Richard May of the Songwriters TV Series called Tara Craig "one of the most vibrant and pensive songwriters emerging," and this emergence has been a long time coming. The soundtrack to Tara’s childhood was a powerful one: Miles Davis on her father's turntable, Joni Mitchell on her mother's upright piano.

At the age of thirteen, Tara began writing music.  As a Salt Lake City teen, she spent hours recording her piano on old cassettes, overdubbing harmonies, and passing out tapes in the halls of her high school. Shortly after beginning college in Southern California, Tara picked up her first acoustic guitar. That year she also formed her first band, recording demos in the bathroom of their dorm. She then took the guitar to the street, drawing a crowd and transforming the tree-lined boulevards into her own Carnegie Hall.

Tara relocated to Austin in 2007, captivating audiences with a voice that is equal parts soulful and vulnerable. From epic spirituals to intimate ballads, there's a timeless quality to Tara's sound. While there is tremendous variety in her songs, they're tied together by a kind of longing — a longing for family, freedom, and requited love.

Tara Craig released her new EP Steadied on June 30.

Recorded at Ramble Creek studio in Austin, the EP is sonically a quantum leap forward from her previous home-recorded album. Tara now wields mostly electric guitars, supported by her band mates’ nimble bass and architectural drumming. Despite the scintillating instrumental work, the highlight is Tara’s dynamic voice; from a purr to a roar, its emotional intensity is captivating.

Steadied’s five songs span the breadth of Tara’s musical world, from jangling guitar pop, to intimate piano ballad, to epic rock drama. For your next irresistible fix of ear candy, join those who are beating a steadied path to Tara Craig’s door.