Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamar Love.
Hi Tamar, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Music and writing have always been a part of my life. When I was a kid, I wrote poetry and recorded songs on my brother’s boom box. I started formally learning music when I was about 12 years old. I fell in love with the cello on an elementary school field trip to see the local symphony in Jackson, MS.
It took a few years, but I finally got the opportunity to learn the cello when I attended a school with a strings program. I was basically hooked from that moment I took my instrument home and played my first notes. I continued to play music in high school and majored in music in college.
My best friend, whom I met in college (a violinist, guitarist, singer/songwriter) was a huge influence on me and is one of the main reasons I started playing the guitar and writing songs. I wanted to give a voice to the melodies in my head. Writing, recording, and sharing CDs of my original music had become a passion of mine, but It took many years to become courageous enough to perform in front of an audience.
In 2005, I moved back to Memphis from Middle Tennessee, I decided to form a band. For 7 years, I played the cello, guitar, sang, and wrote songs for a folk/rock band called Sibella. This band consisted of some of the most talented, amazing women I will ever meet.
It was in that band that I met Fields Falcone. She played with us for two years and left when her schedule could no longer support being in a band. Other members moved, and we slowly came to a halt after years of making beautiful memories.
After that band dissolved, I decided to go in a different direction. I have always loved rock music, and I knew that was where my voice and writing belonged. I met David McNinch through a friend/colleague and we connected instantly. David has an energy that is bright and magnetic which makes you feel like you’re best friends already even though you just met.
We worked on an original song and made a video for Facebook advertising for a bass player, and Fields responded. There was no question about whether or not she’d be in the band. Fields are one of the most imaginative and melodic bass players this city has to offer. With David on drums and Fields on bass, Mama Honey officially became a band in 2018.
I’ve had a magical journey from the moment I started playing the cello to now. I feel incredibly lucky to have had so many beautiful people along my path who’ve encouraged me and given me guidance over the years. Music has been a positive force in my life and I’m thankful to be on this path.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I struggle with my inner critic. There have been times when it’s been so aggressive and overwhelming that I wanted to quit, but music is my calling.
It’s almost as if I don’t have a choice. The universe always pulls me back. I’m learning to quiet that voice with meditation and mindfulness. Also, finding time to write, practice, and perform while also raising a small child is challenging.
I constantly adjust my schedule to make sure I’ve got the right balance of spending time with my family, performing, practicing, working, and spending time with myself.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in performing as a freelance cellist and playing guitar, singing, and writing songs for my rock band, Mama Honey.
I’m proud of the album I am currently making with my band. It’s called Out of Darkness, and it will hopefully be released in late spring/early summer. All of our personal journeys are reflected in this album which tells a story of love, loss, and hope.
I am proud of my work as a cellist. There aren’t many African/American, female cellists. There aren’t many African-American women fronting a rock band. I believe representation matters. I’m proud to know I might inspire someone to do something they couldn’t previously see themselves doing.
Also, I’ve just started offering meditations with my cello. I love using my instruments as a source of healing. I love creating a calm space where people can center themselves. Lastly, I teach orchestra and piano at a local high school. My students are amazing, and I’m extremely lucky to be their teacher.
Carving my own path is what sets me apart from everyone else. I’ve always marched to the beat of my own drum. I don’t know many musicians who teeter-totter between the world of classical and rock music. I’m having so much fun. My path is uniquely mine.
No one else can do what I’m doing in the way that I do it. I’m not the best at anything, but I’m committed to learning, (re)discovering, and growing.
How do you define success?
Inner happiness is a success. It’s not about fame or fortune. Are you doing what you love? Are you listening to and following your calling? Are you being authentic? Are you serving others? If you are, then you are successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: mamahoneymemphis.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/mamahoneymemphis
- Facebook: facebook.com/mamahoneymemphis
Image Credits
Jamie Harmon, David McNinch, Tamar Love, Fields Falcone, and Patty McWhirter Padgett
