Tenci

On this episode of The Stripdown hear about the inspiration behind Tenci's music and the creative process of making album art.

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Creators & Guests

Host

DJ Ocean Spray

What is The Stripdown?

WKNC's DJ Ocean Spray chats with (mostly) North Carolina musicians.

DJ Ocean Spray 0:00
Hello. This is DJ Ocean Spray, and you're listening to wknc 88.1 FM, HD, one Raleigh. And this is another episode of the Stripdown for today's episode, I am sitting down with Jess from the band Tenci before their show at Kings. So enjoy. Sure.

Jess Shoman 0:22
My name is Jess. My band is called Tenci. We're from Chicago,but the rest of my band, they kind of grew up all over so, but yeah, we are based in Chicago.

DJ Ocean Spray 0:36
And when did the project begin?

Jess Shoman 0:39
It started, I want to say 2018

at that time, it was more of like a duo set up, and it was just me and a bassist, and I would kind of invite a revolving cast of people to play with me. But then around, like the end of 2019 I met my band members, and Izzy and Kurt have been with me since that time.

We went through Joey was the old drummer, and now we have a new drummer, Monet and so, yeah, we've been we've been doing it since then.

DJ Ocean Spray 1:21
And can you tell me a little bit about your relationship with music? Like, kind of, how did it begin? Like, were you, are you from a musical family? Or, I guess, like, how was it kind of introduced to you?

Jess Shoman 1:35
I think I've always just really loved music. And as a child, I was always trying to, like, mimic the way that people were singing and stuff. And I don't know it's funny, because my family's not very musical, like I have on my on my dad's side, my Grandpa loves to sing, and on my mom's side, my my grandma has like a beautiful voice, but, you know, there's no like working musicians in my family, or I never really got taught how to play guitar from someone, so I think it was just being around music growing up kind of made me want to do it more. And you know, when I was younger, we'd have a lot of family parties with like, music blasting. I remember just like being a child and sleep being like, falling asleep at a family party, and there's like, bachata playing, my family's Puerto Rican and so, like, I've just always been surrounded by it

DJ Ocean Spray 2:42
I guess, um, did you start with singing? Or, like another instrument?

Jess Shoman 2:48
I started with singing, for sure. That was my first introduction to, like, anything musical. I was in choir for four years in high school, and then, like, a little bit of college, but, yeah, I've always been drawn to, like, the way that people sing and harmonies and things like that, especially in folk music. I think, you know, to me, it's like a very powerful instrument.

And since I don't I'm still learning more about how to play guitar, but I always feel like I can rely on my vocals to kind of like experiment, yes. And so where does the name for your project come from? So Tensi is my grandma's name on my mom's side, and her full names are tensia, but yeah, Tensi, for short.

DJ Ocean Spray 3:47
And then have you been involved in any other, like, musical projects, or is this the kind of only thing you've been involved in?

Jess Shoman 3:56
This is the only, like, very serious thing I've been involved in, I would say, in college, I was doing like, some open mics with my friend, and it didn't really, like make it past that point. But, yeah, this is, this is, like the biggest thing I'd like to get involved more with other projects like in the future. I just, I haven't had the opportunity, I guess, yeah. And so kind of moving into, like your songwriting and creating your music, when you write, do the lyrics or like the music part tend to come first.

It really depends. I think a lot of the time, I'll just have like bits and pieces of a song or lyrics written in my like Notes app. And then whenever I feel like a spark of inspiration, I'll sit down and start, like puzzle piecing things together. Yeah. But then other times, I'll have, like, a melody stuff. In my head that I just have to record like nonsense noises too. So it really depends, and it when it comes to like the inspiration behind your songwriting. Do you tend to write from like your own experiences, or is it kind of more like abstract ideas that you're inspired by,

I would say like 80% is my own experiences. But now that I'm I've been writing new songs this past year. I think I'm really like challenging myself, and have been writing more about just ideas. And I don't know, like, our first album was definitely about, like, a lot of, like, past experiences and traumas and like, you know, like, I feel like you have to kind of get all of that out before you can really just sit down and start writing about other things, at least in my experience, that's how I feel,

but yeah, I think I'm, I'm like, growing into writing about concepts and things like that, which is cool to see, like, the progression of things, yeah, um,

DJ Ocean Spray 6:12
is there any like musician that you kind of take inspiration from when it comes like, specifically to like, writing Your own music? Or do you kind of just not really take inspiration from other musicians?

