time, that I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
After signing to ABC Music, her first album ‘The Way The World Is” received rave reviews. She gained her second nomination at the Golden Guitar Awards in 2002 for Vocal Collaboration of the Year with “Here Comes The Rain”, a country rock duet with music legend Rick Price. The album catapulted Tamara to the forefront of young talent to watch, and she received many awards and honors during this time, including singing for President Bill Clinton.
She also won the first APRA Professional Development Award for Country Writer, had multiple #1’s on CMT and Radio across Australia and Europe, toured the UK in 2001, and headed to Nashville as a writer on Music Row, writing with some of Nashville’s’ hit makers such as Jim Mc Bride (Alan Jackson) Georgia Middleman (Keith Urban) and Rebecca Lynn Howard (Tricia Yearwood)
In 2009, the beautiful song “Miracles” made it’s way to Aussie Hit Drama “Packed To The Rafters” and bought Tamara to a whole new audience.
Spending a few years re establishing her passion for the music, which had been muffled by the ‘business’, Tamara took to her own studio and was the sole producer on her third record “Love-Laughter-Lessons”. Choosing to be completely independent, the album delivered some chart success on Country Music Television with her film-clips for “Drive” and “Lessons” and various Top 20 chart showings across the country.
Her next project “Tangerine Sky” was born from the tragic Bushfires that ravaged Tamara’s home state of Victoria. Tamara called on friends and co-workers to perform the song she created the banner “Australian Country Music Unites” and featured Troy Cassar-Daley, Tommy Emmanuel, Anne Kirkpatrick, James Blundell and a host of others.
The song raised much-needed funds for The Salvation Army Bushfire Appeal, and Tamara was honoured with Heritage Song Of The Year at the 2009 Golden Guitar Awards, while the group was honoured with a nomination for Vocal Collaboration of the Year. “Tangerine Sky” also won Video Clip of The Year at the People’s Choice Awards 2009.
“I will always look back with great pride at Tangerine Sky. It felt good to help those who really needed it.”
During the time between “Love Laughter Lessons” and current day, Tamara Stewart struggled to stay positive and focus forward. Dealing with her personal challenges saw Tamara gain weight and slow down creatively. That’s why BUTTERFLY is a song of celebration, and marks those triumphs of overcoming life. After losing over 40 kilo’s, Tamara took control of her life and, although it took some hard lessons, BUTTERFLY is by far Tamara’s most personal song. It’s no wonder the song has been nominated for a Golden Guitar for APRA Song Of The Year…
“It took a long time for me to feel comfortable enough in my own skin to write a song like BUTTERFLY.” Tamara beams. “It’s not about being trim and fit, it’s about being happy. I just wasn’t happy with that weight on, I wasn’t happy feeling so unsure of what I truly wanted in my heart of hearts. Now I know. Now I’m going to chase that dream harder and faster than ever!”
