A few years back, Jay Lyon, along with his best friend Nick "Pottsy" Potts, sought something beyond the pristine beaches of their native Australia and headed to New York to pursue modeling careers. "We basically just kinda used [modeling] as a vehicle to get ourselves out of Australia," says Potts. And in 2004, the tall, dark, handsome and shaggy-haired Lyon and tow-headed Potts decided to do what any self-respecting good looking friends would do: They formed a band, Tamarama. But it wasn't until last year, after Jay was cast in MTV's docu-drama The City as Whitney Port's love interest, that Tamarama became more than a side-project.
Of their modern day Ellis Island landing, Lyon has nothing but a positive impression of this city: "I think New York's been a great place for us to be. I think it's broadened our sound. It's really diverse, in every way." Named after a beach back home, Tamarama's style is super surf, lo-fi, soft sung and easy on the ears. Think commercial appeal, radio friendly and, in our humble opinion, Jack Johnson.
While the New York Times proved less than enthusiastic about the duo's talents, there were enough high school-aged girls crowding Hammerstein Ballroom at Friday night's "One is Greater Than None" charity concert to combat an army of music critics. Less than stellar reviews haven't stunted their aspirations; after releasing their Wonderland City EP back in December, the band is presently studio-bound, "...getting into pre-production for the [full length] record," says Lyon, due to drop in the fall. Their aesthetic could hardly be called deeply complex, but their mild melodies and simple riffs come as a welcome relief, a breath of fresh and uncomplicated air from Down Under. It's evident at first listen that Lyon and Potts aren't from these same mean streets; their aesthetic proves smooth, sans grit and grime. "It's a nice change for New Yorkers. It's our way of putting a bit of Zen back in the city," says Lyon.
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