Northampton’s Tasha Yar likes putting on a show. The band, named after the chief of security aboard the USS Enterprise-D on television show Star Trek: The Next Generation, is partial to costumes and props and Aldenccharine pop music designed to get bodies moving. The three principals—Scott Alden, David Garfinkel and Judy Margo—took time out to discuss Beyonce, gold spandex unitards and their very own backup dancers.
Valley Advocate: How did Tasha Yar begin?
Scott Alden: Davey and Judes and I had been wanting to make music together for a while. We all found ourselves in a place where making sexy pop music felt right, and we had a lot of overlap in our influences toward that. So we booked a show before we had any songs and went apeshit making the beats, and then we were a band.
Why the name Tasha Yar? What does she mean to the band?
Alden: It’s a cool name for a synthpop band because it’s evocative and sounds exotic and futuristic even if you don’t know what it means. If you do know what it means, you know that she’s a character who is mysterious, oddly sexy, tough, sensitive, tragic, and who has a whole lot of big, healthy geek love coming at her. I think the band either has or strives to share those qualities.
Also, Tasha the Star Trek character is kind of a silly premise that plays out in serious and emotional ways. That’s our bag, too.
Are you guys Trekkies?
Judy Margo: Yes, we unabashedly are! Picard is our moral compass.
David Garfinkel: I am, but I’m a James T. Kirk guy.
Alden: There are a lot of Trekkies who would probably say “no.” I might not have all my facts straight, but I’ve definitely got the heart. [Star Trek: The Next Generation] meant a lot to me, growing up.
What’s the songwriting process like for the band?
Alden: Usually starts with a melody and a title, then we do the beats on Garageband, then we fill in the empty slots with words.
Do you have a group philosophy?
Garfinkel: We are unabashedly into fun, performance and exploration.
Alden: I think it’s about getting to be pop stars without having to get famous first.
What’s next for the band?
Alden: We tend to figure it out as we go. If someone wanted to throw a bunch of money at us, though, we promise that the props and costumes alone would make the harshest critic feel like a kid petting a unicorn.
Anything weird, wild or wacky Advocate readers should know about the group?
Garfinkel: We are in the process of adopting a group child. She will be playing bass and assisting with choreography. We also are trying to line up a tour opening for Beyonce.
Alden: None of that’s true, except metaphorically. We do have backup dancers, though, The Tasha Yarlings—Karen Ammann, Aldenrah Knox, MelisAlden Burt—and costumes and props. I think we’re all about five pounds and a few bucks away from gold spandex unitards. That’s not a joke.
For songs and shows, visit: www.myspace.com/tashayarmusic.
