The indie pop outfit has been given the task of knocking punters straight into festival-mode when the stage powers up on day one.
The beloved ‘zeitgeist capturing’ indie pop project of Melbourne’s voice of a generation, Tamara Reichman, Melbourne-based outfit Tamara & the Dreams has been named as the winner of this year’s Meadow local band competition.
The competition is all about gifting the opportunity for an emerging artist from the local area to join the Meadow lineup, allowing them to share the stage with the likes of this year’s headliners Kurt Vile and his band The Violators, featuring London’s post-punk revivalists Black Midi and a local line-up of Jen Cloher, Kučka, Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, Big Scary, Agung Mango and many more.
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Born in bedrooms and grown in bandrooms, Tamara & the Dreams is based on a deep love for songwriting that makes you laugh, cry and feel understood.
Inspired by indie heroes like Mitski, Courtney Barnett, and Alvvays, Tamara’s candid observations and charisma are filtered through whimsical, fuzzy guitar songs. Armed with the superpower of cutting to the core of idealism, angst, longing, love and the internet, and conjuring instantly relatable, catchy pop, Tamara & the Dreams has captured the affection of many in the Australian and global music community.
Since their inception, the band has supported The Beths, Hachiku, Gabriella Cohen, Cry Club, Moaning Lisa, Bugs, Eliza and the Delusionals, Annie Hamilton, and have been part of Melbourne’s CHANGES festival, Bush Music Festival, Brunswick Music Festival and St Kilda Festival.
With a string of releases already, this is another exciting taste of what to come from the already acclaimed artist as she continues to explore what it means to be young and alive with whimsical, bittersweet guitar songs.
Ahead of opening Meadow festival’s proceedings with the first live set on Friday afternoon, we sat down with Tamara to discuss her journey into music, her future plans and of course, the upcoming performance at Meadow.
First up, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m Tamara, I’m 25, and I live, love and laugh in Melbourne/Naarm, Australia (and sometimes in Birregurra). I wear crocs every day. I’m addicted to pop culture, bodies of water and seeing my friends play gigs. I’m a writer and I love observing the world.
How did you get into music? Can you tell us a bit about your journey?
I’ve been writing silly little songs since I was a little kid and hopefully they’ve gotten better over the years but no less silly. I think a good song is like a diamond and I keep them close to my heart.
Can you tell us a bit about the music you create and your songwriting processes?
In music, songwriting is the most important thing to me. I like to experiment with genres and production styles, whatever is best to serve the lyrics and music. I like to explain my songwriting process is like a big expulsion; laying an egg, or exhaling. I consume life and put words into my notes app and the songs come out fully formed when enough time has passed.
We understand you draw inspiration from the likes of Angel Olsen, Courtney Barnett, and Mitski. What is it about their music that you can relate to/are inspired by?
I like when women write and sing about their feelings and the world. I like beautiful melodies and lyrics that hit me in the chest. Indie rock music is what gets me through life’s moments, what makes me cry in the car and Tamara & the dreams is my attempt to emulate that.
Congrats on winning the Meadow band competition. What originally inspired you to enter? What does joining the lineup mean to you?
I went to Meadow as a very green 20-year-old in 2018, a few weeks before playing my very first gig. The music and sense of community I experienced that weekend deeply inspired me and was so formative. Seeing favourites like Fazerdaze, and Stella Donnelly, and discovering Rat!hammock, Flowertruck and Tiny Little Houses especially gave me a hunger to be part of it all. Joining the lineup of my favourite festival means everything to me.
Also, my dad lives down the road.
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You’re set to perform alongside this year’s impressive lineup of artists. Is there anyone on the bill you’re especially looking forward to seeing?
I’m honoured to be on the same lineup as Big Scary, Jen Cloher and Kurt Vile.
Looking forward to seeing Workhorse for the first time after enjoying their album, and I’ll never miss a Ruby Gill gig.
You’ve graced a few festival stages recently, with St Kilda fest and Gaytimes. For you, how does a festival gig compare to regular gigs?
We only just started playing festivals this year so it’s all very fresh and exciting and wonderful and something I’ll never take for granted. I like attending just as much as playing.
You’ve been pretty busy on the gig front recently. What does being able to tour as a musician mean to you?
I named Tamara & the dreams after my dreams – to live a life making music. Touring as a musician means everything to me.
What’s next for you following Meadow festival?
The band is touring NSW over Easter weekend. Busy!
Thirroul – Frank’s Wild Years supporting Hannah Mccittrick April 6 (solo)
Wollongong – Towragi Beach Hotel April 7
Sydney – supporting Suzi at Vic on the Park on April 8
Newcastle – Easter Sunday gig at the Cambridge on April 9
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Where can we find your music?
Here or type in Tamara & The Dreams anywhere <3
Thanks for chatting. Anything else you’d like to add?
Dreams do come true.
Catch Tamara & the Dreams at Meadow, which is happening from Friday, March 31 until Sunday, April 2 2023 in Bambra, Victoria. Get your tickets here.
