Tara Thompson is one of the newest female acts to hit the scene, and the Dot Recording artist has recently released her debut single ‘Someone To Take Your Place’ to radio. A Tennessee native, last year she was crowned one of CMT’s Next Women of Country, and is currently on the program’s tour alongside Jennifer Nettles, Brandy Clark and Lindsay Ell. It remains very difficult to launch a female artist despite notions that the tide might be turning, with radio still requiring that an artist set herself apart whilst remaining commercially-orientated, and bringing fans to the medium from social media or TV. With the format now being flooded with fresh talent and growing sentiment that it needs to get behind more female acts, could Tara be one of those to take advantage of the surge?
Perhaps, but I think it’s too early to tell. She seems to be positioning herself as a sassy, Miranda Lambert-esque artist; the kind who don’t-take-no-shit, who’s generally dominant in her relationships, a down-home country girl with bite. ‘Someone To Take Your Place’ is a feisty, twangy growl of a mission statement that finds the narrator ditching her no-good boyfriend and dressing up to find someone better. “I came in here to get a man and I know the man I want,” she states proudly at the beginning of the chorus, helming one of the most commanding feminist narratives I’ve heard from country radio in a while. Sure, searching for a lover replacement isn’t the most ground-breaking of tales for female equality, but this is female sexual empowerment on country radio, and Tara doesn’t beat around the bush.
Her character in ‘Someone To Take Your Place’ is bold, unapologetic, blunt and in your face; she’s not made a ton of effort (she doesn’t own high heels but she bought these shoes from Payless on her lunch break), but she’s working it to get what she wants. She’s not upset or whining about the hurt she’s going through – instead she’s doing something about it, deciding who she wants and going after them. In a world that still often expects the man to make the first move, especially in the more conservative country format, Tara seems to be blowing straight past every expectation of ‘social etiquette for young ladies’. The lyrics are also more interesting than some of your average ‘sassy break-up’ songs, including plenty of unique details that flesh out the scene in a conversational tone not unlike Kacey Musgraves.
Musically, ‘Someone To Take Your Place’ uses banjo, pacing drums and double electric guitars for a familiar commercial take on southern rock. There’s a brief semi-rap on the bridge in an effort to remain up-to-date, but for the most part she falls into that Miranda Lambert mould. It suits her, especially with a light, high and deeply southern voice to balance out the bass of the instrumentation.
The video is interesting too. Throughout the clip Tara is featured sitting on a washing machine mid-spin cycle, a reference that points to female sexuality, and taking matters into her own hands. It’s actually shocking for mainstream country music, given that we’re stuck in the dark ages somewhere where women aren’t allowed to take control of their own sex and be open and honest about it. This adds another layer to her opening statement to the world, and whether she means to or not, she’s striking a feminist tone from the first bat.
I’m not sure yet whether Tara Thompson is going to take off on country radio, but she certainly has potential as an artist. Let’s see where she goes from here.
Originally posted here.
