A Sonic Embrace in the Chaos – Tamar Berk’s “stay close by”

Tamar Berk’s newest single, stay close by, opens like a sunrise breaking through a foggy window, quiet, glowing, and emotionally disarming. As the first glimpse into her upcoming album ocd, the track offers an intimate and beautifully unguarded moment that feels less like a single and more like a whispered confession from a friend who finally lets you into their storm.

Crafted in her home studio and co-produced with Matt Walker (Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage), the song swells with dream-pop textures and subtle indie-rock grit. The vocals, tender and just on the verge of breaking, float over a tapestry of fuzzy guitar, gentle piano, and warm synths that feel simultaneously nostalgic and utterly present. It’s the sonic equivalent of wrapping a too-heavy heart in a soft blanket.

There’s a sense of stillness here, not stagnant, but contemplative, like she’s pressing pause to ask a question she’s not sure has an answer. Berk’s brilliance lies in how she captures complexity without crowding it. You can hear the overthinking, the spiraling, the ache, but it’s delivered with such clarity, it feels like a gift rather than a burden.

“stay close by” is Tamar Berk at her most sonically vulnerable and emotionally rich. It’s not just a song, -it’s a moment of breath, a plea, and a reminder that even in chaos, connection is everything.