Classically trained, electronic-pop singer, Tina Tara, has procured the “perfect” boyfriend in the form of a robot that will give in and take care of subconscious fantasies, with her latest single “Maybe.” In the music video, Tina shows us that each boyfriend she has sent to her apartment dress to her specifications, take care of her physical needs, and make sure she doesn’t have to leave the house if she doesn’t want to. However, the clip might be a bit satirical; hence the title “Maybe.”
Tina devotes time between London and Los Angeles, and the influence of each cities is reflective in her music, style, and voice. Tina was born and raised in Vienna, Austria, and began playing classical piano at the age of 3, singing at 6, and wrote her first song at 14. Needless to say, music has been in her blood for more than half of her life. After living and studying in Spain for a year, she made the move to London to focus on her music. London is where she attended the BIMM Institute for Music, and really started to hone her own production skills with her material. Tina has previously released two singles in 2019, including the “Arriba” and “Worth It,” and these tracks were co-written with multi-instrumentalist Anthony Goldsborough (Bastille, Ed Sheeran, Hozier, Olly Murs). Goldsborough also produced “Maybe,” and the single is a vibrant concoction of light-hearted fun.
Tina delved with us into her musical background, how London and California have contributed to her musically, concocting up the “perfect” boyfriend with “Maybe,” what she’s learned from the varied cultures she’s been immersed in, and her fun music and book favorites.
What drew you to pursue music as a profession? Do you recall when you first began singing and/or writing songs?
Tina Tara: I recall exactly when I started wanting to sing. I was around 8 years old, had just been in primary school for a couple of years, and had learned a few words in English. I heard Whitney Houston sing
“You Give Good Love” on my mum’s record player and OH – MY – GOD – I fell in love with her voice and delivery right away. I had no clue what she was singing about but to me it was magical. So, I started singing her songs. It didn’t take long before the wish to do this for a living had ignited in my heart and soul. In my childhood and early teens, I never thought of it like a “profession” it was more the entirety of my existence I just felt I needed to go towards that path. Everything else seemed inauthentic and (bluntly spoken) completely fake to who I am.
You split your time between London and California. Are there any aspects from each location that contribute to your singing and writing style?
Tina: Hm. I think everywhere I go and engage in a musical way contributes to my writing style. The reason why I moved to London in the first place was because I wanted to improve my songwriting skills in the English language. That definitely happened and I am very grateful for all the amazing experiences and lessons I learned. California, so far, had more of an influence on the freedom of my art and visuals. I definitely extracted my love for the colours, the visuals, and attitude of eternal possibilities even more from spending time in Los Angeles. Whenever I am there, I feel like nothing in my life has a limit. And that is why I spend more and more time in the US.
With your new single “Maybe,” you have concocted the “perfect” boyfriend in the form of a robot. What was the writing process for it?
Tina: Well. When writing the song itself, I didn’t have a “robot boyfriend” in mind. The topic of the song is actually a very real, beautiful (slightly naive) feeling many of us have when meeting a potential “significant other” for the first time. Just the sheer openness to the possibility that this might be “IT” can spark images in our mind as to how the ideal future with that someone could look like. It is funny what stories you can create in your mind and to what extent you might elaborate the most minor details about the future, whereas the best thing to do would be to wait and see, be patient and let the future pan out. The robot scenario for the video occurred to me as I spun this “ideal relationship” concept further and looked at our compulsions and perfectionism in a rather “sarcastic” way. So, I created a scenario where a single lady might just procure the perfect boyfriend with all the right attributes. Patience is not her virtue and she wants it ALL, Now! But as it turns out, there is NO perfect scenario as she has gone through a few of the robots on that website and there always seems to be an issue with her newest “significant other”. Quite frustrating, but she keeps going on the search for the ideal solution…
What was it like writing and working with producer Anthony Goldsbrough?
Tina: It was and IS a great experience to work with Anthony. He’s been “around the block” as they say and has a great spectrum of knowledge and creativity to bring to the table. When I am in the studio writing with someone, I need to feel comfortable enough to be silly and just blabber whatever ideas come to mind…without judgement. That’s creativity to me and the best ideas and lyrics come from “not giving a damn” but actually just letting go. Anthony can be silly just like myself and that lays the perfect groundwork for my music. That being said, he is very professional, skilled and has the right ear for arrangements and production which is the ideal counterpart to all the crazy creativity.
You have experienced many different cultures throughout your life. How have they all impacted you in unique ways?
