Miss Tess

 Miss Tess grew up in Maryland, where she took piano lessons at an early age and encouraged by her very musical parents, who frequently had band practice and jam parties at the house. She went to college in Baltimore, intending to be a graphic artist. While there, she dabbled in guitar, but it wasn't until the end of her studies that she began taking it seriously. Once she became more interested in becoming a musician, she started studying jazz and writing songs, and put together her first band, booking shows in the local club scene in Baltimore. Having grown up listening to her parents' bands playing big band swing, folk, country and dixieland music, rootsy styles came naturally to her. 

After a move to Boston, Miss Tess studied for a few semesters at Berklee College of Music and formed a new band with a few fellow jazz students. Miss Tess quickly established herself as a notable songwriter and performer in the storied Boston music scene, appearing regularly at small clubs in town. In the five years of her residence, she won a Boston Music Award (and was nominated many other times) and a New England Music Award, put together a touring band, acquired a booking agent, and became a full-time traveling musician. Continuing on that trajectory, Tess later moved to Brooklyn for a 5 year stint in the big city, followed by a move to Nashville, where she is currently based. She has since developed her sound to include more classic country, rockabilly and vintage rock 'n' roll, all combining into her ever-developing sense of self and eclectic taste in American roots music. 

As she continues to grow and expand artistically, Tess is still hard to categorize. She says “Many times after the show somebody will come up to compliment the band and ask me what kind of music we just played. After mumbling through a few different genres I usually just tell them it’s my music and hope they enjoyed the show”. Enjoyable is just what her music is, propelled by the classic quality of Tess’s vocals, compelling and totally believable. Time after time, Miss Tess is able to utilize sounds and styles from a past era combined with modern sensibilities to present an authentic and engaging presence.