Matt Tarka‘s latest single, “Salem,” drops on September 19, 2025, and you have to know—this isn’t some track that politely knocks. It straight-up explodes into the room. Coming out of Lancaster, PA, Tarka’s an exception to the singer-songwriter rule of playing it safe. He’s a one-man battering ram, and “Salem” proves he’s playing in a league of his own.
Tarka handles acoustic guitar, vocals, drums, Omnichord, cowbell, and handclaps like some mad scientist in the lab. But here’s the thing—he doesn’t go it alone. Bringing serious muscle to the fusion is Jarrett Nicolay, that acclaimed producer and multi-instrumentalist behind Mixtape Studios in Alexandria, VA. Nicolay lays down electric guitar, bass, and more handclaps, thickening the sound with rough, high-voltage energy.
Influenced by the hypnotic drive of Wilco’s “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” and the Velvet Underground’s “Run Run Run,” “Salem” is this grungy, throbbing jam that sucks you right into its vortex. It’s not only a song—it’s a whole story. Written while Tarka was recovering from a soccer-induced concussion, the track descends rapidly into that confusing fog. With doctors ordering dim lights and painkillers in his system, Tarka found inspiration watching ’70s Nicholson flicks like “Five Easy Pieces” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” That cinematic, slightly unhinged vibe bleeds right into the music, capturing all that confusion, uncertainty, and a mind that’s totally out of sync with the world.
Let’s talk about Tarka’s vocals for a second. Nicolay nailed it when he called them “percussive”—Tarka’s voice doesn’t carry the melody. It attacks it. There’s this robust, confident cool that rides the rhythm and pulls the whole thing together like nobody’s business.
“Salem” is a statement, loud and clear. With its vivid symbolism, rule-breaking build, and idgaf energy, it’s a bold leap forward for Matt Tarka. And get this: they’ve got live shows locked and loaded, including a headline gig at Susquehanna River Creative Conspiracy on September 18 and a Music For Everyone event on release day. This track’s about to explode from the studio straight onto the stage.