Tamarama’s US Debut “Wonderland City” On “The City”

Stepping from the sandy beaches of their native Sydney, Australia onto the hard but promising streets of New York City – under the very watchful eye of MTV – Universal Motown folk-rockers TAMARAMA are making a major multi-media entry into American consciousness as one of early 2009’s unmistakable breakout discoveries.

The release of the first TAMARAMA EP, WONDERLAND CITY, comes as the duo (Jay Lyon, Nicolas “Pottsy” Potts) play prominent recurring roles as themselves in the new MTV series THE CITY. Jay is in particular focus as the new love interest of series co-star Whitney Port, but the band itself will be integrated into the plot arcs of the show, as will its music and live performances. Already, print and broadcast media have responded to the juicy celebrity aura of the new series and its cast members: three episodes in, the show’s website has drawn an instant seven-figure hit total.

TAMARAMA’s warm vocal blend and spare but gorgeous acoustic arrangements instantly establish the band’s sonic signature, a relaxed and enveloping mix fusing American west coast folk-rock; the transatlantic singer-songwriter tradition that includes Paul Simon and Donovan; the softer side of Bob Marley; and the new acoustic style of Jack Johnson.

WONDERLAND CITY was released digitally on iTunes in late December to coincide with the series debut of THE CITY, and released to physical retail January 13, 2009. The band is currently finalizing a U.S. west coast tour. Aside from streams of four of the EP tracks, the band’s MySpace.com page also includes the reggae “Illusions” and two videos, the EP track “Everything to Me,” directed by Pottsy’s father, and “Middle of a Magazine.”

THE CITY debuted December 29, 2008 on MTV as a spin-off of The Hills (the No. 1-rated cable program among age12-34 viewers), and runs through April, 2009. Tamarama was featured in later episodes of The Hills and signed to continue in THE CITY. The second season of THE CITY begins shooting in April, 2009.