Tobacco & Rose worships at the altar of more than one Tara on their romantic and spiritual new single — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
Songs having dual meanings are rare. But when put in the right hands of a talented singer-songwriter, those songs can sound effortless and incredibly easy on the ears. Victoria’s Richard Moody, recording under the moniker Tobacco & Rose, is that singer-songwriter. And his stellar single Tara is that song. It’s a gentle, alluring tune which could be thought of as a traditional love song. Yet for Tobacco & Rose, the song — the first single from the forthcoming self-titled album — has a deeper resonance.
“Tara is a repurposed love song,” Moody says. “I wrote the first few lines for a crush that quickly dissipated and later completed it and dedicated it to the Buddhist deity Tara, the goddess of compassion and action. The song is reflective of my beginner’s take on Buddhism, and a reminder to myself to think and act with courage, compassion, and equanimity. And if listeners hear it as a good old-fashioned love song, that’s OK too.”
Tobacco & Rose wrote, recorded, engineered, and produced Tara on Vancouver Island. The single has a gorgeous, hushed tone throughout while also creating a style that is equally cinematic and majestic. Tara is terrifically attractive, drawing the listener in instantly with a simple but strong vocal, some almost hypnotic acoustic guitar, and a rich but sparse background.
The sonic jewel brings to mind obvious touchstones like the immortal Nick Drake while also recalling James Yorkston, Richard Thompson and other great contemporaries of classic British folk. Violins can be heard while bassist Joey Smith adds a delicate touch throughout.
Tobacco & Rose’s upcoming nine-song album features musicians such as guitarist Luke Doucet, drummers Barry Mirochnick and Kelby MacNayr, bassists Smith, Scott White and Peter Dowse, drummer and organist Joby Baker, pedal steel player Tyler Lieb and pianist Adrian Dolan. Tobacco & Rose wrote all the songs, including the calming, tranquil You And I and the exquisite closing cut Where My Lover Goes, the closing track that recalls Bruce Springsteen’s Secret Garden in its spine-tingling, heart-tugging effect.
Tobacco & Rose’s backstory is a long and winding road. Moody studied classical viola in France in his teens, and in the 1990s toured with Manitoba folk-rock group Acoustically Inclined. He has performed with Stephen Fearing, Wailin’ Jennys and The Bills, among others. However, that life wasn’t fulfilling Moody, so he became a yoga instructor in addition to being a musician for hire.
Now focused on music again, he offers a brilliant new song that harkens back to the work Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. “The music itself is a nod to the classic singer-songwriters,” he says, “with what I hope is a sophisticated harmony, arrangement and orchestration that honour my own musical past and upbringing.”
Check out Tara above and below, and follow Tobacco & Rose on his website, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
