CMJ Festival Artist Profile: – Tamar-kali

You would think that guitar-wielding Brooklynite Tamar-kali would be an anomaly by now, but unfortunately she’s not.    Depending on how you look at her, she’s a punk artist whose melodies are drenched in soul, or she’s a soul artist whose melodies are drenched in punk.  Either way, she is mostly an individualist who is guiding us vigilantly toward revolution, evolution, and ultimately, musical freedom.  Tamar-kali carries the torch of acts such as Betty Davis, Bad Brains, Living Colour, Fishbone, and The Family Stand.  Lately, her live shows have been incorporating two new musical personas:  Psychochamber (mostly strings), and Pseudoacoustic (mostly keys).  Both help her to climb out of the rock box that most of her music is framed in.

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After the release of her manifesto EP, Geechee Goddess Hardcore Warrior Soul and an appearance in the documentary Afro-Punk, it’s safe to say that Tamar-kali is ready for her close-up.  Last month, she was prominently featured in The Wall Street Journal, and on Friday, October 22, you can catch her at Le Poisson Rouge at 7 PM as part of CMJ’s (pretty darned colossal) Music Marathon 2010.

Her latest album, Black Bottom, is available on iTunes.  Also, check out her website, www.flamingyoni.com where you can listen to the remix of lead single, Pearl, featuring a dope verse from hip-hop legend Jean Grae, who is also part of the CMJ Music Marathon line-up (check brother Kil’s post).

Tamar will be opening for Fishbone at LPR on Friday, October 22nd at 7 PM. You don't wanna miss this.