Episode 39: Tamar Berk - ”Melancholia” (2011)

Singer and instrumentalist Tamar Berk is a literate songwriter with a haunting, atmospheric sound steeped in 1990s alt-rock, ’70s to ’80s power pop, and ’60s psychedelia. 

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Berk played music growing up, danced in a professional ballet company, and earned a degree in Photo-Illustration from Kent State University before moving to Chicago. 

It was there that she formed the power pop trio Starball, releasing music on Thick Records and Minty Fresh. She also formed the electro-punk duo The Countdownwith her husband, releasing music on Invisible Records. Her rock-inspired band Sweet Heat with Kim Thompson (Delta 72) released a single on Kill Rock Stars. 

Eventually, the couple relocated to Portland, Oregon, balancing day jobs with various musical projects, including the ’60s-inspired garage band The Pynnaclesand ’70s-inflected Paradise, all while Berk continued to write her own songs at home. 

After moving to San Diego, she was once again left without a band. She decided to focus on her own songs and began producing, recording, and transforming her songs, with drummer Matt Walker (Morrissey, Garbage, Smashing Pumpkins, Filter), engineer Matt Thomson (Maita, The Hague), and producer/mixer Sean O’Keefe (Beach Bunny, Fall Out Boy, Plain White T’s, Rachael Yamagata).

Tamar has released three solo albums since moving to San Diego: “The Restless Dreams of Youth” in 2021, “Start at the End” in 2022 and “Tiny Injuries” in 2023. All three of her albums have been nominated for San Diego Music Awards. Tamar is currently working on her fourth solo album. 

"Melancholia" (2011): Two sisters struggle to deal with their deteriorating relationship as they prepare for a strange planets collision with Earth. Directed by Lars Von Trier. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg & Kiefer Sutherland.