If you’ve lived in Sedona for very long, you know this town has a way of embracing some newcomers while giving others the boot. Singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist Adalia Tara falls into the former category. She moved to Red Rock Country with her family when she was 12, eventually graduating from Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy. She moved back to her native Washington, D.C. to go to college, but the red rocks – and her family – called her back home three years ago. Before she had even made up her mind to move to Sedona permanently, she landed a regular gig at a local resort, which sealed the deal. She’s been playing weekly in restaurants and bars and at area festivals ever since.
Adalia performs mostly original music with The Beatles, Leonard Cohen and Radiohead covers thrown in from time to time. She was raised on some of the best singer-songwriters from the ’60s and ’70s, and that has had a huge influence on her own music. “I’ve always been drawn to music that’s cause-oriented – music that has the power and ability to inspire, empower, bring about change and bring people together,” she says. “For me, the message in music is the most important thing. My lyrics talk about important issues, and I think the world is hungry for music with a potent message.”
Hopefully Adalia is right. She’s recently been traveling back and forth between Sedona and LA, recording her first full-length album and an accompanying music video, both of which will be released soon. She’s producing the album herself and experimenting with electronic instruments. Adalia says her goals don’t end with being a recording artist: She wants her music used as a medium for social change. “If there isn’t a message in a song, I think it’s a lost opportunity,” she says. “I write about what moves me and what inspires me – there’s not a lot of relationship stuff in there. But I’m not trying to be preachy. I need to hear the message sometimes, too. It’s like medicine for myself.” – Erika Ayn Finch. Photograph by Alika Middleton.
SEDONA CALENDAR: Events, activities, shows, happenings
