TOMORROW biography TOMORROW is the brainchild of the astounding songstress Tara Nova and producer extraordinaire Behn. The project is an uplifting, wondrous musical experience filled with hope and optimism. Tara Nova and Behn remain true to their innovative and eclectic style of music. Written entirely by the dynamic duo, the project explores a variety of topics providing enlightened commentary on an array of personal life experiences. More importantly, it is infused with the hope of a better TOMORROW individually and collectively as a people. From her first, shy but strong notes at Harlem, NY's Convent Avenue Baptist Church to her NAACP-sponsored Lincoln Center jazz performance at 15, the Nova known as Tara Thomas has been something of natural, heavenly experience. The Houston-born, Queens-bred singer/songwriter briefly tested the professional musical waters as a session vocalist for Hush Productions, former home of classic R&B powerhouses Freddie Jackson and Me'lisa Morgan, while just in that junior year of high school. At 19, she made her way onto TVT Records with spring 1997's "When You're in Love" feat. C.L. Smooth, and shared tour stages with Li'l Kim and Busta Rhymes to name a couple. By the new millennium, the starchild realized most of the industry's boxes wouldn't hold her too long and she jumped off the label's shelf, broke 'n' hip to the game. Hungry for creative release but humbly connected, Tara aligned with local MCs, poets and fellow musicians in the NY metro area, namely an avant-garde composer and violinist Dr. Daniel Bernard Roumain with his Mission string quartet. Charged by the fresh fusion of classical, hip-hop and ambient experimental sounds in their live performances together, the expatriate European steps of Nina Simone seemed befitting for Tara to share the bitter sweetness bubbling over within her. Tara opted to hone her evocative vocal powers sangin' the gospel in Germany seasonally. Touring parlayed into a rare opportunity to sing background for legends Liza Minelli and Michael Jackson for his 2001 televised tribute by CBS. Behn’s journey started in Detroit, with his introduction to hip-hop music in the mid 80’s. An insatiable appetite for all types of music consumed the passionate and eager “double-deck” cassette producer from an early age. The influence of soul and jazz he picked from his parents record collection as a youngster became crude hip-hop loops. Crude loops would transform themselves into innovative hip-hop. As Behn moved on to college in Atlanta, he gradually started to incorporate more southern influences in his music and became open to even more types of music, adding to the melting pot of sounds which he already had been utilizing. Eventually, he would link up with R & B producers Tricky & Sean (Rihanna “Umbrella”, Chante’ Moore, Sole’, Tyrese, Blu Cantrell, etc…) and become a daily fixture at Red Zone Entertainment studios. This experience would teach him many crucial aspects of music production including vocal arrangement and many recording techniques. The total sum of his journey and experiences developed and culminated into a very unique sound, which is a blend of various forms of music, ranging from soul, hip-hop, and funk to rock, techno, and jazz. Behn’s songwriting proves to be eloquently full of poetry, storytelling, and dramatic description. His vocal arrangements are reminiscent and mostly influenced by 80’s Soul and R&B. This unique sound is one which sprouted from the same roots as “Golden Age” hip-hop (circa 1986 – 1994) and displays that same originality and passion of the era. The result is amazing. The TOMORROW project features an array of collaborators for the album and the live show experiences. World class drummer Jaz Sawyer, who has played for notable artists such as , Wynton Marsalis, George Benson, Abbey Lincoln, and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead to name a few, provides the hard-thumping, rhythm section for the live show experience. Kelsey Warren from the popular rock band Pillow Theory lends his wonderfully, smooth vocals and masterful rock guitar playing to the song “Better Off Dead.” While Stephanie Matthews, supreme concert violinist, Julliard graduate, and one part of the world renowned all female quartet The Ebony Strings, laces “Heaven”, “The Tomorrow Song”, and “ Most Beautiful Thing” with the silky sounds of her violin. Stephanie has played with the likes of Kanye West and PJ Morton. Her violin adds an elegant touch to the tension filled production. Master jazz guitarist Ethan Mann lends the warm sounds of his guitar to songs such as, ”Greatest Love Made” and “A Man from Tanzania”. Trombonist Rafi Malkiel, who has worked with artists such as, Lauryn Hill, Salsa Picante, and Toto La Momposina, along with Trumpeter Cecil Young complete the sound, delivering a swinging, foot-stomping, juke joint influenced horn section on “Man of Steel” and “Better Off Dead”. The TOMORROW project definitely raises the bar for soul music. Not only is the sound of the utmost quality but, the songwriting is on the level with some of the best in the music industry of any genre. Storytelling and the clever usage of allegory is prevalent in the deep, lyrical content throughout the album. This eclectic combination of the top-notch, powerful, emotion evoking vocals of Tara Nova and the slick, multi-genre bending production, of Behn creates an easily enjoyable, multi-layered album, which is rich in composition and destined to touch the hearts, souls, and minds of a nation of deprived listeners. http://www.myspace.com/thetomorrowexperience