One of Australia's most exciting pop newcomers, TAMMA, has today announced her glistening new single Beat You Down, out October 12. After a rough few years of loss and devastation for TAMMA, real name Tammy Martin, and her family, Beat You Down feels like a true triumph over hardship. TAMMA has also announced a happy-go-lucky video to accompany Beat You Down, directed by Damien Blue (Slow Pulp) and filmed at the iconic Venice Beach in Los Angeles, California and will celebrate the release of Beat You Down with a performance at Farouk's Olive in Northcote on October 21.
Beat You Down is the ultimate pump-up song - one to bust out in the car as you head away on a road trip for the weekend, when someone in your life is being a total jerk, when you are on your last dollar and your landlord kicks you out - but it's more than that. Sparkling guitars, hard-hitting pop percussion and a killer vocal hook from TAMMA lead the way - but the reason Beat You Down hits so hard is its deep roots in vulnerability. TAMMA offers insight into the deeply personal inspiration behind the track, saying, "As I was writing Beat You Down, I thought about my family and the hard stuff we have faced in recent years. I've had vocal surgery twice - however, losing my voice and identity seemed trivial after the tragic and sudden loss of my nephew Buddy in 2016. The loss threw me into an unknown and scary place, as I realised how quickly life can change and turn on you. Suddenly my main priority in life was to get my sister, family and myself through the grief and confusion."
TAMMA continues, "Music is my healer and I wanted to write something to make them feel uplifted - the way music does for me. I was thinking about my little nieces (and nephews) navigating through life at different ages and stages; it's confusing enough as a young one, but then trying to understand that loss on top of that is so hard. I thought about my own journey, what it's like to be a female today. Beat You Down came at the last minute, and it's a message for my nieces: if they ever feel discouraged or hurt, don't let it beat you down. Stay close to your loved ones…it's a message for anyone who needs a pick-me-up. Life's bigger than letting toxic people or trivial things get to you."
The clip for Beat You Down is soaked in summery nostalgia, as TAMMA and her friends
skateboard their way around Venice Beach. It's fun and uplifting, pulsing with young energy and life, and the picturesque visuals fit in beautifully with the message of the song. TAMMA explains the concept behind the clip, saying, "Venice Beach is place close to my heart for many reasons, the warmth, the weirdness, the music, blue skies and palm trees, but mainly because of my awesome mates who live there, who also feature in the clip. We filmed some of it in their backyard in their amazing airstream caravan. I picked skateboarding because I wanted a visual representation where persistence and resilience pays off. I have always loved and respected skateboarding since I was a kid, it's an artform that requires courage to master it. You get physically hurt as well as rejected from society and little recognition, you eat shit and you get up again!"
TAMMA is set to perform Beat You Down and a bunch of never-before-heard tracks live for fans at Farouk's Olive in Northcote on October 21. Stoked to be showcasing her new music, TAMMA enthuses, "My shows are playful - I tell stories through my music that people relate to, we have laughs and an there is a lot of rawness and honesty in the room. My songs are catchy, warm, summary and soulful. This show will be performed with a live band which will be such a good vibe!"
Beat You Down is set for release on October 12.