Tess Elena is well versed in human emotions, gender, sexuality and love, and translates that beautifully into every song she writes. The singer songwriter has a unique perspective on day to day situations which she uses as inspiration for her music. Experimenting with genres, she not only writes songs for herself, but also for fundraisers like the one she did to raise money for the NYC Food Bank. Tess is also an advocate for abortion rights and has worked in support of organizations like the Yellowhammer Fund and The Lilith Fund. Let Jejune Magazine introduce you to Tess Elena and her music!

Where are you based?
I am based in New York City.

Can you tell us about what got you into singing and songwriting?
My path to music hasn’t been the most straightforward. I think I always knew in my heart that I was destined to be an artist, but it wasn’t something I decided to pursue as a career until four years ago. At that time, I was returning home from teaching English in Thailand. Even before that experience, I worked at Planned Parenthood, a national organization that helps folks receive reproductive healthcare and sex education. However, all along that time I was playing guitar in my bedroom writing songs for just myself as a form of therapy. But returning home from Thailand, I knew I wanted to finally put my time and energy into the arts and I took many classes to narrow down my choice. I have always had a love of music and the arts ever since I was a little girl. My parents are both artists and I grew up accompanying their many rehearsals and plays all around NYC. After a year of exploring, I decided I wanted to pursue music more seriously and I took private voice and guitar lessons to gain skills for crafting songs. It started my beautiful, tiring, complex journey as an independent singer songwriter.

Who/what inspires you the most?
I think my mom inspires me the most, she was a singer mother and raised my brother and I while also going back to school to get her master’s degree. She taught high school drama at a school where she changed so many kids lives, and I have always been inspired by her dedication and hard work.

We hear that you have a degree in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies. How does that play in your songwriting?
I think all of my songs have this flair of individual power. I think my education has taught me to think independently and always claim my voice as a powerful tool for change. I think having songs that embrace female power and our abilities to have fully expressive lives is an act of feminism in itself. Whether the songs are about heartbreak which exudes vulnerability — like my song “Heart Attack” or the power of claiming your boundaries in a relationship like my song “Emotion Mommy”. I am cultivating a full and lived voice of a woman in my songs.

“You are my Fire Escape”. Can you explain the meaning of these lyrics from your song ‘Fire Escape’?
Ever since I was a little girl, I would go on my fire escape in my apartment and play. I would bring play dates on their and we would play cards or we would use our imaginations to create little worlds out there. As I grew up it became a place where I would song writing with my guitar. My fire escape became a place that felt like home and a place where I could truly be myself. When I wrote the song, I wanted to compare that same feeling of home in my current partnership. My partner is someone where I can feel at home with just like my childhood fire escape.

‘Subway DMs’ is a fun little single! What inspired the single?
This song was a fun one to write. I actually wrote it based off an experience I had riding the subway. I saw a cute guy and he saw me and we even spoke on the subway, but then when we got off at the same spot he didn’t make a move to ask for my number. I then went home and thought about how this experience could be a fun playful song. I wrote it in one sitting with just a melody and me snapping my fingers and it’s amazing to see its transformation into a fully produced song.

Your songs have a range of vibes. How do you decide what vibe you want for each song?
I think I am still finding my niche sound and this EP shows my interest in different genres and my love of expression through them. I am constantly inspired by other artists and my connection to my music is driven by the energy I am feeling at the moment. That feeling can be reflected in the range of genres of music I am inspired by.

We’d love to know about your songwriting and music production process!
My songwriting process is one varies. I sometimes write songs over many drafts and sometimes I write them in a very short period of time. In terms of music performance, I usually bring my melody and lyrics to my band and we flush out the sound and vibe of the song. In terms of production, I record the demo of the guitar and vocals, and then I’ve gone in with my band to the studio to record the full track.

During the pandemic you did a fundraiser where you wrote personalized songs for folks and a portion of the payment was donated to the NYC Food Bank. Can you tell us a bit about this and the songs you wrote? What inspired this collaboration?
When the pandemic hit NYC, it was a really scary and uncertain time. I lost two of my restaurant jobs and suddenly had a lot more time on my hands. I decided to propose a mini business plan of creating custom songs for a price, some of which I would donate to a worthy cause. NYC has wide range of incomes and I know for many folks the pandemic put the over the edge into homelessness. I wanted to pick an organization that would help feed those who needed it during the difficult time that our city went through. The songs I wrote were birthday songs, some were funny and silly and some were sincere around the difficulty of living and working during the pandemic. I wrote a song for a someone who was pregnant during the pandemic and how that was a scary time. When I look back on that time, I’m grateful that I was able to make some folks smile for a moment during a very dark time.

You also did an abortion fundraiser which supported the Yellowhammer Fund and The Lilith Fund. Can you tell us a bit about these organizations and why being a part of this fundraiser was important to you?
I have a degree in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. I am very passionate about fighting for the basic fundamental rights of all people. I decided to put together a fundraiser show for two organizations fighting for the right to have an abortion in areas of the country that are more disadvantages to have one. Our country has been pushing an agenda that is threatening the rights of women every day. I wanted to do my part to help those organizations feel supported in doing the work they do.

It has been a rough few years, how have you been staying positive during these times?
I think the past three years have taught me so many things, but some that stick out are that it is so important to take care of your mental health and finding healthy habits to create that space for yourself. I also have learned to slow down, that good things take time, and it’s important to not compare your path to others. Everyone is on their own journey, and it’s important to have fun.

What is your motto in life?
If it makes you uncomfortable, it means your growing and exactly where you should be pushing yourself!

To learn more about Tess Elena, please check out the links below:
linktr.ee/Tesselenamusic
Facebook: TessElenaMusic
Instagram: tesselenamusic
Tik Tok: @tesselenamusic

Tess Elena - Songs About Sex, Life, Rock & Roll