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By: Adam Grant Click to listen to: - TaraSlone - My Little Secret
- TaraSlone - We Were Stars
Admitting that "being the singer of INXS would not be my life's dream or goal," Slone found the competition she had auditioned for quite a bit different than expected. Instead of performing strictly original work, she would have to settle for performing cover versions of classics by David Bowie, Black Sabbath, and The Pretenders - not exactly what she had signed up for.
"I am better suited to being creative and writing and performing my own music, so there was a renewed sense of determination that happened after that show," feels Slone when discussing the aftermath of the INXS experience. "I didn't really realize when I went into it that it was going to be so much of a karaoke game. I'm not saying that there was deception involved, but nobody really knew going into the show what it was going to be. "I was definitely hoping that part of the show was going to be about writing, because I felt that (songwriting) was a strength of mine. Singing covers wasn't necessarily a strength of mine," she laughs. "It was a challenge."
Tara Slone has been seen and heard by millions of music listeners around the planet, and with her new album Just Look Pretty and Sing now available to each and every one of those folks, now could be her time. Most likely known for her 5+ years within the rock group Joydrop where Slone became the voice behind and face in front of the albums Metasexual (1999) and Viberate (200l), this powerfully voiced front woman became familiar to millions when she received the ultimate chance to expose her talents as a finalist on the hit CBS reality show Rock Star: INXS in 2005. After making the top 10, Slone would eventually wind up being the sixth contestant eliminated, thus taking her focus away from INXS, and back to herself.
Admitting that "being the singer of INXS would not be my life's dream or goal," Slone found the competition she had auditioned for quite a bit different than expected. Instead of performing strictly original work, she would have to settle for performing cover versions of classics by David Bowie, Black Sabbath, and The Pretenders - not exactly what she had signed up for.
"I am better suited to being creative and writing and performing my own music, so there was a renewed sense of determination that happened after that show," feels Slone when discussing the aftermath of the INXS experience. "I didn't really realize when I went into it that it was going to be so much of a karaoke game. I'm not saying that there was deception involved, but nobody really knew going into the show what it was going to be. "I was definitely hoping that part of the show was going to be about writing, because I felt that (songwriting) was a strength of mine. Singing covers wasn't necessarily a strength of mine," she laughs. "It was a challenge." 
Now with Just Look Pretty and Sing, Slone is seeing about 3 years of writing and recording paying off. Having worked with Jordan Zadorozny (Hole, Blinker The Star), this solo effort is a solid mixed bag of high energy rockers and emotionally charged ballads that genuinely showcase Slone's vocal prowess and growing songwriting chops - abilities which shouldn't get lost within the irony of the album's artwork and subsequent title. After having to deal with past radio interviewers who would be more interested in discussing her appearance as opposed to the album that's being promoted, and having people tell her to "just look pretty and sing," Slone is no longer just getting all upset by such comments, as she is learning how to balance how she looks, with what she has to say, while still realizing that image plays a huge role in her industry of choice. 
"There's a sexualize-ation in the entertainment industry in general. I can't say that I haven't put myself out there - I want to be pretty, I want people to think I'm pretty, and I know that that's certainly part of my appeal perhaps," believes Slone. "I care about my appearance, and I'm a vein person, but on the other hand, I want to be taken seriously as an artist - it's riding that line. "I'm not saying I'm beautiful, but I'm saying, 'how can you be a sexy, confident woman, and still be taken seriously?' Ultimately, it's just a matter of persevering and being confident." For more information on Tara Slone, please visit www.taraslone.com |
