ORANGE, CALIFORNIA | Accomplished Musician, Actress and Philanthropist, Tara Hahn will be joining the OC MUSIC NEWS writing staff. Over the past few decades Tara has distinguished herself to been an entragal part of the local OC Music Scene.
Tara has lived in OC her entire life, and has had a front seat to witness many of the OC music scene milestones. Like all the icons of the scene, music has been her passion as far back as she can remember. When she was in the 3rd grade, her Grandparents asked what she wanted to be when she grew up? Her answer was “A ROCKSTAR!”
Tara Hahn LIVE
Needless to say, she’s kept her word to her Grandparents. When she was she started going to local ska shows with her “Cool Aunt Heather,” and she was hooked ever since. Fast forward to 2020 and she is the lead singer in local ska favorites, Half Past Two.
The band started when they were all students at Los Alamitos High School and have been making music together for 13+ years now. The band is very active and have shared the stage with many of the ska greats. No joke, they’ve palyed with the likes of Ska juggernauts Reel Big Fish, the Legendary Toasters, and other icons like Mustard Plug, Less Than Jake, The Aquabats, Starpool, The Selector, English Beat, Save Ferris, Bad Manners, and more. Their music has been played on all the places successful bands are heard. Where you ask, try radio play on KROQ, KLOS, TNN RADIO, Ska Parade, and Local Music Experience, and they are one of OC Fashion Week’s featured bands for “Brand the Band 2020.”
2017’s So Cal Summer by Half Past Two
As for Hahn, she is happliy married to her husband, Greg, and they have two beautiful children, a daughter Neely (4) and a son Dutch (1). Their family stands out because Neely was born with a degenerative genetic disease and form of Muscular Dystrophy called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Type 2. As a result, she is unable to stand or walk.
Being her primary care giver, Tara has a very unique perspective on what family events and support look like. For example, Neely relies on a power wheelchair or manual wheelchair to move around in public spaces. Her son Dutch was born unaffected, but he provides the rambunctious and curious nature any child would add to any family. Collectively, Greg and Tara have their hands full .
On being a “Special Needs Mom” Hahn says it was frightening and completely unexpected, but it made her An advocate for SMA, disability awareness, policy reform, and kept HER conscious of kindness, ableism, and inclusion for all. Their family is always learning, educating, fundraising, and participating in the SMA community in hopes of one day finding a cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Both Tara and Greg take pride in showing others that their family can do anything other families do, and when they discover a disparity while out and about, we call it out, we challenge it, hoping to make a difference for others, not just themselves.
Tara with Daughter, Neely
Besides her love for music, performing, and family, she enjoys taking the kids out to places like Disneyland. She also loves popular culture, trying new restaurants and bars, and being an active member in the local music scene.
Hahn has also done some acting. She is “Brobee, the little green one” on Nick Jr.’s Yo Gabba Gabba and as Veronica in the unreleased Zavala Brothers/Luna Max film “Rude Boy: the movie.”
As part of the OC Music News team, Tara brings her years of professional and personal experience in coverage of all aspects of music performance, and personal family philanthropy for families with special needs children. Tara will visit many of the southern California amusement parks and other attractions as well as other places families want to go. She’ll report on the things you want to know… the good, the bad and the exceptional places that accommodate families.
Tara’s stories are currently in development and scheduled to publish in Q1-2020.
For More Information Contact Us at: ocmusicnews@yahoo.com
A message from Tara | “To learn more about Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), please visit http://CureSMA.org“
