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Published on 07/14/1999 All articles from this issue

Los Altos mom bares her soul as a songwriter, releases CD

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By Bonnie Chan

Special to the Town Crier

Resident Profile

Los Altos resident Tami Mulcahy has recently found out what it is like to share personal work with the public. Three weeks ago, the independent songwriter released her first CD, "White Wall."

She described the experience of releasing a CD as "overwhelming ... You're putting yourself out in the world for everyone to evaluate," she explained. "There's definitely some vulnerability involved. You're basically letting everyone know what you do in your spare time."

Mulcahy, who started writing songs at age 15, worked for 18 years as a physical therapist, but quit three years ago to focus on her music. With the support of her husband, Tim, and friends, she continued to write songs while also coaching sports for her two children and serving as the room representative for the children's classes at Santa Rita School.

"Most people, even those we spend a great deal of time with, had no idea about my music," Mulcahy said. "Before kids, music was an integral part of my life. When we went camping, I always provided the late-night entertainment ... But after kids, the environment never seemed conducive to the intimacy of my music. Doing this CD made me realize how much I missed sharing my music."

The idea of making a CD came up a year and a half ago when she recorded the ballad "A Masterpiece." The first words Mulcahy's producer said after he heard the song were, "It's time you made your own CD."

The songwriter said that the hard work has paid off so far. "I've had people call me at 8 in the morning telling me that they are hardly ever moved to tears, but they were by my music," she said. She added that it's nice to know that her music has transcended the "age barrier" that music tends to have; she sometimes gets compliments like, "My son wants to go to sleep every night to your music."

Mulcahy said that she writes songs out of personal interest, but she also sees music as a way to give back to the community. She looks forward to performing and then donating the ticket-sale profits to nonprofits.

"I write [songs] anytime, anywhere," Mulcahy said. "I wrote 'Hey Girl' after coming home from a Santa Rita special PTA meeting."

For more information call Tami Mulcahy at 948-5003 or e-mail TTKCM@aol.com. "White Wall" may also be purchased at Heintzelman's Bookstore in downtown Los Altos.