What inspired you to create your new single “Bella”? Can you share more about the personal connection to your family’s history?
Bella was my cousin, the daughter of Henry Tatar, my grandfather’s brother. I discovered our relationship while reading the book We Were The Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter.
How did discovering your connection to the characters in We Were The Lucky Ones influence the composition of “Bella”?
The inspiration simply came naturally to me, as I was moved by the story of the Kurk family and their fight for survival during World War II in Nazi-occupied Poland. Bella had married into the family and became a main character in the book.
Can you walk us through the process of composing this piece? What emotions did you want to capture?
My process is quite simple. I picked up my guitar to musically express my thoughts and just started exploring my feelings on the instrument. The emotions that I was hoping to capture were inspired by Bella’s will to survive and the determination that kept her moving forward while experiencing such challenging circumstances.
“Bella” features several accomplished musicians. How did you decide who to collaborate with, and what did they bring to the track?
I am fortunate to work with some excellent musicians at Imaginary Road Studios and am certainly familiar with their talents. Premik Russell Tubbs has a magic touch on Soprano Sax, and I felt he was the right choice for the melody line, while Tom Eaton on Bass and Jeff Haynes on Percussion were solid choices to carry the rhythm throughout the composition.
Your music is described as meditative and healing. How do you approach creating music with this kind of emotional impact?
I simply play what I feel. There is no structure or process, in fact, it is quite the opposite. I consider myself a conduit for what emotions already exist and try to express them through my hands.
How does your work with legendary musicians like David Darling and Will Ackerman continue to influence your music today?
I consider myself lucky to have worked with both David and Will, and to have learned from each of them. Studying with and being mentored by David Darling offered me the opportunity to explore my creative process, ultimately leading me to recognize and honor my true musical self. Will Ackerman gave insight into the importance of the studio, both with recording and also embellishing the final piece through adding instrumentation (along with Tom Eaton as studio engineer), which always provides the “frosting on the cake” for my compositions.
Many of your pieces are rooted in deep emotion and personal stories. How do you balance that with creating music that resonates universally with your listeners?
There is no need to balance this. The music comes from my pure expression of those deep emotions, without any filter. This gives me the ability to offer music that is pure and genuine.
What role does improvisation play in your compositions, and how did it shape “Bella”?
I am definitely an improviser with everything I play. Exploring emotions and putting them into sound is how I compose.
Your music is featured in hospitals and hospices around the world. What does it mean to you to know your work is part of such peaceful and healing environments?
This is definitely the most rewarding aspect of being a composer. I have received so many touching stories from people who have benefitted from my music while going through some of life’s most challenging situations.
Looking ahead, what new projects or musical directions are you excited to explore?
The music will always show me the way. When it is ready for a new direction, I will know.
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