Playful, energetic and colourful ’til the end – just like the artist herself – Tara Simmons’ new single Let’s Go is a decisive, yet beautifully wonky electronic bop that moves in unexpected directions. The release marked the first anniversary since the beloved Brisbane artist’s passing on January 17th, 2019 and is made possible by a group of her musician and industry pals as well as family and friends. A song about the decision to be ‘all in’ with a new relationship, Tara weighs up her options on Let’s Go. “She was studying epidemiology and biostatistics, but she was also an artist to the very end. I think … she was always torn between the rational and the romantic. And that’s what “the chemist and the dreamer” line is trying to articulate,” says collaborator Yanto Browning. Let’s Go became an entirely collaborative effort, including Sam Hales (The Jungle Giants) and producer Konstantin Kersting (Tones & I, Mallrat) appearing for a day of recording at Empire Studios.

“This track was Tara’s nod towards LCD Soundsystem I think. When the drop hits I just dance along with a big dumb grin – it still gets me!,” says Yanto, “As the news got worse and worse, Tara’s desire to make upbeat dance tracks got greater and greater. I think she was trying to avoid the obvious, very introspective maudlin songs that would come from being terminally ill and just going ‘well life’s a party too so I want to make sure I celebrate that’.”

Let’s Go arrives with the announcement that Tara’s final album Show Me Spirit ’til the End will land on Friday 20 March – two days before what would have been her 35th birthday. She worked on the record until the last moment, even recording a song in the palliative care ward, perched on the end of her bed, under fairy lights put up by her mum. She leaves behind a mighty legacy and an extraordinary final offering with this final album.

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