Music can be a big part of someone’s life. It can lift one’s spirits when they are feeling down. It can help one express their feelings when they don’t know how to otherwise. Most of all, though, it can make others feel understood when they think that they’re alone. This is a relatable sentiment for Tara Alexander, a sophomore and singer/songwriter at Northview High School. She is an advocate for musical expression, as music has been with her from the very beginning.
“I’ve been songwriting since I could speak, and it wasn’t really… songwriting; it was just making songs up when I felt like it,” she explained. “When I first started actually writing down my songs I was 10 maybe, and I didn’t really call them songs. They were more of poems.”
Even in spite of talent and drive at such a young age, songwriters can have difficulties when looking for a muse. When Tara is looking for inspiration, she’s found it most inspiring to look into herself.
“Usually [I write] when I either feel down about something and I want to change my mood, or it’s when I remember that… I wanna show off my gift or art to the world,” she told us.
The next step in writing a song once the idea is down is the actual songwriting process. This can be tough or even hectic for some songwriters. Tara is no different.
“[My process is] kinda chaotic... Usually I’ll play my instrument and then I’ll be singing the song to whatever beat I make and then I’ll have to remember it as quickly as I can and write it down,” she revealed, laughing. “After that, I’ll kind of revise, edit and I’ll change the beat if I need to, and then that’ll be the song.”
Every singer has one particular song that resonates the most with them, and for our songwriter, hers is the song she wrote which is called “Lonely.”
“I wrote it in 8th grade and 8th grade was such an awful year and [was] lonely,” she admitted. “I wrote it in a really dark time in my life, so I’m happy that I can still sing it and feel better, you know?”
Not only does she have a favorite of her own, but she also has a fan favorite among the people who have listened to her music.
“My second favorite song that I’ve written is probably ‘Sugar Rush’ and not because it has any, like, significant idea behind it, it’s just a fun song that I wanted to make, and a lot of people like it.”
Deciding whether or not music is a reasonable career path is a struggle for many singers and songwriters, because fame and success are always such tempting prospects, but the possibility of becoming known is difficult and daunting.
“I definitely would like to have a career as a musician or an artist but… I know it’s very hard to break out within the public and the media,” Tara disclosed to us. “I’d love to do this as a career but being realistic, I don’t know if I can see myself doing this. I mean, I don’t know if I can see myself being in a job in an office for like, all my life, but I know that’s more realistic than being famous and everything. But it would be nice to be like that.”
To any aspiring musicians out there, Tara has one thought to share with you. “Don’t change your art style, of what song you want to make because something’s popular or not. Be true to yourself with whatever music you like or believe in.”
Below is a clip of Tara performing one of her songs. You can check out more of her music on her Youtube channel, Typi Typo.
“I’ve been songwriting since I could speak, and it wasn’t really… songwriting; it was just making songs up when I felt like it,” she explained. “When I first started actually writing down my songs I was 10 maybe, and I didn’t really call them songs. They were more of poems.”
Even in spite of talent and drive at such a young age, songwriters can have difficulties when looking for a muse. When Tara is looking for inspiration, she’s found it most inspiring to look into herself.
“Usually [I write] when I either feel down about something and I want to change my mood, or it’s when I remember that… I wanna show off my gift or art to the world,” she told us.
The next step in writing a song once the idea is down is the actual songwriting process. This can be tough or even hectic for some songwriters. Tara is no different.
“[My process is] kinda chaotic... Usually I’ll play my instrument and then I’ll be singing the song to whatever beat I make and then I’ll have to remember it as quickly as I can and write it down,” she revealed, laughing. “After that, I’ll kind of revise, edit and I’ll change the beat if I need to, and then that’ll be the song.”
Every singer has one particular song that resonates the most with them, and for our songwriter, hers is the song she wrote which is called “Lonely.”
“I wrote it in 8th grade and 8th grade was such an awful year and [was] lonely,” she admitted. “I wrote it in a really dark time in my life, so I’m happy that I can still sing it and feel better, you know?”
Not only does she have a favorite of her own, but she also has a fan favorite among the people who have listened to her music.
“My second favorite song that I’ve written is probably ‘Sugar Rush’ and not because it has any, like, significant idea behind it, it’s just a fun song that I wanted to make, and a lot of people like it.”
Deciding whether or not music is a reasonable career path is a struggle for many singers and songwriters, because fame and success are always such tempting prospects, but the possibility of becoming known is difficult and daunting.
“I definitely would like to have a career as a musician or an artist but… I know it’s very hard to break out within the public and the media,” Tara disclosed to us. “I’d love to do this as a career but being realistic, I don’t know if I can see myself doing this. I mean, I don’t know if I can see myself being in a job in an office for like, all my life, but I know that’s more realistic than being famous and everything. But it would be nice to be like that.”
To any aspiring musicians out there, Tara has one thought to share with you. “Don’t change your art style, of what song you want to make because something’s popular or not. Be true to yourself with whatever music you like or believe in.”
Below is a clip of Tara performing one of her songs. You can check out more of her music on her Youtube channel, Typi Typo.