Tammy Haider Releases A Warm and Personal Record

An album release from Tammy Haider brings together lush yet somewhat stripped-down style songwriting that lends a hand to folk, indie rock, singer-songwriter, and more, all rolled into this one big album that displays so much wonderful personality through stories and personal perspectives, that you can't really turn away from it.

One of my favorite aspects of the Castrati Meow album is how you're able to sort of get wrapped up in a lot of the lyrics because Tammy brings out a lot of storytelling, and it all feels like it's coming from someplace real. This helps make the record feel completely authentic and lets you pay attention a lot more to the stories that are being told and how the songs unfold.

The first track on the record is called "Whisper", which has clean guitars, live percussion, and comes through with that somewhat underground clean but still soft rock kind of vibe. The drums add a lot of flavor to the track and help the rhythm push the flow of the song forward. I really like this aspect because not only was it a track that you can get engulfed in, but it's also an amazing introduction to the actual album itself.

The guitars do have a certain kind of twang to them at times, especially with songs like this, which gives it a little bit of a cinematic backbone, and her vocal approach is gorgeous as she tells her story.

The vocals have a little hint of reverb effect on them, which kind of lets the song come through with a little bit more depth, and that also adds to the air of cinematic soundscape, and it also reminds me of something a little bit more Southern-toned. It's not quite Americana or country, but you have a few elements about the track that lean in that direction.

The record does get a bit experimental, and I enjoyed that quite a lot as well. Songs like "Like Me" have a very personal approach that puts you in the moment. It feels almost like a performance being done right there and then.

I'm not sure if some of these songs were actually recorded live on the spot and then had more dubbed in later, but it feels that way. The energy is that of a live performance, and that pulls you into the record even deeper.

Sounds like this one showcases classic acoustic guitar and very folk-style songwriting; however, it also has layers of these peppered guitar parts and elements that come in and add different textures to the song throughout it.

There's something about this song in particular that makes you feel like you're in a dream-like state.

This is the kind of record that you listen to from beginning to end. Listening to one or two songs may give you a kind of idea of what the full album might display, but it doesn't really give you the spectrum of what it offers as a whole.

There are more than a few little surprises around its corners, and again, these songs are almost like stories. They feel like chapters in the artist's life, and because of that, you have little hints of vulnerability and this sense of being unafraid to put herself out there and tell these stories from her perspective.

When you listen to the full record, you get the whole experience you were meant to have.

It's like reading a book. You wouldn't skip chapters in a book, so in the same sense, you shouldn't skip songs on this record.

One of my favorite tracks on the entire thing is actually the last track on the record called "Sunshine Waves", which to me feels like vintage songwriting, and that's because it bears in mind songs from the 50s in a sense. You have these drifting guitar tones that are breezy and sort of beachy, bringing to mind a surf-like sound, amazing percussion on this one that really somehow even adds to the freeing sense of the track itself, and the whole thing just has a gracefulness to it.

This is definitely an album that came from a lot of different, genuine areas and places from Tammy herself, and she's definitely unafraid to give pieces of herself in those songs.

This is one of the truest forms of self-expression and storytelling I've heard in a while, and she manages to blend this pop overtone throughout almost the entire record, even though it's very folk and singer-songwriter oriented.

There's a lot to soak in, loads of layers and textures to swim around you while you listen, and I suggest doing it all with headphones on so that you can take all of those in properly.

Headphones give you a better feel for the depth and layers of this record.

It also lets you pay attention to the lyrics even more.

This album, I really wanted to ask Tammy a few questions about where it actually came from, the kind of music that inspired her, and more.

So, while you dig into this, have a read through of our interview with Tammy below so you can get even more insight about everything.

RAG: Let's talk about Castrati Meow! This is a record that felt kind of personal at times. It spanned all kinds of influences and gave off a great aesthetic!! Where did this album come from? 