Jess Shoman 6:26
Honestly, I've been thinking about this lately

because I just haven't been really I've been listening to, like, a lot of pop music lately, and

in the past, like, I've listened to, like, I don't know, like the classic, like indie folk artists like Sufjan Stevens or, you know, like, and I think it all kind of inspires me in different ways. But lately, I haven't really been

listening to music as much for inspiration as much as I've been listening to it to just like, enjoy the experience of listening to music. And so,

yeah, I would say at least right now I don't feel like I'm pulling inspiration from any one artist. It's all kind of like mixed together, yeah. And so,

DJ Ocean Spray 7:22
oh, what has kind of influenced the country and like folk kind of sound to your music? Like, what kind of drew you into that genre?

Jess Shoman 7:33
I have always just really liked, like, folk and country music, just because I think

it's affected me the most, like, I feel like it's some of like, the most honest and like pure songwriting. And I think it allows for, like, very beautiful experimentation with vocals.

And like, the way that someone sings a country song can really, like,

tell the story and like, I don't know. I've always been really inspired by that,

but, yeah, I don't know. Just just growing up listening to, like, folk and country artists, like, feel like John Prine was a very big inspiration when we were writing the first album, and,

yeah, I don't know there's something about about that type of music that, like, really tugs at my heartstrings, I would say.

DJ Ocean Spray 8:32
And so you usually play with a band, but you've been playing your last few shows solo. What has that experience been like for you?

Jess Shoman 8:40
So scary, so scary. I mean, so the band I'm on tour with another Michael, they're such a great band. I love their music. And so when they asked

tensi to tour, my band members just weren't available. And I was like, dang, I really want to do this,

and I've been interested in playing solo. I just haven't really had the courage to do it yet. So I was like, Okay, I'm gonna try it out.

The first handful shows I was feeling, like, really bad about myself and just like, not really feeling it.

It's just a completely different energy, stripping down the songs, and they're already kind of more laid back, so it just felt like not enough.

But as the shows went on, I started like gaining more confidence, and I definitely feel like I've kind of hit my stride within the tour,

I'm feeling really good and like, actually like

feeling the songs again, and like enjoying the experience of playing the songs

and realizing that they're strong enough to stand on their own.

So yeah, it's taken a lot of like,

Pep Talk.

Talks and stuff. My partner is touring with me and is doing merch for me, and, like, after every show, I'm like, just need, like, a full review and like, pep talk so I can keep going. But yeah, it's been really fun. It's a huge learning experience, and it's very, very different.

I enjoy both. But yeah, I'm gonna be reuniting with my band for the like, the last four dates, so it'll be fun to like compare both experiences. Yeah, definitely.

DJ Ocean Spray 10:28
And we're gonna take a quick break to listen to Tensi's newest single, bubblegum.

Jess Shoman 13:39
Bubble gum stuck on my windshield
My mind is quiet
This world is cruel

How do I not think about dying
There’s so much more I wanna do
I hope I don’t forget my life
Making songs from nothing

Finally picked up my guitar
Music can hurt to listen to
How do I focus more on living
Time slowly melting away

My container gardens dying
All I want is to be new

I’ll look back fondly on this time
Songs that mean something

I’ll look back fondly on this time
Songs that mean something

Icing the gum on my windshield
I forgive you

DJ Ocean Spray 14:02
oh, um, so I like to ask musicians about their album art. So since you recently released your single bubble gum, can you tell me a little bit about the art that you used with that single?

Jess Shoman 14:15
Oh, sure. Um, that was really fun to make.So Izzy, who plays bass in Tensi, is a really amazing artist. And I also, when I'm not doing music stuff, I do graphic design and like to paint and stuff. But, yeah, we just sat down and, like, very quickly, water colored. What. What the It's like, very abstract. It's like a car and like, splats of paint and stuff. And we were doing that while we were recording, because we were like, Let's just see, like, what happens while we're listening to, like, our other band members record. That's kind of what came out. And then you.

So it was going to stand alone. Like, I don't know if you, like, know the little the watercolor is, like, in the little glass heart.

So initially I was like, Okay, I'm gonna use this on its own. But I wasn't feeling it, and so I just took a picture of this little trinket heart that I had in

my apartment and put it in there. And then, like, the the bubble that one of the little angels is sitting on, yeah, I, like, ate, oh, I didn't eat. I chewed like, two packs of Big League Two to blow that bubble. And initially I was gonna use that photo as the album art, and then I just took the bubble out and put the angel on there. So it's a long answer, but basically, it was a process to get to the point that it's at now. And I, I don't know if it was, like, inspired by any one thing other than like, I thought it looked cool and Izzy and I worked on it while we were recording. So I think that is the tie there. But, yeah, sorry, it was very long winded.

DJ Ocean Spray 16:09
And so you said you are from Chicago. Yes, before you started, like, making your own music, were you like, into the music scene there? Like, would you go to a lot of shows and stuff,

Jess Shoman 16:21
yeah, yeah, yeah, I was going to like a lot of DIY shows and just shows in general.

