We Asked These Artists What They Were Thankful For in 2021

Tara Brooks, born in Southern California, has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the electronic music scene. Music was a constant in her childhood home, with melodies from old records playing and both parents being musically inclined. Her mother played the piano and sang, while her English father showcased his talents on the guitar and through his voice. Growing up, Tara's love for music was diverse, ranging from indie rock, classic tunes, 90’s rock, to hip-hop and punk.

It was the vibrant Los Angeles underground dance scene that truly captivated Tara. The music's energy and the community's warmth resonated with her, leading her to realize that this was where she belonged. Initially embracing the world of DJing, Tara felt a deeper calling to express herself and soon ventured into music production. She aimed to heal and uplift through sound, taking listeners on an experimental journey. Over the years, she has mastered a unique sound that straddles psychedelic soulful house and groovy acid techno.

Tara's dedication and unique sound caught the attention of industry icons. Notably, John Digweed, a significant figure in electronic music, recognized her prowess. He featured her in his Bedrock showcases and even collaborated with her during the closing set at the legendary Output NYC. In terms of releases, Tara's "Eunoia" was a celebrated EP on Digweed's Bedrock label. Another milestone came with her “Wake Me” EP, which topped the charts in melodic house & techno in February 2020.

Her performances have been nothing short of stellar. Tara has showcased her skills at some of the world's most prominent festivals and venues. Highlights include her set at the ARC Music Festival in Chicago, closing out the Roof at Superior Ingredients, and appearances at renowned festivals like Coachella and Burning Man. She's also graced stages at The BPM Festival, The Cityfox Experience, and Desert Hearts, to name a few.

For fans of house music wanting to explore new dimensions, Tara Brooks is a name to know. From her Southern Californian roots to her influential position in the electronic music world, Tara’s journey is a testament to her talent, dedication, and innovative spirit.


United States

Tara Brooks

Italy

Yaya

The Fellas

Sleepy & Boo

Superior Ingredients Roof

Yaya w. The Fellas, Tara Brooks, Sleepy & Boo

Algeria

Idriss D

tech house

Ky William

electro house

pop dance

progressive house

Morgan Page

Daylight Sessions 06 w/ Morgan Page, Tara Brooks, Idriss D, Ky William b2b Jeff Sorkowitz

United Kingdom

uk tech house

AJ Christou

Spain

spanish techno

Bastian Bux

uk house

Jaden Thompson

Croatia

bass house

Matroda

Max Dean

Nala

deep house

house

Riva Starr

OCHO 17

Sweden

Adam Beyer

Germany

Âme

Anfisa Letyago

South Africa

Black Coffee

The Blessed Madonna

Boris Brejcha

Boys Noize

Türkiye

Carlita

Carl Craig

Chloé Caillet

Colette

Cristoph

Dennis Cruz

Derrick Carter

Dixon

DJ Heather

DJ Lady D

DJ Minx

France

Dombresky

Eli Brown

Eric Prydz

Fatboy Slim

Australia

FISHER

Fleur Shore

Franky Wah

Gene Farris

Hiroko Yamamura

Hot Since 82

Ilario Alicante

James Hype

John Summit

Ireland

KETTAMA

Kevin de Vries

Kyle Walker

Lee Foss

Loco Dice

Mall Grab

Ukraine

Miss Monique

Brazil

Mochakk

Moodymann

Nic Fanciulli

Russia

Nina Kraviz

Patrick Topping

Peggy Gou

Sam Divine

Tale of Us

THEMBA

Netherlands

Tinlicker

Toni Varga

Vintage Culture

Wade

Walker & Royce

Austria

Cassy

Dalton Taylor

Dax J

David Castellani

Eskuche

Iglesias

Henry Brooks

Inphinity

Kevin Knapp

Mike Dunn

Phuture

Sara Landry

Schak

Shimza

Terry Hunter

ARC Music Festival is a relatively new addition to Chicago's rich festival scene, celebrating house and techno music. Hosted at the historical Union Park in Chicago, this festival aims to gather top-tier artists from these genres, giving attendees an immersive experience in the world of electronic music. Reflecting the city's deep-rooted house music culture, ARC Music Festival stands as a testament to Chicago's legacy and continuous contribution to the electronic music world.

