Tamar Berk – stay close by

Acclaimed indie power-pop artist Tamar Berk shares “stay close by,” the shimmering and emotionally charged lead single from her upcoming album ocd, out on September 5th on all music platforms.

Although it opens the album, “stay close by” was actually the final song Tamar wrote. It was an impulsive, late-night effort to create the perfect introduction that would pull listeners in while hinting at the emotional spirals that lie ahead.

The result is a lush, unexpected mix of distortion, loopy rhythms, and aching vocals that reflect the tension of longing for connection while trying to protect your heart. Berk blends gauzy guitars with a retro, low-end Big Muff fuzz and layered synth textures, creating a sound that feels both melancholy and warm. Lyrically, the song captures that in-between space of dreaming and doing. It lingers in those tender, half-serious plans we make with someone close, like the refrain: “we always say we should get high… and go for a ride.”

“I wanted the first track and single to feel a little mysterious, a little off-center,” Tamar says. “Something that sounds familiar but also surprises you and makes you curious about what’s coming next.”

With ocd, Tamar explores themes of anxiety, repetition, and the constant struggle to stay in control of our emotions. It’s an album shaped by spirals of thought, fear, and memory. “stay close by” acts as both an invitation and a mission statement, setting the tone for everything that follows.

The official video for “stay close by,” directed by longtime collaborator Brandon Mosquera, is out now. Intimate and vulnerable, it mirrors the song’s quiet emotional pull and offers a visual window into Tamar’s inner world.

ocd, Tamar Berk’s fifth solo album, captures her at her most emotionally raw and musically ambitious, exploring the intricacies of identity, anxiety, and self-inventory with fearless honesty.

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