Stewart Music

Tales of sordid relationships, friends turning against friends and broken promises aren't typical fodder for fun and energetic pop rock songs, but STEWART's Andrea Tarka isn't your typical songwriter. Acupuncturist by day, Tarka is as enthusiastic as her music suggests, proving that even the most difficult subject matter is no match for a sunny disposition.

Stewart officially started in 2005 at a party in Bushwick when Tarka met the painfully shy, but extremely talented, lead guitarist John White. She found that the Arkansas-raised guitarist had amazing chops, and the two have been playing music together ever since.

Though the band has had some stops and starts along the way, Stewart has kept busy since its inception. The group produced a full-length album, Jawbreaker, as well as an EP, Existing at Extremes, in 2007. In 2008, the band released Part iV: A New Hope, a 17 song full-length containing auto-biographical, retro-rock tunes, reminiscent of Green Day, Tilt and Paramore. Tarka calls it “the first real representation of Stewart as a professional band.” Artwork for the album was provided by Marvel/Dark Horse comics illustrator Jacob Chabot and in 2009, the band produced “The Skullboy Sampler,” a soundtrack for Chabot’s original comic, “The Mighty Skullboy Army.” Originally Skullboy’s theme song, “Dance With Me” was recently released as a downloadable track on the Rock Band Network for the Xbox 360.

L Magazine called them "A NYC pop band with a huge weakness for bands like Weezer, Nada Surf and Fountains of Wayne." Stewart plays extensively around New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and other surrounding cities, including shows at CBGB and The Continental before the legendary venues closed their doors, as well as Knitting Factory, Arlene's Grocery, Mercury Lounge, World Cafe Live and many more.