The Tammy Shine Ok Shine Ok is the debut solo album of Tammy Ealom from legendary indiepop band Dressy Bessy, featuring the single Junk Mail.
On February 20, 2026, Tammy Ealom, the snarling creative force behind Denver's legendary Dressy Bessy, presents her debut solo albumThe Tammy Shine, Ok Shine Ok, via Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records (HHBTM). This release marks a pivotal moment: for the first time in her three-decade career, Ealom has taken complete command--writing, performing, producing, and engineering the record entirely on her own.
Ealom's resilience was forged early. Born to young parents, her upbringing as a "military brat" landed her in Hawaii, where she learned to literally fight to survive the rough social climate of high school. This tenacity would later serve her well in the male-dominated music industry. Her sonic DNA is equally eclectic, rooted in her Mod father's love for the British Invasion bands, her discovery of The McCoys, Michael Jackson, Prince, and later refined by her love of grunge in bands like Nirvana and Hole. Her future husband and musical partner, John Hill (The Apples in stereo), also introduced her to more hard rock and the punk economy of The Ramones and Buzzcocks.
Tammy's songwriting career jumpstarted in 1995 with a gift of a guitar and a 4-track recorder; weeks later, she had ten original songs recorded. After twenty-five years of crafting Dressy Bessy's signature "clutter-punk," Ealom began to form a singular vision. Sparked by a liberating solo set at the 2017 Athens Popfest, Ok Shine Ok is the result of that freedom.
The album highlights Ealom's evolution from frontwoman to technical architect. Stripping away the democratic process of a band, she displays her prowess as a studio engineer, blending bubblegum hooks with DIY grit without an outside producer or band to interpret her vision.
To support the release, The Tammy Shine will begin touring in February 2026 with bassist Mike King. Ok Shine Ok is a celebration, proving that after thirty years of making noise, Ealom might just be getting started.
Track Listing
Shaky Shaky Baby I'll B There So Very Little Junk Mail Love Letter Speed Date Not Today Blue Jay Prizefight Tic Tac Auto Pilot Lil Fences
