Years into her music career, Tara Williamson found her footing when she arrived in Austin in 2012 via California, grateful for the warm embrace of the live music capital’s music community. She spent three years lending her vocals as back-up support for the Nightowls, but now she’s forging her own path, breaking away from the group’s soul sound and throwing some dust and tumbleweed on that polished, pop pallor. “Messenger” is the first single from Williamson’s debut EP, and while it wails like your favorite Spaghetti Western, Tara’s sweet, floating vocals keep the song grounded. In just three minutes, it’s clear that you could drop just about any style of music behind Williamson’s voice, and it would be transcendent. With such talent, we could be foreshadowing a career that changes genres every album. As for this song, you’ll be toe-tappin’ in your favorite pair of stockmans.
“Messenger” appears on the Evolution One EP, out April 28th via her website. Tara Williamson plays at Stubb’s on Monday, April 17.
-Taylor Wallace // host, Thursday 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. & Saturday 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., producer, Eklektikos with John Aielli and SoundCheck Music News