In the first part of our conversation with Tessa Marie, she introduced listeners to the emotional world behind Dear Loveand the cinematic soft pop sound that defines her music. In Part Two, Tessa goes deeper into her creative process, the challenge of reaching new listeners, the experiences shaping her writing, and how her newest release, Stranger on the Street, reflects where she is as an artist right now.
When you sit down to write, where does a song usually begin for you? Is it a lyric, a melody, or something else entirely?
My music almost always starts with a lyric, but my process varies depending on the song. I have found that my best work comes when I don’t feel forced to write, so for that reason, some songs take me a few days, some take a year or more. It ranges. If I’m being entirely transparent, when I’m songwriting, I’ll typically jump around, and whichever song speaks to me when I revisit it, I’ll work on it.
Was there a creative choice in the studio that pushed you into new territory as an artist?
When we started recording these songs, we really experimented with chord progressions. In the moment, it felt like a risk because I was so used to writing with chords that stayed inside the box. Well, we blew the box up, and I absolutely love it! I love experimenting with different chords with my music now, and I feel like the right chords really have the ability to drive the song and take the audience somewhere else entirely!
Is there a song you’ve released that feels like the clearest picture of who you are as an artist right now?
“Stranger on the Street” reflects a lot about my artistry because it has a lot of layers and emotions mixed in there, and it was one of the first songs I wrote where I wasn’t afraid to really throw everything out there and be totally, completely vulnerable.
For a new artist, getting people to listen can be its own challenge. What has that experience been like for you so far?
I honestly don’t think there’s anything necessarily hard that is solely caused by being independent, but I think the hardest part of being a new artist is just getting the word out there about my music. Everyone has their favorite songs, favorite artists, favorite albums, me included, so trying to draw them into my realm of music is of course a challenge, as it would be for any new artist, independent or not.
At this stage of your career, what does success look like to you?
Well, right now in the very early stages, I would just say making the best music I can that people show signs of resonating with, and continuing to better myself as a performer so when I finally step on stage I feel like I truly belong there. I also, of course, want to connect with people who choose to listen to my music and start building a community that knows my music on a personal level.
Outside of music itself, what parts of your life are shaping what you’re writing right now?
I’d say college mostly, but that’s simply because I’ve experienced so much within college itself. Self-discovery, still working on that one, navigating new friendships, independence, etc., it all inspires me. I have a lot of time to myself in college, so it’s been really interesting to see what I can come up with when I have several hours to spare in an empty studio with nothing but a piano and my thoughts.
Dear Love and Stranger on the Street from Tessa Marie are available now on all major streaming platforms. The official music videos for both songs are also available now.
Follow Tessa Marie on Instagram and TikTok for the latest music, videos, and upcoming performance announcements.