MUEN: HI TARA! OFCOURSE WE'VE HAD YOU IN OUR TOP FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS, AND THE THREE SONGS ON YOUR PLAYER HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN FAVORITES OF MUEN FOR A LONG LONG TIME. SO THE FIRST QUESTION IS "HOW ARE THINGS GOING WITH THE NEW LINE-UP, AND WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO CHANGE THE NAME FROM JUST "TARA JAMES" TO "TARA JAMES AND THE SCARLET LETTER"?

TARA JAMES: Hello! The new line up is going very well. We've finally got the band complete and I'm just so excited! I cannot wait to start playing shows and releasing the new material. It's fantastic! We decided to change the name because it's a band now and not just me. Before I was on my own, but based on the style of music we have, being a band just fits better.

MUEN: YOU WERE MENTIONED IN "METAL HAMMER" MAGAZINE THIS PAST SUMMER AS BEING ONE OF THE "TOP MOST LIKELY TO BREAK" ARTISTS IN GOTH! THAT IS A PRETTY RESPECTED MAGAZINE.. SO WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST THOUGHTS WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS, AND "HOW" DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT IT?

TARA JAMES: Being featured in Metal Hammer was really exciting. I had come into contact with a woman who works and writes for Metal Hammer and she said she wanted to do an article on me. I'm very happy I got featured and hopefully it helped me gain some new fans. :)

MUEN: THERE WAS A WRITE-UP IN "ROCKSOUND" MAGAZINE AS WELL. THESE ARE TWO LARGE MAGAZINES, SO WITH ALL THIS ADDED SUPPORT, WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN GOALS FOR THE BAND AND YOUR MUSIC THIS YEAR?

TARA JAMES: Well, I'm really looking forward to playing some live shows. We're getting the new songs done and then we're going to play out. It will be awesome. I believe that this is my main goal. Just getting out there and showing what we can do, and making some progress. I believe 2008 will be a very good year.

MUEN: YOU HAD THE DEMO OF YOUR PAST SONGS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT ONE POINT IN TIME, IS THERE STILL A WAY TO BUY IT NOW?

TARA JAMES: The three song demo was available for a limited time only. 100 sold. We're not selling them anymore, but we will be getting some new songs up on the page in the months to come.

MUEN: HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT THE SONGWRITING PROCESS, ESPECIALLY NOW WITH THE NEW BAND MEMBERS, DO THE SONGS USUALLY START FROM LYRICS OR DO THE LYRICS COME AFTER A RIFF OR MELODY IS ESTABLISHED?

TARA JAMES: I like writing for the new songs even better than the past songs. I've grown so much as an artist and a writer and I believe the new material is so much stronger. It usually starts from lyrics or a melody. Alot of times the melody will come first. I also work on the structure and arrangement of the songs. I then show Tim (guitar player) what I've come up with and he expands on it. When we write together there is such chemistry about it. It just clicks! The new songs are amazing. I can't wait for everyone to hear them.

MUEN: WE CAN'T WAIT EITHER! WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE? ARE YOUR SONGS USUALLY BASED ON REAL LIFE SITUATIONS?

TARA JAMES: I'm a very sensitive person, tortured at times... All of my songs are based on real life situations, whether a metaphor is representing them or not, underneath it all, they are real. Writing helps me get things out. My mind is a crazy, twisted place.

MUEN: IT WILL BE EXCITING TO HEAR THE NEW MATERIAL! SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A LONG TIME - SO YOU'RE SAYING IT'S ALOT DIFFERENT THAN THE PAST SONGS?

TARA JAMES: The new material is a bit different than the past stuff, but in a good way. It's awesome! You will love it! I love it. I can't wait to release it.

MUEN: WHEN EXACTLY DO YOU THINK YOU'LL HAVE THE NEW RECORDINGS, AND WILL IT BE A FULL-LENGTH?

TARA JAMES: Probably within the next few months we'll have some new recordings up on the site. No plans for a full-length just yet, but who knows what will happen.

MUEN: CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ALL THE MEMBERS? WHAT ARE THEIR PERSONALITIES LIKE, AND HOW DID YOU MEET THEM?

TARA JAMES: Yes, of course. They are Tim Miller, Justin Cannon, Casey Lynn, and Eric Moore. Tim is outgoing, but at the same time he stays in a lot and just likes to play video games. Justin is the most social. He likes hanging around people and just staying busy. Casey can be quiet and he likes to be by himself. And Eric, he's kind of quiet and to himself, but he also likes to party and have a good time.

I met Tim in June of 2007. He had moved down here from Chicago, although he's originally from Tennessee. We really worked well together and he mentioned he had some friends back home in Tennessee that are into music. Casey and Justin moved down here in November. All we needed was a bass player, which was a pretty hard task to accomplish. We finally met Eric over myspace and he seemed really cool. Things just came together.

MUEN: WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS RIGHT NOW, AND WHO INSPIRES YOU THAT MAY NOT EVEN BE IN THE SAME GENRE OF MUSIC AS YOU, AND WHY?

TARA JAMES: Right now I'm really into bands with female lead singers just because I like to see a strong successful woman. I don't think I have any favorite artists right now. It depends what mood I'm in, but I really like to explore different types of music and I take something from everything I listen to.

MUEN: IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT TARA, THAT WE ARE NOW HUGE FANS OF THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE, FOR IT WAS ACTUALLY THRU YOU THAT WE DISCOVERED THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE... SO WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NEW "WALKING WITH STRANGERS" ALBUM, AND THE BAND IN GENERAL?

TARA JAMES: I think it's a great album! I think it's their best yet and listening to it made me an even bigger fan.

MUEN: DO YOU PLAN ON STAYING IN MISSOURI LONG, OR ARE YOU PLANNING ON MAKING ANY MOVES IN THE FUTURE?

TARA JAMES: We're probably going to tour around for a bit. Who knows where we'll end up.

MUEN: IS THERE ANY OTHER NEWS YOU'D LIKE TO MENTION?

TARA JAMES: Everyone just keep checking back on the site, new music will be up! I can't wait for everyone to hear it.

MUEN: WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR TIME AWAY FROM MUSIC?

TARA JAMES: Besides music I like movies, video games, cooking, drawing, and just hanging out. Because I am a vampire and all - I don't go out during the day so the nighttime is my only time to do anything really. The rest of the time I'm just hanging out in my coffin. ;) hahahaha!

MUEN: WE HAVE NOTICED THAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF LOYAL FANS.. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO THOSE WHO HAVE STUCK WITH YOU, AND HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN YOU?

TARA JAMES: Thank you, thank you, and thank you. I appreciate all of the support. It really means a lot to me. Vampire Kisses to all! Muah!

MUEN: WELL THANKS FOR THE INTERVIEW, AND WE WISH THE VERY BEST FOR YOU!

TARA JAMES: Thanks so much!

Interview by G. Cataline