Union Park

ARC Music Festival 2023

Ecuador

Andre Salmon

classic progressive house

minimal techno

techno

Josh Wink

dark techno

Pleasurekraft

chillhop

japanese chillhop

lo-fi beats

Saib

tropical house

uk dance

Jonas Blue

DJ Hyperactive

Waze (Waze & Odyssey)

uk dnb

Kanine

AIMMIA

afro soul

kwaito

south african house

south african pop

Zakes Bantwini

Tara Brooks is a trailblazer of sound and scene. Her desire for growth and evolution keeps her sound on the cutting edge, always favoring the challenge and freedom of new untapped sounds over the safe bet of the latest generic trends. Her tireless drive and resiliency have transformed her into an influential female artist in a male-dominated industry. Anyone who's had the distinct pleasure of attending one of Tara's live sets can attest to what she describes as "A collaboration with the energy in the room." She proudly allows her emotion and crowd connection to effortlessly ferry her eclectic sets from hypnotic, ethereal techno to deep, dark disco, and everywhere in between.
 

For Tara, this innate connection to music started in her earliest days.
 

Apotholite

"It kind of runs in our blood. My mom and my dad were both very musical. My mom sings, plays piano, my dad plays guitar… My sister and I grew up singing. My mom is from New York, so she was always going to Broadway shows and musicals. Stuff that I'm maybe not so much into today, but she used to have Beatles records, there was always some sort of record playing in the background."

That home-grown musicality eventually pushed her towards dance music when the LA-native started exploring the West Coast rave scene. Tara soon fell in love with the experimental music, the community, and the judgment-free space for expression found at warehouses, clubs, and events like How Sweet It Is. When Brooks moved to San Diego for school, her exposure to the expansive culture of house and trance grew while working in the nightlife industry. Little by little, Tara's connection with dance music blossomed until she finally began the path from fan to contributor.
 

Tune into #FemmeHouseRadio every Saturday night at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT on Diplo’s Revolution Ch. 52 on Sirius XM. 

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Bebe Huxley - Je Suis Bebe
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LP Giobbi Presents Femme House Radio: Episode 30 with Tara Brooks by LP Giobbi

At that time, Tara connected with her now ex-husband over a mutual love of music.
           

"He actually had a DJ set-up at home, and he had vinyl, just for his passion… I would go with him to the record store, and we would dig for records for hours. I never actually mixed them, I was just playing them for fun, I was just falling in love with them. And I knew nothing. I didn't know all these artists, what was what, all I knew was what I liked and didn't like… It was all about digging through white labels or I liked the cover of this record to find all the sounds that I love… When things were tough, I just said, 'I think I need to start a hobby, I need to figure it out… I was going through confusion and feeling a little hurt and wondering, 'What am I gonna do next?' I just started playing all these records."
 

That dip of the toe into mixing turned into a full plunge when Brooks first mixed two of her favorite records, Mylo's "In My Arms" (Tocadisco remix) and Deep Dish's "Dreams."
 

"It was the first time in a long time I felt just pure joy and happiness," she recalls. "There was no stress or worry, I didn't give a fuck about anything… And that was the first time it actually mixed properly when I didn't really know what I was doing. And that feeling, having that third beautiful mix, that third record created that you might never even see again, that feeling was everything. I just had to keep going and I never wanted to turn back."
 

From her first major gig in 2007, Tara was never one to shy away from navigating new territory sonically and professionally. A self-described weirdo, she relishes the opportunity to take listeners on a novel journey. The endless hours of crate-digging gifted her with a vast array of sounds and themes with which to connect to her audience in nearly limitless ways.
 

"It's one thing to have that sound, you're in this safe zone so people will book you. They always know what they're gonna get… With me I feel like I've gotten to the place where they don't exactly know what they're gonna get but they know it's gonna be me, they can always hear me in it… and I don't know how but somehow it all flows… the journey makes sense… Since I'm so emotional and sensitive I feel like especially when I'm playing live, I go off the crowd. So, they're the ones that really drive the direction I go, I don't really know where I'm going, without them, I'm just gonna' be doing my thing," she smiles.


