“A voice that recalls artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Patsy Cline and Lindi Ortega” - The Boot
“Rooted in a retro groove that’s equal parts blues, mid-century rock & roll and Booker T-worthy R&B” - Rolling Stone
“Soulful “- Wide Open Country
Nashville’s Miss Tess released the dreamy new video for “The Moon Is An Ashtray,” the title track to her forthcoming album due out February 7th. “Miss Tess blends country, jazz, blues and folk on the captivating ‘The Moon is an Ashtray,’” Billboard said in its premiere of the video. “With a distinct old timey flair, the singer transports the listener to another time period with the throwback number.” "Things are not always what they seem,” Miss Tess told Billboard. “Reality can be a harsh mistress when we find ourselves trapped in an idea of childlike romanticism that doesn't quite measure up to our hopes and dreams.” The video was directed by Tom Krueger, who has directed videos for Bruce Springsteen, U2, David Bowie, and more. For the video’s concept, Miss Tess was inspired by a 1930s-era photo of a woman on a paper moon. “I had been inspired by an old picture I came across…where the woman sitting on the moon looked pissed off. I loved that attitude captured as a juxtaposition against the classic romanticized 'woman on moon' image, and wanted to recreate that sentiment,” she explained. “Tom…really took the idea and ran with it, expanding the idea to involve a whole meta plot where an evil villain is luring in souls for his wonderland vignettes.”
WATCH: “THE MOON IS AN ASHTRAY”
To help capture and shape her own unique sound, Miss Tess enlisted not only her trusty 1930s Weymann archtop, but also heavy input from co-producers Andrija Tokic (Margo Price, Alabama Shakes, Hurray for the Riff Raff) and Thomas Bryan Eaton, her full-time bandmate and musical partner. Combining Eaton's' arranging ideas and skilled instrumental work with Tokic's studio full of vintage mics, tube amps, keyboards, and tape machines, the resulting record has a rich, buttery warmth well-suited to Miss Tess' voice and authentic, retro-contemporary songwriting style.
LISTEN: “GAMBLIN’ MAN”
LISTEN: "IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOVE ME"
LISTEN: "THE MOON IS AN ASHTRAY"
LISTEN: "TRUE FLOOD (ft. Rachael Price)"
When most people think of defiant music, they think of punk rock or outlaw country. But defying genres while transcending eras and resisting clichés is hard to pin down when it comes to artistry unless you're talking about Miss Tess, who does all of that and more on The Moon Is An Ashtray. Swinging for the fences and from the branches of jazz, country, blues and old school rock and roll, she has employed all of her influences and talents on a tour-de-force, while cleverly taking standard perspectives and ideas - like the definition of a love song - to task.
From soulful swagger to jazz, blues, a little old school country, and even a touch of psychedelia, Miss Tess shows both the pluck and poise to fold a multitude of styles into her own.