tessa perry

Steeped in the country-blues and folk traditions of Suzanne Vega and Beth Orton, Tessa Perry is rapidly picking up fans on both sides of the Atlantic. Her songs emerge startlingly fresh ... shot through with lyrics that are wistful and punch-in-the-gut candid. Whether playing to a sold-out concert hall, or an East Village dive bar, Tessa spins images and observations of the world around her into soulful, intimate communication with her audience. Born in England, and raised on the west coast of Ireland, Tessa hit the road in her teens with a dilapidated guitar, three (not to be named) cover songs, and a mind to educating herself. Soon, bored to tears with those covers, she realized it was time to come up with some new tunes ... and proceeded to write them herself. Thus began a career that would lead her to performances across Europe, opening for the likes of Ani DiFranco, Damien Rice, the Indigo Girls, the Corrs, the Hothouse Flowers, and many more. Tessa’s debut recording, Live at DeBarras, was released in 2001 in Ireland to widespread acclaim. The album’s subtly raw compositions, delivered in a boldly improvisational style, were hailed by music critic Cormac Looney as “solemn ... heartfelt ... neatly funky ... shoulder to shoulder with the best of Irish songwriting.” With the release of her new album, Weightless, Tessa is continuing her path to world domination. Recorded in New York City, where Tessa has found a fertile new home base, the album is a peep into the life of an outsider trying to make it on the inside. A collection of songs harvested from the rich landscapes that surround her, Tessa’s ‘sweet-ashoney’ voice tussles with some ‘lyrically brilliant’ songs with both hands, and holds them out for you to taste and savour. Co-produced by Brad Albetta, who has recently gained deserved praise for his work with Martha Wainwright, the album is the next phase of her extraordinary career, because ‘it’s the only way she knows’. Stay tuned ... Press accolades: “Perry’s own sound is distinctive enough to push her clear of comparison.” – Cluas.com “A album to do back flips over” – Pete Harris, Harris Radio “A rare treat to see a casual crowd so enthralled with this relatively unknown musician of far away roots yet universal sensibilities” – Nuvo (Indianapolis, IN, USA) www.tessaperry.com