Tess Wiley
Encyclopedia
Tess Wiley is an American
musician currently living in Germany
.
winning father and author/poet mother. Tess showed an interest in music and songwriting from an early age, adding Create In Me a Clean Heart and Tender Shepherd to her repertoire at the age of two. She began to play the piano at the age of five, then the violin at 12, and the guitar finally at age 14. She wanted to make her musical style along the lines of Slash, but hardcore riffing soon gave way to contemplative songwriting. Tess spent her high school years playing and singing in the band Nothing in Return while also studying classical piano at a performing arts high school in Houston, Texas
.
on their European and American tours and even contributed a track ("Disconnect") to their second record This Beautiful Mess
. Tess left the band shortly after the American tour to try the music business solo. Tess began recording her songs under various names such as Splendora, Phantasmic and Tess Wiley and her Orchestra. She also lent her vocals to Velour 100
on Of Color Bright in 1997. Tess soon fell in love with a German
CEO and moved to Germany
with him. Tess married photographer/music video director/journalist/Hessenmob Skateboards CEO Christian Roth and they stayed in his hometown of Giessen, Germany
. Tess returned to America periodically, New York City, to record her debut record Rainy Day Assembly
. In 2004 Tess released her second full length album, Not Quite Me
. The album was a major success building her fan base. Tess is now working with the Hamburg label Tapete Records
, and released her third album, Superfast Rock n' Roll Played Slow
on 27 April 2007.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician currently living in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Early life
Tess Wiley is the daughter of a Grammy awardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winning father and author/poet mother. Tess showed an interest in music and songwriting from an early age, adding Create In Me a Clean Heart and Tender Shepherd to her repertoire at the age of two. She began to play the piano at the age of five, then the violin at 12, and the guitar finally at age 14. She wanted to make her musical style along the lines of Slash, but hardcore riffing soon gave way to contemplative songwriting. Tess spent her high school years playing and singing in the band Nothing in Return while also studying classical piano at a performing arts high school in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Career
From 1994-1995 she supported the band Sixpence None the RicherSixpence None the Richer
Sixpence None the Richer is an American rock/pop band that formed in New Braunfels, Texas, eventually settling in Nashville, Tennessee. They are best known for their songs "Kiss Me" and "Breathe Your Name" and their covers of "Don't Dream It's Over" and "There She Goes". The name of the band is...
on their European and American tours and even contributed a track ("Disconnect") to their second record This Beautiful Mess
This Beautiful Mess
This Beautiful Mess is the second album by American band Sixpence None the Richer, released in 1995 . The recording was produced by Armand John Petri, who also managed the band from 1993 to 1997. This Beautiful Mess surpassed 50,000 copies sold during its first year of release and laid the...
. Tess left the band shortly after the American tour to try the music business solo. Tess began recording her songs under various names such as Splendora, Phantasmic and Tess Wiley and her Orchestra. She also lent her vocals to Velour 100
Velour 100
Velour 100 was a dream pop / ethereal rock band from Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA. The band existed from 1995 to 2000, with most of its music seeing release via Tooth & Nail Records in 1996 & 1997. The band was essentially masterminded by multi-instrumentalist Trey Many of His Name Is Alive and...
on Of Color Bright in 1997. Tess soon fell in love with a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
CEO and moved to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
with him. Tess married photographer/music video director/journalist/Hessenmob Skateboards CEO Christian Roth and they stayed in his hometown of Giessen, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Tess returned to America periodically, New York City, to record her debut record Rainy Day Assembly
Rainy Day Assembly
Rainy Day Assembly is the debut album by American singer/songwriter Tess Wiley, released in 2002 .-Track listing:#"Small Things Define" – 4:21#"Rainy Day Assembly" – 3:06#"Nice And Warm" – 3:45#"Breathe" – 5:49...
. In 2004 Tess released her second full length album, Not Quite Me
Not Quite Me
Not Quite Me is the second album by American singer/songwriter Tess Wiley, released in 2004 .-Track listing:all songs by Tess Wiley, except where noted#"Not Quite Me" – 3:52#"How Does Silence Feel" – 3:28#"Let It Come" – 4:00...
. The album was a major success building her fan base. Tess is now working with the Hamburg label Tapete Records
Tapete Records
Tapete Records is an independent record label from Hamburg, GermanyIt was founded in 2002 by Gunther Buskies and Dirk Darmstaedter and primarily focused on Deutschpop-bands such as Erdmöbel, Niels Frevert, Tele and Anajo...
, and released her third album, Superfast Rock n' Roll Played Slow
Superfast Rock n' Roll Played Slow
Superfast Rock n' Roll Played Slow is the third album by American singer/songwriter Tess Wiley, released on April 27, 2007.-Track listing:#"Halfway Through"#"Raise Your Hand"#"Crying for You"#"Idle"#"Messed Up Everywhere Blues"#"All for You"...
on 27 April 2007.