Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like?
I get all interesting kinds of suggestions. Some you wonder how the hell they came to that conclusion, and others seem a little more obvious. NZ Musician Magazine did a recent feature article on me and I think they sum it all up pretty well. “The shades of Florence and the Machine that filter through much of her vocal delivery drops away and her melancholic wail takes a step closer to the effortless authenticity of someone like Patti Smith.”
If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why?
It’s sad how much this question excites me. With so many excellent assassination candidates in the popular music scene today, to choose just one is such a battle. But I’m sorry Justin Bieber. It’s gonna have to be you. Why? Isn’t it obvious?
What’ve you got to sell CD-wise?
My recently released debut EP Imaginary Lover. This is how I describe the record: “This record is a journey through my over thinking mind who more often than not, finds itself trapped deep in thought over analysing the beauty and the darkness this life constantly throws at us. It’s a keepsake of emotion that swims in love, suffocates in pain, and teaches us to live again.”
When are you playing live?
I’m in Melbourne for a month playing at some amazing venues alongside some even more amazing musicians. From Thursday January 17 to Saturday February 2, I have a pretty full on schedule. Revolver Upstairs on Thursday January 17, Chandelier Room (Moorabbin) on Saturday January 19, The Toff in Town on Sunday January 20, Veludo (St Kilda) on Tuesday January 22, Some Velvet Morning (Clifton Hill) on Wednesday January 23, Festival of Sails (Geelong) on Saturday January 26, Old Bar (Fitzroy) on Tuesday January 29, Babushka Bar (Ballarat) on Friday February 1 and Mavis Brown’s (St Kilda) on Saturday February 2. [I’ll be playing] alongside some talent such as Tane Emia-Moore, Davy Simony, Kyle Taylor, Lauren Glezer and Anthony Young. Head to my website for all tour dates and lineup: tessalyes.com
If your music was a chocolate bar, which one would it be, and why?
Black forest. It’s a bit of everything fused together. And tastes sooo good! NZ made Cadbury chocolate of course.
What makes a good musician?
To me a good musician should be a good conveyor of emotion. Without this, no matter what skills you have, it’s a lifeless performance no one wants to see.
