Fresh spirited, original songwriting. Versatile and moving.
The future of Canadian pop music.

When Popular Records first delivered Front To Back's "Different Love" they had complete confidence in it and every reason to believe that it would follow a familiar pattern for debut pop/dance artists in Canada. After all -- production credits included the stellar names Boomtang Boys and Dan Holmes. It wouldn't be ignored. The idea was to get the single out there to a few key tastemakers in clubs and radio and let a slow-burning word of mouth create a heat that would eventually lead to bigger and better things down the road. Problem was nobody gave that game plan to the audience.

Mark Tara is a personable guy with a flare for catchy, melodic pop.
"Different Love" is a perfect example of the kind of sharp, multicultural, urban pop that will soon rule the... Canadian music scenes.

Unexpectedly (for everyone except Tara himself) "Different Love" rocketed into the Top 20 on Toronto's prestigious Energy Radio within three weeks of its launch. The single was taking off as though it were a much-anticipated release from a long-established artist rather than something fresh from an as-yet unknown entity. The prospect of selling-out the original pressings became very real. Popular and Tara made the tough decision to pull the track until a full-court press could be unleashed -- including a just-completed video which can be seen on MuchMusic directed by Renee MacCarthy (a double nominee at this year's MuchMusic Video Awards in the Dance Category for Temperance's "Hands of Time" and Shuana Davis' "Try My Love"). Now "Different Love" is making a second, more self-assured assault on the Top Ten.

Trinidad-born Tara has long been a member of the music community in Toronto, where he and his family moved when he was nine. Although Front To Back is his debut, Tara's years as a performer, songwriter, backing vocalist (for a dizzying array of artists from Patsy Gallant to Maureen Forrester) and lead singer (Orchestra Paavola, Skinny Muscles) brought a veteran's savvy to the project. Always active in community issues, Tara, along with friend Kate Ashley, had written a song that touched a strong emotional chord. Tara approached the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation with an offer: he would donate 100% of the profits from the single if the Foundation would endorse the release. With the fund-raising aspect of the project in place it became easy for Tara to enlist the help of the city's top artists -- including the acclaimed Boomtang Boys and Holmes, who donated their time. The rest, as they say...

Mark Tara has big hair... and a big heart.