TAMARA HEY: Right This Minute

Tamara Hey

Right This Minute

© 2005 Tamara Hey / Montauk Daisy Music (SESAC) (616892638827)

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Folk/Pop/Rock. The music has been described as "a cross between Shawn Colvin and The Beatles". Clever, heartfelt, storytelling, fully of quirky personality. "The production and arrangements are creative; everytime I listen, I hear something new".

notes

s a New York City "adult contemporary singer/songwriter with quirk".

“Right This Minute” (2005) surprised and thrilled Tamara’s fans with its pop-oriented production and full-band arrangements compliments of Producer, Art Hays. While a few die-hard folk fans frowned at this departure, they still had to admit that “Pebble In My Shoe” (a Blue Grassy tune featuring layers of background vocals that kill and Tamara on her Martin Backpacker guitar) grabbed them and wouldn’t let go!

?Who Produced the record? How did you meet?
Art Hays produced the record and did most of the arrangements as well. We met through my husband, Henry Hey -- he and Art went to North Texas University together. When I decided to make a new record, I wondered if Art had ever done any production. I called him and asked if he'd be willing to give it a shot with 1 or 2 tunes and he said "yes". I think the first tune he demoed was "Angeline". I was so excited! I didn't think my music could sound so...hip!

?When did you begin the recording process?
I think we began recording in April of 2004. The recording process for "Right This Minute" was a little unusual I think. Art would take my acoustic guitar/vocal demos and do arrangements of them on his computer. Then he'd send them to me to see what I thought. After we were both happy with the direction, it became a process of replacing Art's ideas with real drums and final vocals.

?Who played on the record?
Lots of really great musicians were on the record. I still can't believe it. Super drummers: Brian Delaney, Shawn Pelton & Dan Reiser; Art Hays on electric guitar and bass, Henry Hey on keyboards and piano, John Hebert on upright bass; a real string quartet: Vincent Lionti, Jonathan Dinklage, Katherine Livolsi & Jean LeBlanc. You couldn't ask for a better lineup.

!Wow a string quartet!
I know! Henry had met many fantastic string players while on the road with Rod Stewart. It was his idea to arrange "More Like Melanie" for string quartet. While in Iowa visiting his family for Thanksgiving, Henry started working on the arrangement.

Where did you record?
Alot of recording was done at my apartment: the piano, upright bass and most of the lead and background vocals. I bought a Shoji screen and threw a fleece blanket over it for a vocal booth & Henry replaced the fan in my computer with a quieter one so the noise wouldn't leak into the recording. Art played and recorded the electric guitar and bass at his home studio.

Drums were recorded in 3 sessions: 2 at Dubway Studios, NYC and 1 at Six String Recording, NYC.

?Did you have all the songs before recording began?
No. I had a bunch of songs, but not all of them made it onto the record. Most of the songs that are on it required rewriting first. Art and I worked together on "Rainy Rainy Cloud", "Angeline" and "Under For Good". Actually, I had written "Under For Good" as a 12-bar blues and gave it to Art just because I thought he'd find it amusing. One day maybe months later, he sent me a version of the lyrics with all new music. Towards the end, we had 9 songs and really wanted 10. That's when I wrote "Right This Minute".

?Which is your favorite song on the record?
Most people like "Pebble In My Shoe" the best, but "Right This Minute" is my personal favorite.

?Where do you get the ideas for some of the songs? Are they all true stories?
They are all true stories to some degree. I have interesting friends and get ideas from their stories and behavior. I try to see situations from their point of view and mix that with my own. I think I understand them better as a result and the songs have interesting angles.

?What about "In The Universe With Me"? Is there a story there?
Yes. Someone very close to me is struggling with drug addiction. Most of the time I don't know where he is or how he's doing. It can be very frightening and painful sometimes.

?"Pebble In My Shoe" -- how did you get that idea?
I was taking a walk in Montauk, NY with a little pad of paper and a pen with me and started writing down whatever popped into my head. When I got a pebble in my shoe ... well, I wrote that down. Seems kinda stupid. But then months later, I was trying to play "Boy Named Sue" on my guitar while staring at that list of stuff I had written down. "Pebble In My Shoe" caught my eye on that list and the feel of that "Boy Named Sue" fingerpicking pattern went really well with it.

reviews

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  • amazing
    author: skip herbertson

    These are great songs from a VERY talented songwriter.

  • Wonderful Music
    author: Rose

    The lyrics are thoughtful and the music beautiful. If you're a fan of Tamara's first disc then you won't be disappointed with "Right This Minute". She just keeps getting better!

  • Tamara has a cool perch off the beaten path, with songs that are always surprisi
    author: Don Rosler

    Tamara Hey writes songs that align talent, heart & soul up with a natural, unaffected quirkiness & originality (and a gentle surprise quotient on every song). She does it in a way that doesn't hit you over the head---instead the songs just work their way into some corner of your brain for good. Her songs are different, yet accessible, catchy and often lighthearted yet deep (but you can still touch bottom). She's one of NYC's little treasures. Don't go for the "F" word with her (Folk) cause that's not what she's really about. Go for the big "O"---for Original.

