From a young age, Tara Hack realized the power and symbolism of music. Every great social movement in history had inspirational songs and anthems connected with them. Growing up on Long Island, Tara witnessed older generations being transported back to their youth, recounting the stories of their childhood by specific songs that encased these moments.
Tara found an early affinity for classic music from the 1940s and 50s, dancing around her living room to the likes of Bing Crosby, Etta James, the Rat Pack, and Glenn Miller Band.
Tara’s father worked as a conductor on the Long Island Rail Road, and as a teen, she would sometimes accompany him to work. On days such as this, they would both notice musicians busking for tips inside Penn Station in New York City.
Watching the world go by from inside a train station is a unique perspective, one that has shaped Tara’s repertoire as well as her approach to songwriting. Busking has created a tremendous opportunity for Tara: donations collected at her Penn Station and Atlantic Terminal performances funded a 2019 trip to Abbey Road Studios in London for a set of recordings that were released in early 2021.
