Tamar Berk has been a fixture in the Chicago music scene since 1996 as a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Having shared the stage with the The Cranberries, Local H, Kristen Hersh, Kelly Deal, The Donnas, and many others, Tamar and her first band Starball gained recognition throughout the midwest. The now defunct power-pop band released a self titled EP, two full length albums on their own label Pussycat Records, as well as the limited edition 7" on Thick Records.
During this time, Tamar also began writing solo material and released several EPs on her own, as well as one full length album through Chicago's Minty Fresh. In 2002 Tamar was a POP finalist in the 2002 John Lennon Songwriting Competition.
After meeting her husband-to-be, bass-player Steve Denekas, the pair set to work on The Countdown, a live experimental project based on a rock opera that Tamar began writing in 1998. After independently recording and releasing both an LP and an EP, The Countdown signed with Chicago's esteemed industrial label, Invisible Records. Since then The Countdown has released the Scratch & Sniff EP and a limited edition 7", including a remix by David Yow of Jesus Lizard fame. The Countdown has shared the stage with Queens Of The Stone Age, Interpol, Sneaker Pimps, The Locust, We Are Scientists, The Postal Service, and many others.
In between recording and playing shows with The Countdown, Tamar composes original music and songs for film and television from her home studio. Her songs have been featured in ABC's Knock First and Wildfire, WB's The Bedford Diaries, MTV's Fanatic, the CW's Veronica Mars, Disney's trailer for My Scene Goes Hollywood, 2K video game Prey, Showtime Beyond's Chromiumblue.com, Canada's Fashion Television as well as in several independent films. Tamar recently signed on to become a composer with Mayfair Workshop. Her commericial compositions have been heard in association with Wrigley's Winterfresh Gum, Miller Beer, and Southwest Airlines. Tamar also teaches at the Chicago branch of the Paul Green School of Rock.
Jane Magazine: "Tamar Berk has made a great pop album, and we've already memorized the words."
Daily Herald Illinois: "If Rivers Cuomo wanted a run for his money, he'd hire Tamar Berk and watch her write an album just as catchy as Weezer's. Berk's breathy but wounded vocals, spark fire into revved-up techno pop that's a blend of The Cars and Veruca Salt."
Chicago Sun Times: "Powerful vocals, a flair for endearing melodies and a wry, lyrical wit."
Magnet: "Berk's voice is both earthy and angelic, imbuing the song with an earnestness that resonates long after the record stops."
Illinois Entertainer: "[She] would be kicking the The Go-Go's asses up and down the block."
Intelectos: "Combine the sensibility of Devo/B-52's with the musical ambition of Lionrock or Goldfrapp."
Time Out NY: "Starball features Tamar Berk, a perky singer from Chicago who plays old-fashioned power pop with zest."
Village Voice: "Bangles meets new wave confections."
Not Lame Records: "A dizzying summary of what really enjoyable power pop can be."
Tom Tom Arts and Entertainment: "Starball comprehensively mastered the essence of Blondie."
Static Multimedia: "It's only a matter of time before the talented Tamar Berk, lead singer and guitarist for Starball, becomes famous, heiress to the female pop rock throne currently occupied by Liz Phair, Nina Gordon and Hope Sandoval"
Rockrgrl Magazine: "Berk writes tremendously catchy songs."