  • Superb lyric, melodies, vocals and arrangements. Always a surprising twist!
    author: Doug S

    This CD is full of surprises. Tamara writes with such a unique vision that each song is a journey. Well written songs that can give leave a lump in your throat (More Like Melanie) or bring you to laughter (Pebble in my Shoe; Rainy, Rainy Cloud) - maybe all in the same song! Often mischevious! But at the core, she is a deep thinker, a soul searcher, a story teller. These songs are like an intimate conversation from her to her audience. What a gift to be a part of it! I can't stop myself from saying it - she sings like an angel and writes like an urban Joni Mitchell.

  • played it a thousand times, still hear new things
    author: r f

    amazing lyrics, music and musicians, a great story teller.

  • upbeat, ingenuous, observant, dark/light
    author: Bruce Balmer

    "RIGHT THIS MINUTE," a new CD by well-known NYC underground singer-songwiriter Tamara Hey, is extremely well-crafted and sonicly upbeat. Her ingenuous, pitch-perfect voice creates an engaging contrast with the darkness of her lyrics. I'm left with an impression of a quiet, observant soul, concerned for those near and dear; makes me think of my friends. Beatlesque production. "Pebble in my Shoe" is most characteristic of this fine writer, and my favorite on the album.

  • Energetic, foot-tapping pop/rock tunes from a talented singer/songwriter.
    author: Dave Davis

    Right This Minute, Tamara Hey's timely compilation of energetic, foot-tapping pop/rock tunes not only highlights her versatility as a talented singer/songwriter, but is a must-hear for anyone looking for an immediate pick-me-up, day or night.

  • I will be honest with you...
    author: Todd Bird

    I am not usually a big fan of folk music, but "Right This Minute", Tamara Hey's latest release, is HOT and has definitely captured my attention. Her songwriting style is unique and she's blessed with the infectious voice to match. Tamara shines in the title track, "More Like Melanie", "Girl Talk" and the incredibly hooky "Angeline". I guarantee that you will love this CD from beginning to end.

  • author: wau

    This is a great album that one can enjoy over and over again. It's even better live!

  • Buy this album right this minute, it won't leave your turntable for a long time
    author: Kathy Zimmer

    Tamara Hey is a true pop craftswoman who manages to compose unique yet classically timeless songs. She easily charms the toe-tapping listener with smiles, tears, winks and gasps. "Right This Minute" is an exquisite album sounding all across the spectrum, one moment featuring rakish electric guitar and the next moment a tender, subdued string quartet. Buy this album right this minute and it won't leave your turntable for a very long time.

  • This is an excellent record! Buy it immediately!!
    author: John S

    Great singing, songwriting, and production all over the place. The title song features Tamara's beautiful voice set against a gently-placed distortion guitar (kudos, Art!) in an otherwise clean rock setting. I like it -- really smears the sound nicely into the dreamy atmosphere of the lyric. Rainy, Rainy Cloud has a little Beatley feel to the production values. Tamara's music setting is a wonderful support to the lyric with its back-and-forth flow between major and minor. Sunflower: kudos to John Hebert for an outstanding performance on acoustic bass -- really makes the song! And Tamara's multi-talented husband Henry adds real excellence to the CD with his lush string quartet setting for More Like Melanie. Bottom line: all 10 songs are well-written and well-produced. Tamara's singing and songwriting really shines here. Worth every penny!

  • Superb, honest, captivating, lovely
    author: Karl Madden

    'In the universe with me' is one of the greatest, most heart-wrenching yearning, forgiving (it operates on so many levels) . . . just exquisitely beautiful songs I've ever heard. Tamara Hey's voice is clear and sweet, and one easily comes to identify with her songs. It is easy to identify with honesty, humor, and beauty, as she performs with great pretense-free expressive elan.

  • Awesome album - buy it right this minute!
    author: Gene

    Awesome album - buy it right this minute! Tamara Hey is a songwriter at the top of her craft. Her voice draws you right in, and the arrangements bring out the best in each song. One of my favorite albums!

  • author: John C

    Beautifully crafted songs that get better and better with each listen. I can't wait to see her and the band perform live.

  • author: John C

    Beautifully crafted songs that get better and better with each listen. I can't wait to see her and the band perform live.

  • author: R Smoler

    What a great collection of songs! I especially love More Like Melanie, a beautiful melody that Tamara Hey sings perfectly!

  • wonderful voice
    author: Dean Gordon

    It's not just her uniquely beautiful voice. Lyrically wise and sometimes amusing, there's a fine awareness of the sounds and meanings of words in Tamara's songwriting. Her clear and imaginative guitar playing perfectly complements the timbre of her voice and her melodic inventiveness, and it all comes together in this album. Excellent production, really just a fine CD in every respect.

  • I could listen a million times
    author: H Pirie

    What a talented songwriter. I particularly liked "pebble in my shoe" and "angeline". She has a characteristic voice, wonderful arranging, and catchy songs. I hope she goes far!

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