Tammy Brennan

Tammy Brennan is an experienced singer and composer of contemporary and classical music. Her interests lie with Western and Eastern classical, jazz, experimental electro-acoustic, electronic, dance and folk music.

Brennan began her career at the Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane as an opera singer. Simultaneously, she was the lyricist and singer for local folk group ‘Yedda’. Expanding her horizon she soon transferred to the Univeristy of Sydney in pursuit of experimental creative endeavours within the contemporary electro-acoustic music scene.

In Sydney Brennan formed the electro-acoustic performance company 'Pavo Cristatus’. She devoted five years to this musical expression. At the height of their popularity Pavo Cristatus released a self-titled CD in 1998 through Kookyburra Droppings (Club Kooky); played the Sydney Opera House and collaborated with writer/philosopher/ethnobotanist Terence McKenna, famous for his ‘Stoned Ape’ theory of human consciousness. In 1999 Australian Designer of the Year Akira Isogawa invited Pavo Cristatus to compose and perform the music for his celebrated fashion shows.

A solo career also emerged in Sydney for Brennan where she featured as a vocalist/lyricist on the album ‘Skin’ written by (Sony) artist Endorphin. ‘Skin’ was awarded Best Album in 2000 at the Australian Dance Music Awards. Brennan is most well known for her vocal appearance on ‘Anguish’ which featured on the Australian film 'Looking for Alibrandi'. During this period, Brennan worked with other prominent dance acts such as Ubin and 5000 Fingers of Dr.T. and released tracks on various independent compilations. She also formed the band ‘The Rumpus Room’ a theatrical project dedicated to exploring jazz and exotica.

Next Brennan worked alongside mastering engineer Mazen Murad and new media artist Justine Cooper to design sound for her internationally exhibited multi-media work ‘Scynescape’. Subsequently Murad and Brennan produced material for 'Saved By Science' and 'Havidol' both exhibited in New York. Brennan has also been independently commissioned by Akira Isogawa to compose music and perform for additional fashion shows.

After working across several of Sydney’s arts and cultural circles, Brennan traveled to Rishikesh, India for 4 months to further studies in authentic north Indian classical singing and harmonium, as undertaken in Sydney with sarod master Ashok Roy. Following this self-reflective sabbatical, she moved to London, United Kingdom where she spent five years working across the cultural industries. Here she expanded her professional artistic horizons into the realm of digital photography, refined herself as a performer, recording artist, entrepreneur and academic. Notable employment within the UK cultural sector included: Copyright and Licensing Coordinator for both the BBC Talent Rights Group and Demon Music Group/2 Entertain Legal and Business Affairs; Digital Content Producer/Photographer for MASC Media.

Whilst in London Brennan developed and refined her theatrical pop-punk burlesque persona ‘Moodkiller’. Her latest recording is engineered/produced by Mazen Murad of Metropolis Music Group, London, UK and Ashley Manning (Tourettes), Sydney. It is a culmination of themes derived from theatre, rock, electro, fetish and pop-punk. Brennan also collaborated with south London UK rappers Mic Assassin and Rigga Romez from Elite-Team Entertainment on three of the tracks, bringing punchy hip hop ryhmes to the mix . 'Sexygirl Sexyguy' and 'Psychobaby', as well as Ubin track 'Funk Supreme' (featuring Brennan on vocals), were licensed by MTV UK for use in the UK wide LynxEffect ‘Click’ TV commercials/series featuring Har Mar Superstar. Her solo work also caught the interest of famed UK fashion/fetish photographer Alva Bernadine. Bernadine has used Brennan as a muse for his photography and licensed 'Lonesome Girl' for his documentary 'The Artist as Megalomaniac'.

Brennan has broadened her performance skills by completing a Diploma in Performance Studies (Acting) at the University of London. She consolidated her music and cultural industry knowledge by completing a Certificate in Cultural Industries at City University and a Masters of Music Business Management at University of Westminster, London. Click here to view her research thesis 'Environmental Responsibility and the Recording Industry' (pdf).

Tammy is currently the Project Coordinator for Central Australia's premier Cabaret and Performing Arts Collective 'Cat's Meow Cabaret'. As well as coordinating the Cabaret and its productions, Tammy is also a regular performer and creative contributor in the sell-out shows.

In 2010 Tammy received an Arts Development grant from Arts NT to produce a site-specific contemporary operatic monodrama "Confined". Following on from a developmental showing of "Confined", presented as part of Bite Size Theatre 2011 at the Araluen Theatre, Tammy received further funding in July 2011 from Arts NT for presentation and promotion of this work at the Old Alice Springs Gaol.

Tammy has also collaborated with with Australian/USA based Tom Hall in a site-specific live A/V performance at the Old Stuart Gaol, Chains of Change. This work was part of the 2010 Alice Desert Festival.

In conjunction with 'Confined' and her work with Cat's Meow Cabaret, Tammy is currently mentored as an Emerging Producer through the Central Australian Producer Professional Development Program. The CAP Program is an NT Government initiative managed by 32° – Browns Mart Production House and supported by Arts NT and Red Hot Arts Central Australia.

Tammy resides in Alice Springs, Central Australia where she is currently having a love affair with the MacDonnell Ranges and has a penchant for starring in local b-grade bicycle films.