Brooks' commitment to herself and her evolution is what draws those crowds. Her listeners know they are going to be a part of a uniquely personal experience. A deep-rooted appreciation for all music and the feelings it can convey sits at the core of Tara's willingness to explore. This same determination to blaze new paths fuels her navigation through the heavily male-dominated dance music industry.

6 months ago I started off the new year beauitfully with John Digweed releasing my mix on his legendary Transitions show. It's unbelievably almost Summer again & getting ready for my Europe tour, directly followed by east coast tour & special dates in between. Releases coming soon on Akbal & Underyourskin Records, and new sounds & projects in the works. Thanks for sharing this journey with me as with every set, track, or musical experience, its a true collaboration of our energies dancing together. Who we are shows though our music, so close your eyes & let the music do the talking.

JOHN DIGWEED TRANSITIONS guest mix 645 Tara Brooks by tarabrooksmusic

Tara has experienced it all, from sound techs mansplaining how a mixer works before a headline set to general disbelief that a woman could land the performances she has. But rather than let the weight of doubt and preconceptions hold her back, she used it as a constant source of motivation. While it can improve further, female representation is currently at an all-time high in dance music, and Brooks forecasts a brighter future for female DJs and producers.
 

"I know when I'm listening to these badass women's production… most of my favorites are women today. They're incredible but they just haven't had that outlet, that opportunity, and they weren't getting the support in this male-dominated industry. When I'm discovering them today it sounds like they've been doing 10, 20 years, but we're not seeing them or hearing them. Now more than ever it's beautiful… that it's all about the music. Our music is quality, it's not a sex thing. It's like dude we have boobs, that doesn't change how the music sounds," she laughs.
 


Through it all, the triumphs, the trials, the lessons, the stories, Tara's humility, and recognition of her roots keep her grounded in gratitude. She recognizes the unique opportunity she now has to convey the same feelings of community, fun, and safe acceptance that she first fell in love with all those years ago. She even holds gratitude for the professional challenges she faces, approaching them as further opportunities for growth. Her embrace of the unknown and commitment to evolution have carried her sound and spirit to infectious heights. So it's impossible to hold back a smile and a nod in cathartic agreement when she spares this advice for new artists (and all humans):  
 

"Keep it real for yourself, play the music you love. Don't just play what everyone else is playing because that's what's popular. Because when you play the stuff you really love, that's where the happiness is. No matter where the money, where the future fame comes, if that's what you're into, at the end of the day what is that all gonna' mean if you're not doing exactly what you really love. It's ok to shift and to complement, and to be open-minded and respectful of your environment. Just keep it real."



Tara Brooks is a trailblazer of sound and scene. Her desire for growth and evolution keeps her sound on the cutting edge, always favoring the challenge and freedom of new untapped sounds over the safe bet of the latest generic trends. Her tireless drive and resiliency have transformed her into an influential female artist in a male-dominated industry. Anyone who's had the distinct pleasure of attending one of Tara's live sets can attest to what she describes as "A collaboration with the energy in the room." She proudly allows her emotion and crowd connection to effortlessly ferry her eclectic sets from hypnotic, ethereal techno to deep, dark disco, and everywhere in between.
 

For Tara, this innate connection to music started in her earliest days.
 



"It kind of runs in our blood. My mom and my dad were both very musical. My mom sings, plays piano, my dad plays guitar… My sister and I grew up singing. My mom is from New York, so she was always going to Broadway shows and musicals. Stuff that I'm maybe not so much into today, but she used to have Beatles records, there was always some sort of record playing in the background."



That home-grown musicality eventually pushed her towards dance music when the LA-native started exploring the West Coast rave scene. Tara soon fell in love with the experimental music, the community, and the judgment-free space for expression found at warehouses, clubs, and events like How Sweet It Is. When Brooks moved to San Diego for school, her exposure to the expansive culture of house and trance grew while working in the nightlife industry. Little by little, Tara's connection with dance music blossomed until she finally began the path from fan to contributor.
 

