Adliya’s busy Block 338 is known for its fantastic live entertainment scene. Tamar Leek, better known as Bahrain Barbie, has built a formidable fan base across the Kingdom and is one of the most popular performers in the area. She chats with Farrah Saville about her musical influences, experience recording an album and her love of Bahrain.
Where did your passion for music start?
I’ve always loved music and performance. However, in the beginning, I didn’t think I could sing and was always too shy. I remember being in assembly in school and watching a few of my male classmates perform some rock songs by No Doubt on stage. They asked me before their performance if I would sing with them, but I was too scared to; I was bullied, and didn’t want the bullies to pick on me further.
After I left education, I entered ‘BBC1 Dance X’ – a nationwide TV talent show in the UK. I had to sing and dance as part of my audition, so I just had to pluck up the courage and go for it. As it turns out, I could sing and ended up in the top 16 out of 20,000 people that entered nationwide! So, the first time I sang in front of anyone was on national TV… that was certainly one way to get over my fear! Then, last year, I got asked to perform at a popular tribute festival in Bahrain – ‘Tribfest’. They wanted me to perform as Gwen Stefani with a No Doubt tribute band. It was the most amazing show and the best feeling being able to perform the same song I was too scared to perform in school in front of hundreds of people. I thought: “If only those bullies could see me now!”
Which artist are you inspired by most?
Strong females inspire me with their talent, creative ambition, and great sense of style. My three favourite female icons are Gwen Stefani, Grimes and Nadia Lee Cohen. Musically, I am inspired by the band Deftones; and if I could steal anyone’s voice, it would be Lacy Sturm from Flyleaf or Christina Aguilera.
Your band, Reveries, recently launched your album ‘Change in the Retrograde’ in Bahrain; how was it received, and how was the support from the local community?
It was a beautiful, fantastic recording brought to life by 4th Street Recording! I went completely over the top and extra on the launch party, in my usual style.
This album is very dear to me and so I wanted to give it the love and attention it deserved. I had giant banners, red carpet, coloured lighting displays, cupcakes, a videographer and photographer to capture every moment. I hired a fantastic live band of session musicians to play the record out, replacing my original Reveries band members for the evening, who all live in Los Angeles. Outside was a giant life-sized Barbie box that attendees could get inside and have photos in with paparazzi lights flashing. I wore a red H of H custom-made latex-boned Dita Von Teese gown, which she wore on the red carpet. It was five inches too small for me, so I had to have two strong helpers get me into it, and I had to be driven horizontally to the gig!
The night was packed with all my friends, fans and supporting musicians. I was inundated with love and it was the best night of my life. I felt very proud of what I had accomplished with Reveries, but mostly I was in awe of the huge response from Bahrain’s community.
What is the process like to record an album?
When I was recording in Los Angeles, my band-mates and I spent many long days writing. We would try to find a rhyming word for what feels like an eternity, find the right synth sound or instrument to record with, or repeat vocals over and over to get the perfect ‘take’ of a chorus line. Mixing the record has a fine art too.
Usually, I start with a melody in my head or a few words that I want the song direction to go in, and then I start building the sounds around that. If it’s a happy song, it can be from a place of euphoric nostalgia or a dream-like fantasy. If it’s a sad or heartfelt song, it usually comes from a more personal and vulnerable place, like you are reading a page out of a poetic diary.
One of the ways in which your performances stand out is through your costumes. Can you tell us a bit about that process?
My fashion and style choices are often based around extravagance and avant-garde aesthetics. I love structure and colour, and I like to create monochromatic looks that resemble a doll in a box with synchronised fashion and accessories. I wear human hair wigs because I frequently want to change my hair colour to match my look, like a chameleon. I work with tailors to design my stage looks from scratch. The whole ‘Bahrain Barbie’ nickname came from people commenting on my aesthetic. I would go past people in the streets of Bahrain and they would yell at me “Barbie!’, or ask to take a photo with me. I decided to capitalise on that interest I was getting, and brand myself online as ‘Bahrain Barbie’ following which my social media following grew rapidly along with my content.
How did you end up living in Bahrain and how long have you lived here for?
I flew to Bahrain in January of 2018 on a singing contract for ‘Hear and Now Entertainment’ as the band manager and lead singer in a five-piece British rock band. When my contract finished, I flew off to New Jersey to work on my EP, but ended up flying straight back to Bahrain as there is a beautiful community of musicians here that are very supportive. The island has magnetism!
Can you tell us a little more about your performance troupe Dollhouse and your shows?
Dollhouse includes myself and my two fabulous friends from ‘Jeff Fit’ – Malwina Zawislak from Poland and Isis Conde from Mexico. Both Isis and Malwina are incredibly talented dancers and choreographers with a strong business sense and imagination. Isis has specialist skills in belly-dance and costume creation, and Malwina in hip-hop and acting. They are the backbone that creates the dynamic production trio with me. We design everything from the costumes to the props, to the choreography in meticulous detail.
Our latest project is an Arabic Infusion show for a new nightclub in Adliya. It’s a blend of Arabic and Western music, with elements of Middle Eastern-inspired costumes and props. It will be my first time singing in Arabic, so wish me luck!
What are your thoughts on the live music scene in Bahrain?
I love the community here. They are like family to me. There’s less of that ‘dog-eat dog’ attitude you get when living in a bigger country or city. We are always trying to help each other, supporting artists and bands where we can. However, I do think that since COVID, there has been a decline in valuing artists in Bahrain. Musicians are often underpaid, under-resourced, and under-supported. In addition, they often work with bad sound systems, a lack of sound engineer support and poor equipment installed in the venues.
If you’d like to keep up with Tamar, make sure to follow @BahrainBarbie, @DollhouseBahrain and @tamarmusicofficial.
