Today we’d like to introduce you to Tessa Joy.
Tessa, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I have always had a passion for music. I honestly can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to pursue a career in the music industry. When I was twelve-years-old, I had just started taking guitar lessons and decided to write my first song. As cliché as this sounds, I remember sitting there rereading my lyrics and knowing that this is what I wanted to do forever. Since then, I have been writing and performing non-stop. I began taking vocal lessons from Mama Jan Smith and recorded my first EP, “I Am”, at her studio. Since the release of my EP, I have grown exponentially as an artist and songwriter. I have recently released three singles, “Better Than You”, “All Night”, and “The One”. Working on writing, recording, and filming music videos for these singles has pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me develop myself as a full-time artist. While I mainly focus on original music, I have a YouTube channel where I post covers and mashups. These covers have opened my eyes to the other side of the recording process. I have learned about producing and engineering, and this new knowledge has pushed my creativity to a different level. My love, knowledge, and passion for music continues to grow and I am blessed to be able to have the opportunity to chase my dreams.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am a singer-songwriter, musician, and a performer. I am constantly writing and releasing original music, and producing my own covers for my YouTube channel at my in-home studio. If I am not creating, I am listening to others’ music. I am also a part of Songs For Kids, so I have the opportunity to sing to the kids in the Atlanta children’s hospitals. There is rarely a time when my mind is not focused on something related to music. One of the main reasons I started writing was to have an outlet to express myself. As I began to share my music with others, I realized that I wasn’t the only one who could relate to my songs. I started to notice how powerful music is and wanted to make music that would be uplifting yet genuine and realistic. I write about a wide variety of topics ranging from love and heartbreak to good times and self-empowerment. When people listen to my music I want them to feel my heart, but also to see themselves as a character in the story I am telling. I want them to smile if it brings back happy memories or cry if it’s sad. Most importantly, I want to them enjoy themselves when they listen!
In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
One of the biggest challenges I think artists face in the music industry is the standards society sets for us. As artists, we are supposed to create a certain type of music, look a certain way, and send a certain message through our songs. Social media is a major platform for upcoming and current musicians. On social media, we deal with negative comments if someone doesn’t like the way we sing or look. Learning to ignore the negativity and focus on the positive comments is not easy. Understanding that not everyone is going to like you and support you is hard; however, once you accept that and are comfortable with yourself, you will be able to create the music that makes you the happiest.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I am always out and about performing at various locations, so to stay up to date with my shows check out my website. I am also very active on social media. I keep my Instagram and Twitter updated daily with my thoughts, new videos, and insights to my daily life. My music is available for downloading and streaming on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, and wherever else music is available for purchase or streaming. One of my favorite ways to connect with me is through YouTube. I post covers, vlogs, and original music videos.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://tessajoy.com
- Email: tessajoymusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessajoyy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TessaJoyMusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/tessajoyy
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClYGWjuGwma5oIEF3RhLidw
Image Credit:
David Duong
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