Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tara Chugh. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tara, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
I went the traditional route of earning my Bachelor’s degree, working a 9-5 since I was 18 years old, and then went back to school for a Master’s in Business Administration to work for a tech company. I officially quit that job during the pandemic and can confidently say that I am definitely happier as an artist and business owner. It doesn’t come with it’s difficulties though. A regular job can offer consistency whereas the life of an artist and business owner can be a wave. Someone get me a surfboard because I’m riding this crazy wave lol! One thing a regular job couldn’t give me, was the ability to feel ALIVE. What even is a ‘regular’ job? Because a 9-5 could very well be a job that makes you feel alive. When I hear things like ‘regular’ job, I think of someone having to work a job not aligned with their purpose or passion for the salary and benefits.
One thing I loved most about working in-office full time was the ability to talk with my co-workers, go on team lunches and work as a team. When I’m missing something in my life, I try to go out and create it for myself. If that regular job offered a routine I crave, I try to create that routine within my ever changing schedule. I set times to work on music, I set times for when I can network with people, and block off times in my calendar to take calls and work on admin tasks. I’ve found a way to do what I love and create some sort of structure in my life that works.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a Pianist, Singer-Songwriter, Producer, Music Director, GRAMMYU Mentor, Recording Academy Member, and Co-Founder of Momentum. Well, that’s a mouthful, let me rephrase; I’m a human making music and connections.
I started singing at a very young age, and then started improvising on the piano at the age of 7. From there I was part of a trio group with my 2 sisters, I performed with a Filipino Dance and Indigenous Music Group, and then when I moved to Arizona in 2007, I began performing solo for the first time. When I moved back to Washington in 2016, I gained the confidence to finally meet with a producer to write my first solo EP. I was told very early on that my writing wasn’t good and that I didn’t have the best voice so I should probably stick with piano. So it took me a long time to get past that and truly believe my own music was worth listening to. Once I accepted my art, everything started to fall into place really fast. The Universe works in mysterious ways. I was selected to be a Recording Academy Member, and then a GRAMMYU Mentor shortly after. I still sometimes think – did they make an accident? I’m not supposed to be here. But I’m reminded that I do truly help inspire people, and that makes it all worth it to me. I can confidently say that 3 babies were brought into this world listening to my piano instrumental album playing in the background. I love getting texts from friend’s saying, “hey we had your album playing during labor” or “hey my kid is singing your song around the house”. Friends, us musicians love hearing that stuff so don’t hold back ok? : )
One common thread I’ve been hearing in the music scene is the lack of community opportunities, collaboration, and ways to learn skills without investing a fortune in school. In June 2024, I co-founded an organization that launches January 8th 2025 called Momentum! My business partner, Karen Laura Peters and I wanted to create a space for our musician co-workers to meet, inspire, and learn from one another. As a reliable resource in Tacoma, WA we partner with local music industry professionals to provide consistent masterclasses and meetings to help independent musicians grow confidence and improve access. In these meetings, you’ll learn skills collaboratively and set professional goals, and in the masterclasses led by industry professionals, you’ll learn practical, mindset and music skills.
All in-person events will occur in the same place and same time, every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Visit us at https://www.momentummusician.com/ to learn more!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is creating magic. Sounds cheesy I know, so let me explain. I read somewhere today that as an artist, we are creating magic. We bring out the emotion and we move bodies. Our music has the power to make someone cry, or make someone dance their butts off. I always joke and say, my main mission is to make people cry (happy or sad tears) through my music. Concerts is a place of magic where people attend and feel emotions together. Isn’t that what life is all about? Connection and feeling alive,
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to unlearn was that my music had to be perfect before releasing it to the world. I didn’t think my music was even worthy of being recorded at a studio, so i just kept voice memos on my phone. I would release a song on YouTube and the moment I had one bad comment, I would delete my entire account. I realized that I was sensitive to criticism growing up with a critical parent who wanted me to strive for perfection. I know parent’s want the best for their kids, so I see her perspective, but it can definitely do some serious longterm harm. I’m still unlearning that to this day and there are some songs that I’ve personally produced that I regret releasing in some ways, but it’s also a beautiful little timestamp journey that I can look back on. Do you ever look at a picture from 20 years ago and think, wow how could I ever think I was ugly? I think the same will happen with those songs.
Fast forward to today, I’m so incredibly happy that I pushed through the waves of doubt. In November of 2024, my newest EP, Alter Ego that I wrote and produced with my good friend Tiq Rags, was published by the record label, Get it Done and BMG Production Music. You can listen to the full project here: https://www.tarachugh.com/
I’m also about to go on my first international tour in February of 2025! My friends Carrie Jennings, Thomas Jennings, and Karen Laura Peters will be touring the coast from Portland, Oregon all the way up to Vancouver B.C. The tour is called ‘Queen of Hearts’ and we are so incredibly excited! You can learn more and purchase tickets here: https://www.tarachugh.com/queenofheartstour
All this to say, it’s okay to not have the perfect song. Try your best, get some feedback aside from your own, and just do it. You truly never know what could happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tarachugh.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarachugh/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarachugh
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tarachugh
- Other: https://linktr.ee/tarachugh?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=2921ce48-c321-441c-ba73-3383e2231482
Image Credits
Josh Gonzalez
Victoria Fragoso
Eric Manix
Kevin O