At that time, Tara connected with her now ex-husband over a mutual love of music.
           

"He actually had a DJ set-up at home, and he had vinyl, just for his passion… I would go with him to the record store, and we would dig for records for hours. I never actually mixed them, I was just playing them for fun, I was just falling in love with them. And I knew nothing. I didn't know all these artists, what was what, all I knew was what I liked and didn't like… It was all about digging through white labels or I liked the cover of this record to find all the sounds that I love… When things were tough, I just said, 'I think I need to start a hobby, I need to figure it out… I was going through confusion and feeling a little hurt and wondering, 'What am I gonna do next?' I just started playing all these records."
 

That dip of the toe into mixing turned into a full plunge when Brooks first mixed two of her favorite records, Mylo's "In My Arms" (Tocadisco remix) and Deep Dish's "Dreams."
 

"It was the first time in a long time I felt just pure joy and happiness," she recalls. "There was no stress or worry, I didn't give a fuck about anything… And that was the first time it actually mixed properly when I didn't really know what I was doing. And that feeling, having that third beautiful mix, that third record created that you might never even see again, that feeling was everything. I just had to keep going and I never wanted to turn back."
 

From her first major gig in 2007, Tara was never one to shy away from navigating new territory sonically and professionally. A self-described weirdo, she relishes the opportunity to take listeners on a novel journey. The endless hours of crate-digging gifted her with a vast array of sounds and themes with which to connect to her audience in nearly limitless ways.
 

"It's one thing to have that sound, you're in this safe zone so people will book you. They always know what they're gonna get… With me I feel like I've gotten to the place where they don't exactly know what they're gonna get but they know it's gonna be me, they can always hear me in it… and I don't know how but somehow it all flows… the journey makes sense… Since I'm so emotional and sensitive I feel like especially when I'm playing live, I go off the crowd. So, they're the ones that really drive the direction I go, I don't really know where I'm going, without them, I'm just gonna' be doing my thing," she smiles.


Brooks' commitment to herself and her evolution is what draws those crowds. Her listeners know they are going to be a part of a uniquely personal experience. A deep-rooted appreciation for all music and the feelings it can convey sits at the core of Tara's willingness to explore. This same determination to blaze new paths fuels her navigation through the heavily male-dominated dance music industry.

Tara has experienced it all, from sound techs mansplaining how a mixer works before a headline set to general disbelief that a woman could land the performances she has. But rather than let the weight of doubt and preconceptions hold her back, she used it as a constant source of motivation. While it can improve further, female representation is currently at an all-time high in dance music, and Brooks forecasts a brighter future for female DJs and producers.
 

"I know when I'm listening to these badass women's production… most of my favorites are women today. They're incredible but they just haven't had that outlet, that opportunity, and they weren't getting the support in this male-dominated industry. When I'm discovering them today it sounds like they've been doing 10, 20 years, but we're not seeing them or hearing them. Now more than ever it's beautiful… that it's all about the music. Our music is quality, it's not a sex thing. It's like dude we have boobs, that doesn't change how the music sounds," she laughs.
 


Through it all, the triumphs, the trials, the lessons, the stories, Tara's humility, and recognition of her roots keep her grounded in gratitude. She recognizes the unique opportunity she now has to convey the same feelings of community, fun, and safe acceptance that she first fell in love with all those years ago. She even holds gratitude for the professional challenges she faces, approaching them as further opportunities for growth. Her embrace of the unknown and commitment to evolution have carried her sound and spirit to infectious heights. So it's impossible to hold back a smile and a nod in cathartic agreement when she spares this advice for new artists (and all humans):  
 

"Keep it real for yourself, play the music you love. Don't just play what everyone else is playing because that's what's popular. Because when you play the stuff you really love, that's where the happiness is. No matter where the money, where the future fame comes, if that's what you're into, at the end of the day what is that all gonna' mean if you're not doing exactly what you really love. It's ok to shift and to complement, and to be open-minded and respectful of your environment. Just keep it real."

Tara Brooks

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