Tamar-kali (she/her) is an award-winning composer, vocalist and performer whose musical expression extends from alt rock, chamber and opera to film and symphonic work with radical depth and emotional precision.
Her debut original score for Dee Rees’ Oscar-nominated ‘MUDBOUND’ was classified by Indiewire as one of the Best Film Scores of the 21st Century. The soundtrack for her score to Josephine Decker’s ‘SHIRLEY’ was named The Guardian’s Contemporary Album of the month. Her original score for history making cinematographer Rachel Morrison’s directorial debut ‘The Fire Inside’ made 2025’s Oscar Shortlist.
She has collaborated with visionaries including Steve McQueen, Bill T. Jones, and Julie Dash. As a performer, her work has graced world-class stages.
Commissioned works include the song cycle ‘Melancholy Ghosts and Other Mothers’ for Beth Morrison Projects, the LA Opera digital short ‘We Hold These Truths’ directed by Peabody award winner dream hampton, and a solo cello work, ‘Little Bear Awakens’ for acclaimed cellist Matt Haimovitz.
2026 heralds new works for cellist and multidisciplinary artist Jeff Ziegler as well as a vocal and quartet piece for Grammy award winning soprano Karen Slack and Miro Quartet.