Tina: Great question! Growing up I always had the urge to explore. Get to know different people from all different walks of life, countries, cultures, “class” or whatever we think differentiates us from other human beings. The most essential thing I have learned is, that, we are all the same. I don’t distinguish people by where they came from, what they believe in, what colour skin they have, what sexual orientation they are born with (or they choose). To me, the only thing that really counts is character and someone’s heart. Those attributes don’t know borders. It’s not about money, fame, status, religion, colour or else. When someone leads their life with love and care, understanding and patience, respect, and support I can be their friend no matter where they come from. In general, I think we could learn so much from one another if we would be more open to that possibility and less judgmental if someone is simply “different”.
Is there an album and/or EP from you on the horizon soon?
Tina: The horizon is very wide and far (smiles). I am sure all that is somewhere on the horizon. At the moment I am just writing, without pressure, without having to put a label on it. I will put music out when it is ready, which will for sure be sometime later this year. But whether it will already be an EP or album is to be determined.
Fun Questions
Who was your first concert, and who has been your favorite?
Tina: My first ever concert was Whitney Houston in Vienna. I can still remember it like it was yesterday, as my mum didn’t tell us kids that we were actually going to a concert. I thought we were just going somewhere “boring” like dinner with my parents’ friends. I was very young so the thought of that didn’t excite me so much. I think my mum had to “trick” me into putting my coat and shoes on and get in the car. When we arrived in Vienna and had parked up, there were a lot of people standing in line at the side of the road. My dad acted surprised and walked over to ask them what was going on. They said, “It’s the Whitney Houston concert”…Whitney being my absolute idol you can imagine how I felt when I heard that she was giving a concert and I was just going for dinner with my parents – right next to where she would be performing…I started to cry a little as my dad leans over and says “well, maybe we should go inside then or we might miss her show”…? I looked at him and needed a minute to realize we were here to go to the concert. It was the best concert of my life – to this day!
What was your first album on cassette, CD and/or vinyl?
Tina: It’s hard to say as my sister and I always shared a room and all our CD’s were for “everyone.” I think I only got my first own CD in my teens and it for sure was Whitney Houston. (laughs) But the music I grew up with listening to were Barbra Streisand, Doris Day, Lionel Richie, Whitney Houston, Bette Middler, Sam Brown, Al Jarreau…All my mums favourites – and for a great part also mine. They were kind of like my own CD’s but I didn’t feel possessive over them.
Which five albums and/or artists would you not want to live without?
Tina:
Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston (first ever album I heard of her)
Survivor – Destiny’s Child
Songs In A Minor – Alicia Keys
Songs About Jane – Maroon 5
Unorthodox Jukebox – Bruno Mars
…do I really have to reduce to 5…?
What have you been watching, reading and/or listening to?
Tina: When I was in my early teens I read a lot of books and focused on more challenging literature like “Siddharta” by Hermann Hesse, “Die Klavierspielerin” (The Piano Teacher) by Elfriede Jelinek, “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, and so on. I was obsessed with challenging my mind that way and got quite good at understanding a more poetic (and somewhat twisted) approach to the German language. A little later on I got equally as obsessed with reading about real-life drama. Many of these books treated stories from different cultural and political issues and often how women were treated in other countries. One of the books for example was “Burned Alive” by Souad which really got to me but also shaped my understanding of the world and its complications. Now I have learned that many of the things I read, watch, and consume are shaping my mindset and overall state. I am focused on keeping a positive attitude and therefore am reading a lot of positive media, books, and watch motivating videos. That being said, I am not oblivious to the “truth” and challenges in life, but the actual truth is that there is both, good and bad out there. Many of us focus on the bad. I focus on the good.
Do you have a guilty music and/or entertainment pleasure?
Tina: One of my guilty pleasures for sure is to sing a little bit of opera. Having a classical background in vocal training I am very passionate about taking my skills to the next level and growing the strength it takes to sing songs like “Time To Say Goodbye” by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli. Apart from that, I am a little obsessed with everything that has to do with real estate, interior design, and in general, home creation. There are some great shows on Netflix like “Stay Here”, “The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes” or “Instant Hotel”. I have seen most of them. (smiles) Other than that, I am a big fan of nature and survival shows. I have binge-watched all of the “Bear Grylls” shows and “Naked Survival” for example. I actually participated in two Bear Grylls Survival Courses in the UK. And oh-my-god it is so exhausting, but it was so much fun (in hindsight). (laughs)
Connect with Tina on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Listen to her music on Spotify.
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