Formerly known as the trio, Prima Donna, the Philadelphia-based five-piece female rock outfit, Gemtarra (an Italian-derived slang for “twin guitars”), was formed in 2018 by twin sisters-songwriters-guitarists, Gina and Tina Cieri.
Rooted in a solid work ethic, Gina and Tina (songwriting and guitar), Bryan Feddish (bass), Sunny Dee (drums), and Tawana Simons (percussion), have toured regularly, performing in several notable venues including: The World Cafe Live, Puck, The Queen, Bottle & Cork and others. They’ve also performed at the International Pop Overthrow Festivals in Philadelphia and New York, as well as the Dewey Beach Music Festival in Delaware.
Their debut EP, Fired Up, reflects this enthusiastic zest for the craft of Rock’n’Roll.
HERE’S WHAT WE DUG MOST…
OUR FAVORITE TRACK… Opening with, Jealous Heart, we immediately get smokey vocals, sassy writing, and over a minute of guitar solos. It’s a fun stalker track, ya’ll…
“I know where you go
And who you talk to
You can’t see me
But I, I can see you
I got a jealous heart…”
Madness shows an articulate brand of songwriting depth in this victim’s tale of broken and smothered love. The track has a redemptive darkness which feels a bit No Doubt-esque.
Loving the bongos & bass-line in, In Your Own World, an island-influenced number which shows the band’s fluidity to flutter in-out-and between rock-genres with a willing sense of ease.
Concluding the EP is the attitude-packed, malcontented, and slightly Go-Gos-like, Fire Me Up, the EP’s very own mosh-pit track. Sometimes it’s best when the message ain’t too complicated…
“You wanna play, we’re gonna play
You wanna rock, come on let’s rock
You wanna push, I wanna shove
So come on and fire me up…”
IN CONCLUSION…
Raw and unpretentious rock music. Hard-working. Fun-loving. Spirited. Gemtarra’s debut EP, Fired Up, shows zest and promise, and a true love for the genre. A straight-forward production with electric axes and kegs, herein lies memorable riffing—both instrumentally and lyrically. Fans of girl-power rock everywhere may find a home here.
WHOSE LOVECHILD…?
Go-Gos meets No Doubt…
BELOW: Listen to Gemtarra’s EP, Fired Up, and connect with their website and social media platforms. Please support Gemtarra by visiting them online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!