a nostalgic dive into the mid-2000s, creative chaos, and the moments that shape who we become

chicago born and shaped by the diy energy of chicago, portland, and san diego, tamar berk has built a world of emotionally raw indie rock and alt-pop that blends fuzzed-out guitars, dreamy textures, and lyrics that sit with you long after the last chord rings out. a fiercely independent multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer, tamar writes and records her own music, crafting songs that explore identity, obsession, and the strange beauty of looping thoughts. her albums have carried praise from spin, kcrw, creem, shindig, npr’s new music friday, and more, marking her as one of indie’s most distinctive voices.

her latest single, indiesleaze 2005, taken from her full length album ocd, looks back on the mid-2000s with affection, humour, and clarity. it is a snapshot of a scene where myspace was currency, thrift-store amps were holy relics, and every friend was in two or three bands. it captures the rush of being young, chaotic, hopeful, and convinced that one more show might change everything.

You paint such a vivid picture of that mid-2000s Chicago scene, with constant reinvention and the feeling that music could still change everything. What pulled you back into that moment when writing “Indiesleaze 2005”?

This was actually a song I wrote and recorded during that era – it wasn’t written specifically for this album. I think it was around 2001. While I was putting songs together for OCD, a friend reminded me of it after randomly finding an old version I’d uploaded on YouTube years ago. Hearing it again felt nostalgic, and the vibe – especially the laid-back drum loop – just fit OCD perfectly. Back in the 2000s, I was starting new bands constantly.

We were still young, still hungry, and still chasing the idea that music could change everything. But at the same time, people around me were getting older and starting to think about families, stability, and real life. It felt like we were all taking one last big swing before adulthood really set in. We were playing shows, partying, and being as chaotic as possible – like we knew that moment wouldn’t last forever.

The song sits between hope, chaos, and that sense of taking one last big swing before adulthood. How did you capture that emotional mix in the production and lyrics?

What I love about re-imagining this song is that I had to fire up my old G5 from the early 2000s just to access the original drum loop. I honestly wasn’t sure it would even turn on, let alone play the session – but it loaded, and the Reason loop worked. I literally jumped up and down. Reason was the drum program everyone used back then – part pre-made loops, part programmable via ReDrum – and I built this loop using about ten layers. If I couldn’t get that original loop back, I probably would’ve scrapped the song. Luckily, it worked.

Then my drummer Matt Walker (Morrissey, Smashing Pumpkins) added real drums over the loop, which created that perfect mid-2000s energy I love. And having Isaiah Mitchell (Earthless) play the lead guitar and that killer solo really brought it home.

Your new album dives deep into looping thoughts and emotional patterns. Where does “Indiesleaze 2005” fit within the world of OCD?

Good question. I get stuck in my head about the past a lot. I’m very nostalgic, and I do loop and spiral about the past, present, and future. There were great moments back then, but also really hard ones. When I look back now, I feel sad that the world is so different and I’ll never experience those exact moments again – that energy, that version of myself, that scene. So the song fits into OCD as part of that emotional looping – revisiting memories, longing, questioning, and holding onto something that’s already gone.

If the 2005 version of you walked into the studio today, what would she say about this track?

She’d probably say: “Let’s get a choir to sing the chorus!”

Love it! You’ve lived and created in Chicago, Portland, and San Diego. How have those scenes shaped the way you write and produce now?

From my first 4-track demos in the ’90s to now, I’ve learned by trial and error – writing, recording, releasing music, playing in bands, and figuring things out as I went. Each city shaped a different part of me. Chicago taught me how to be in a band, how to write and record songs, and how to make mistakes and learn from them. Portland taught me how to be part of a true music community and how to collaborate. San Diego taught me how to grow as a producer and writer in the COVID and post-COVID world – how to refine things and trust myself creatively.

With this single out and OCD earning such strong praise, what feels most exciting as you look ahead?

Funny you should ask – I’m traveling, but I brought my mobile studio with me, and I just recorded a new song I really love. So… who knows? A new batch of songs may be closer than I think.

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huge thanks to tamar for revisiting 2005 with us, and for reminding us why those messy, loud, hopeful years still echo now.