Well I'd say it mainly came from my own experiences, in relation to myself, people I am (and was) close to and the world. The writing of it spanned quite a few years in which alot of different things happened, it came from a wide range of varying emotional turmoil and joy, and by disentangling these events I gained clarity and also found a reason to continue making music and this record. The actual forming of the songs was the fun part, I jammed with my friend Amanda Kerr (who also sings harmonies on Castrati Meow) for a year or so in her backyard, each week a rotating cast of musicians would rock up and we would work on songs together. I'd take these songs home to my partner Stu (who also co- produced the album) and we'd pull apart lyrics and tighten arrangements, then back to Amandas and so this record was born.

RAG: I'm hearing a few different approaches to this record! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Naturally as a songwriter I have lots of influences but I do tend to gravitate towards music from the late 60s and 70s. I was born in the 70s and even though I was not old enough to have really taken in music then there is something I really like about the sonic aesthetic and vibe of music and bands from that particular time period. I'm a huge fan of Lindisfarne, and find Alan Hull's songwriting to be very attuned to the human condition so I would say he is definitely one of my biggest influences. I also like Don McLean alot. I guess I'm into songwriters who are also quite empathetic in their approach to both themselves and others and the way they view the world. Cat Power definitely comes to mind, sincerity and honesty are very important to me and a quality I try to imbue in my own music and appreciate in the music of others. I also don't mind a bit of humour too when applicable, no one wants to be heavy all the time :)

RAG: Did you record this at a home setup, or at a big studio?

Both actually. We have a home set up and my partner Stuart Prentice recorded Whisper and Every Mood earlier this year, Myschevious Ting and Sunshine Waves were recorded around 2018/19 I think. We also did additional production at home on You Will Always Follow You and Time Has No End. All the other songs were recorded live in a day by Matt Voigt at Sing Sing Studios in 2022 here in Melbourne.

RAG: How did this all start for you as an artist?

I was one half of a band called royalchord from my early 20s till my late 30s and that is really how it all started for me. We were lucky enough to also perform in Europe and the US, and consisted of two female songwriters who co-fronted the band. Whilst in royalchord I often thought about doing the solo thing, it seemed simultaneously terrifying and exciting and I was thrust into performing solo for the first time when my bandmate was ill the night of a gig we had already booked. I went into a room, ran through what I thought would work as a solo set and then did it. The response I got was wonderful and I haven't looked back since (well maybe a couple of times...:). I do appreciate the autonomy you have as a solo artist but also love the collaborative aspect of making music with others.

RAG: Are you performing live right now? 

Strangely enough I'm not really. I don't have a band right now but am always up for playing solo if the right thing comes up. We are going to launch the album here in Melbourne early next year which I am really happy about, everyone that played on the album is up for it so I'm definitely looking forward to that.

RAG: Now that this is out, what's next for you as?

I'm looking forward to starting to write again, I've had quite a busy year so am just trying to get into the right headspace to do that. I tend to need alot of relaxation, silence and nothing time to get in the mood for composing and making music. Summer and Christmas are coming here which means life will start to slow down which is when I'm best suited to being creative. 

RAG: Who's in your headphones right now?

My friend Janita has a great band called Denim Owl and they have a new album coming out soon which I've really been enjoying. I am very obsessed with Fairport Convention and have had 'What We Did on our holidays' on very high repeat since I got that record back in August. I've also been getting into Georgia Knight (check out the song 'Mingle') and I love Marlon Williams 'Te Whare Tiwekaweka' album.

RAG: What would you tell people they can expect on this release?

I've obviously sat with this album for awhile now and for me it is a journey album. When I say journey I mean it is an emotional journey, through sticky emotions such as loss & regret to coming out the other end, to a kind of self reclamation and creative awakening, what I would consider to be an ultimately better place and this is what I experienced through making this album. 

There's a line in 'Time Has No End' - 'We can always start again' and ultimately for me that is what this album is about, no matter where you're at, what you've been through, you can always start again. It's a trip through beautiful, yet murky terrain, and I purposefully ended it with the instrumental 'Sunshine Waves' for that reason to signify ending that journey on a happy note you can do a weird dance to it you want to ~ . 

RAG: Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music? 

Thanks for listening! It is no easy plight being a songwriter in this time and I'm honestly just so thankful that you've taken the time to listen to my music. 

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