About | KatZen

KatZen Story

A provocative synergy to guide and inspire,

KatZen is an original rock music project founded by Tamara Cimmerian in Albany, New York. Tamara is the principal member of KatZen and the lead singer and chief songwriter. Her vision exclusively guides the artistic direction of the music, recordings and live shows.

The blueprint of the endeavor is to make music with artists who are as passionate as they are creative and insightful. KatZen blends many different genres of music yet still creates a distinct sound while incorporating industrial elements and computer technology. The mission is to bring musicians together who are thought-provoking, honest and focused on the inner aspect.

During Tamara's musical exploration she worked on KatZen music and solo piano material while living in New York before moving to Los Angeles. She struggled at first to find musicians who could convey what she had written until she met Forrest Robinson in Downtown Los Angeles. He was a key piece in the puzzle that helped bring KatZen to life. Forrest, a multi-talented musician became the drummer for KatZen and remains the original drummer on the project.

Downtown L.A. became the inspiring backdrop for Tamara and Forrest as their music developed in time with the city. Pete's Cafe and Bar on 4th and Main became the usual meeting spot to hammer out lyrics and compose music with the occasional break for one of the most amazing burgers around. Right above Pete's, Tamara recorded some of the KatZen music in Drew Schnurr's 3rd floor loft. The work was exciting and epic in a bid to produce unique expressions that went beyond conventional music.

A pure reflection on life’s winding road, KatZen continues to blur genres and make music that reveals triumphs and tribulations. The sound is a mix of the organic and the inorganic, harmonizing elements of acoustic instruments, industrial sounds and technology.

Special guests who play a variety of instruments regularly join KatZen when recording albums and for live shows. This further exhibits the objective to bring artists of different backgrounds and experiences together for a common cause, to create a forum for people who are seeking change, hope and progress that encourages them to look within to find peace.

The Members

Tamara

Her voice is hauntingly soothing and her talent in music seems to come from another world, Tamara Cimmerian is truly a provocative force creating an original sound all her own. Her passion is undeniable, starting at the very young age of five while growing up in New York, she took to the piano with natural ability.

A formally trained pianist, she plays and writes her own music. The multi-gifted musician attended the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio where she classically trained in Opera. She also studied at the American Institute of Music in Graz, Austria on an Opera scholarship.

A professionally trained actor as well, she has performed as "Josephine" in HMS Pinafore and "Mad Margaret" in Ruddigore, both by Gilbert and Sullivan and "Mother Superior" in Nunsense. In addition to her classical background, she counts jazz, metal and rock among her greatest influences.

The singer, songwriter, pianist and producer showcases her many talents through her music; including her work on KatZen music and her solo piano creations.

She looks at her ability to create music as a gift. While pregnant with her first child, Siren, Tamara experienced life-threatening complications which pushed her Fibromyalgia tendencies into full blown presentation. As a Fibromyalgia sufferer, Tamara creates through tremendous adversity. When asked what it is like to be a musician with this syndrome, Tamara says, "I live with the feeling of having clothespins on my fingertips 24 hours a day, you can imagine what that is like when I sit down to play the piano..."

A Bikram yoga teacher for more than eight years, she uses knowledge of the mind and body, and eastern sciences in her creation of music. Her message is one of hope, healing and inspiration. A single mother, Tamara currently lives in Downtown Los Angeles with her lovely daughter.

Forrest

Forrest Robinson is a professional drummer, composer and producer. His prodigious musical talents were recognized at an early age when he began playing drums at four years old. Self-taught, his incredible ear for music allowed him to learn specific technique and how to read rhythmic notation at age 12.

He had the extraordinary honor of playing in the All West Tennessee Jazz and Concert Bands before even graduating high school. He was awarded a full music scholarship by the University of Tennessee, where he performed in the Marching Band, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Rock Band.

Upon graduating, Forrest pursued a full-time career in the music industry and has performed, recorded and toured the world with some of the most noted national and international artists such as india.arie, Utada Hikaru, Jonatha Brooke, David Garfield/Karizma Speech (Arrested Development) and TLC. His passion for music is evident as one of the key members of KatZen.

Currently, Forrest resides in Los Angeles with his wife Paige Eaves, a compassionate community leader and pastor. Forrest continues to seek his own spirituality through music. When he is not recording with KatZen, Forrest donates his time teaching disadvantaged children how to drum.

Guest Members

Jesse

Jesse Brent is a professional guitarist who found his way into the Katzen project when producer Drew Schnurr introduced him to lead singer Tamara Cimmerian. Drew was a music director at a church at the time and Jesse use to play guitar there each week. Tamara was enamored by Jesse’s incredible talent and his ability to play so many different styles of music. He can play classical music just as well as he can play grunge. It was a key element for Tamara because in Katzen musical influences are so vast and varied.

Jesse can easily adjust his style and float into the tone of a song effortlessly. He is a trained musician, he reads music and understands it but he also can use his ear and come up with music in a very organic way.

His ability to create music so easily led him to help others master the guitar with classes he offers to students and he also produces music. Jesse is engaged to his girlfriend Grace who is a classical pianist.

Megan

Elizabeth Megan Fong graduated with a Liberal Arts degree from Sarah Lawrence College in 2005. After graduating she taught at public schools in and around Manhattan, she also put together an improvisational cello and violin duo and recorded her own music with artists such as Jennifer Choi and John Swartz.

At that time, Leroy Jenkins mentored her composition and performance skills and inspired her to continue an education at California Institute of the Arts.

In 2007 she began her studies of composition and performance under the guidance of Wadada Leo Smith in the African American Improvisational Music Program.

She has now graduated and resides in the Los Angeles area where she continues her work as an educator, performer and composer.

Ian

Ian Martin is a world-class musician who is most notably regarded as a legendary bassist. He has played and still continues to play with some of the finest artists and popular musicians of our time.

He has performed with Ravi Coltrane, Barry Manilow, Donald Harrison, Taylor Dayne and Kelly Clarkson to name a few.

He is also a gifted composer and producer with enormous compositional scope ranging from country to classical.

He graduated at the top of his class at the Berklee College of Music with a degree in Film Scoring. A number of his songs have been featured in films and television.

Behind the Scenes

Drew

Drew Schnurr, producer, composer and bassist, studied music at Western Michigan University and the University of Southern California.

Over the past eight years his composition work has been performed in select national venues, while his scoring and sound design work has been featured on various television networks.

Drew is acclaimed as an innovative solo performer playing traditional stringed instruments mixed with fascinating electronic sounds in live improvisation.

His current work is focused on the development of serious new performance forms, while fostering personal and interpersonal connectedness through creativity.