A Note From Tara

Before You’re Gone (2019) was written following an attempted intervention in the life of a 7-year friend and fellow musician struggling with alcoholism. The central character could be in anyone’s life. The song began as a driving, but humble folk song. It was behind the inspiration to submit to the American Songwriter song competition. A collection of musician friends, all giving their talent freely to make a story come to life, galvanized around a NJ musical anchor (known by most as a go-to keys player) Mark Masefield, who naturally fell into an arranger and producer’s role. He brought together people who were already friends (and most, already bandmates), and recorded a Covid-style Big-Band in his own apartment, with some others remotely sending in tracks. The result swells up to the size of the emotion behind the lyrics themselves.