We’ve been playlisting Sounds Underground by Tamara Shamini this month – and caught up with Tamara to talk about her life and music.

When did you first start to develop a passion for music?

Music runs in my family. My Father was a singer in his younger years in multiple bands in Sri Lanka, so my love for music developed from an early age. I was encouraged to play the piano at the age of four, and from then on, I was singing and dancing around the house and entertaining the children in the street. I began writing songs at the age of fifteen and took my passion for music seriously around that age.

Which artists did you listen to while growing up?

Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, I was an active listener of radio songs, a lot of light and easy songs of the 70s and 80s. I love listening to songs with a great hook and melody but mainly I like to listen and connect to the artists lyrics. I loved listening to The Carpenters, Elvis Presley, Elton John to name a few.

How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard you before?

My music is quite versatile. Right now, I am having a lot of success with dance which is a mix of electronic and pop but in addition to dance songs, I compose and write love song ballads, songs for RnB, Rock, Country and Pop. I have a very strong connection to love ballads and country. These genres are my strengths and what I grew up writing as I like to tell stories and express emotion in my songs.

What music have you recorded and released to date?

To date I have recorded two albums and released multiple singles which climbed the charts on radio in Malaysia and Sri Lanka and have reached over 3.5 million YouTube views combined. My latest track is Sounds Underground, a dance track which is available on Spotify, Apple Music and other media platforms. Apart from the great response from new and old fans alike, it is also getting a lot of attention from DJs worldwide, reaching number 5 on the Electronic Trending Chart worldwide on DigitalDJPool.com.

Which artists do you enjoy listening to at the moment – and do they influence your work?

My love for The Carpenters has always been there, even to date, but I do enjoy listening to Taylor Swift, Thomas Rhett, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Rhianna and Calvin Harris. I love all genres of music and find it hard to say which artist influences my work. Each artist is an individual and so talented in their own right. For me, it’s the feel when I write a song and how my audience resonates with it. I write for them.

Who would your dream collaboration be with?

My dream collaboration would be with either Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw or Keith Urban.

What are your plans for the future?

My plans are to continue on my musical journey, writing different genres and just be happy with what I’m doing and who I’m doing it for. Being true to myself and my talent is really important. Music gives me a lot of peace and happiness, so as long as I can continue doing this, I will continue to make great music for my fans.

You can keep up to date on Tamara’s latest news by connecting with her on Facebook and YouTube.