Thursday 2 September, 2010

Arts
World
UK

Tara Mathew

By Charles Gardner

Christian singer Tara Mathew has made a big impact in the media in advance of releasing her new single He Said She Said, now out.

Articles, reviews and interviews are appearing on dozens of websites, newspapers, national magazines and radio stations and she has even been tipped as a star in the making by legendary Top of the Pops producer Chris Cowey in music industry trade magazine Music Week in which he is quoted:

“What a stunning voice Tara Mathew has. When you hear her live, the classical training that she has had really shines through big time. The new single really demonstrates her vocal range which is over five octaves! Incredible.”

Cowey was among 60 leading TV and radio executives that saw Tara perform in an exclusive showcase at the BBC Club in London.

Born and raised in Oak Lake, Manitoba, the Canadian beauty was spotted at an early age and spent her teenage years winning a number of respected music awards including Most Outstanding Jazz Soloist as well as performing nationally on radio and TV on many occasions.

As a teenager she also represented the Canadian government as a ‘Canadian Musical Ambassador’ which led to her singing at major government functions across North America and Mexico.

At just 15, she was chosen to sing the opening song to the Canada Games and afterwards joined many leading artists in singing to an audience of 80,000 at the Pan-Am Games, opened by Celine Dion.

After studying for a classical degree in opera, she graduated with the highest mark awarded in 40 years for operatic vocals and was offered a place at the prestigious Mozarteum in Austria but, unsure of a future in classical music, she temporarily traded in a glittering career to do mission work in India. And what was intended to be a two-month project turned into several years as Tara fell in love with her new life and country – educating young children, helping the homeless and reaching out to victims of AIDS and leprosy.

But music was still part of her work. In 2008 she sang at an event in Bangalore and was asked to perform at India’s biggest televised Christmas concert, Gloria Deo, sharing the stage with a line-up of international performers and Bollywood stars.

To her surprise, a UK Christian record label boss saw her there and immediately offered her a recording contract. Now with the re-ignited passion to make music, Tara has released her debut single, an upbeat and uplifting pop track with a soulful edge, to be followed by the album Individuality, out this autumn.

Currently living with her family in the south-west of England, Tara hopes music will keep her here for the foreseeable future and that God will use her gifts to take the Christian message into the world through her unique brand of Soulpop music.

For more information visit www.taramathew.com

Photo: Used with Permission