I feel like when we first started the DIY scene was like,

our bread and butter of like, getting getting things going, and, like, gaining the confidence to like actually play shows. But yeah, I was going to a lot of shows, definitely more than I am now, yeah,

um, and then you, if you could just name a few of your like, all time, favorite musicians. Oh, okay, let me think, um,

it changes so much. I always struggle with this question because I don't know if I have favorites. Yeah,

I mean, I think John Prine is a big one.

He just has, like, endless,

endless, amazing songs. Who else?

Okay, favorites right now, John Prine,

Jessica Pratt, I would say, has been like a big, consistent one.

Arthur Russell,

and

I've been really liking the Sundays. I have been listening to them a lot, like,

obsessively, yeah, over, like, the past couple years. But anyways, that doesn't really, like, encompass every Yeah, because it changes so much. So that's just kind of what popped into my head immediately, yeah.

DJ Ocean Spray 18:14
Um. And so you also create graphic designs. Is that something that you went to school for or taught yourself.

Jess Shoman 18:22
I went to school for it, and actually went to school for, like, advertising. And I don't, I kind of hated the advertising part, but I love the graphic design part, so I've just been like freelancing, and I work at a nonprofit right now doing graphic design. Yeah, that's awesome.

DJ Ocean Spray 18:43
I love meeting people who create art in a bunch of different mediums and stuff. And I've like seen from your website that you also like crochet and make ceramics and stuff. Do you feel like the different like, are they, do they serve as different outlets, like different mediums, or do they all kind of come from the same like place of inspiration for you,

Jess Shoman 19:05
definitely different outlets, I would say, like

the like yarn work and like ceramics and stuff

feel very Like meditative to me in a different way than making music does, because I feel like I always need to kind of be doing something with my hands. Yeah,

and it really kind of helps calm me down in a different way, like it's not as much of like a purging and emotion or something like that. It's more so just like I'm doing this, like, repetitive motion, I get something out of it, yeah, you know.

DJ Ocean Spray 19:48
And then is there something that you always have on your rider for good news?

Jess Shoman 19:54
Um, I'm still figuring that out, but let me, let me think. Probably.

Probably always like, some sort of, like bubbly drink, like a kombucha,

or, on this tours writer, I put Ollie pops.

So like, I think, like

a drink that gets, like, things moving, yeah, just because when you're on tour, it's like, really, you know you're sitting so much and I feel like you're not eating the best. So I always try to have something like that. I haven't gotten an Ollie pop yet. My rider that hasn't been fulfilled on this tour, yeah.

DJ Ocean Spray 20:36
And so you recently released bubble gum, as recently mentioned. Do you plan on releasing more music soon, or is that like a single that you're planning on, just like standing alone?

Jess Shoman 20:50
That's definitely a standalone single, but we are working on a lot of new music,

and I don't know what the exact plan is, yeah, but if it happens, if we have stuff to release, we will do it. I like the process of just, like,

putting something out, yes, not doesn't have to be like, this whole like thing. And so it was fun to just put out a song and be like, here's something that we made. Yeah,

DJ Ocean Spray 21:18
and then,

do you have any other upcoming shows? Yeah, so after this tour,

Jess Shoman 21:29
I'll have a solo show in Chicago on the 12th with Dan Riggins from friendship, and then another local band, minor moon.

And then after that, not really, but hopefully things pop up, like in the summertime,

hoping to play like some outdoor type festivals and things like

DJ Ocean Spray 21:57
that. And so where can listeners find you? On social media.

Jess Shoman 22:01
So our Instagram is 10 c, dot band, and I don't know what our Twitter is. Off the top of my head, it's 10 c, probably with an underscore somewhere.

DJ Ocean Spray 22:20
Thank you so much again to Jess for sitting down with me before their show.

This is a reminder. You're listening to wknc 88.1 HD, one Raleigh. And this is DJ Ocean Spray, and this has been another episode of The Stripdown. I'm going to send the listeners off with one more song today from Tenci, and that is vanishing coin off of their 2022 album, a swollen river, a well overflowing so I hope you enjoy and be sure to check out Tenci if you are interested in their music And hearing more about them. So Thank you. Enjoy

Tenci 24:21
Vanishing like the pebbles in your shoe
Disappear me like pennies in the fountain
Brand new, brand new
I thought that we were friends, Diane
A forgotten push pin
Knuckles, turned white
Time to release
Nothing, feels right, but
Singing
The same song
Again and again
Hoping you hear me
Praying you see me
I thought that we were friends, Diane
A forgotten push pin

Transcribed by https://otter.ai