Tess Posner is a fast rising indie artist from California who creates ethereal alt-pop with a bite. Her honest, dark and politically conscious lyrics have attracted attention and her single New Angels was a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition in 2019. Tess has released 5 singles in 2020 with producers Arthur Pingrey (Sia, Norah Jones). Her music has grown to over 2.4 million streams on Spotify to date and attracted press including Yahoo news, Popmuzik, Pop Dust, the Digital Fix, the California Herald, Tonspion, Surviving the Golden Age, Queen City Sounds, and The Girls at the Rock Show.
Talk to us about your latest single!
My newest single is called New Angels, which is a remix of a song I released a few years ago. The remix has orchestral elements including: strings, brass, horns, flutes, organ and piano. I decided to remix this song because I felt that the message of hope is so needed right now with everything going on in the world. I was lucky to have amazing collaborators to help me bring the orchestration to life, including Violin and Viola Performances by Andrew Joslyn, cello performances by Eli Weinberger and mixing, mastering by George Wiederkehr.
Why did you pick that name for the single?
The title New Angels comes from a 1920 Paul Klee painting, “Angelus Novus”, which inspired philosophers to contemplate how humanity can move forward in the face of dark times. To me, new angels can mean hopeful ideas or events that we can’t understand or haven’t envisioned yet. The idea of something completely new happening is the type of creative thinking that we need to solve major challenges like the ones we face today.
Does it ever get stressful when you have to come up with a title?
Actually, it’s one of the most fun parts for me! I love that brainstorming to try to come up with something unique but also that captures the essence of the song in a memorable way.
What was challenging about the single?
When I first recorded the draft of the vocals, the acoustics in the room were an issue and so I had to re-record in a different space. But it’s all part of the process so it ended up working out well.
What kind of journey do you want to take your fans on when they listen to the song?
There is light in the song, but also sadness, so my hope is that it can be cathartic too. The verses contemplate the darkness in our world and are in a lower register. The chorus expands out into a desire and yearning for a better world, which is where the strings really come alive and soar.
What can you not wait for about your upcoming music?
I am very excited about 2022 and going back to live performing!
Favorite reaction so far to the single from those who have heard it?
Someone said that the song brought them on a journey into the universe, and I love that image, because it reminds me of the idea of expansiveness and hope, and that feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself.
How does everyone go to listen when it's out?
IG: @tessposnermusic
FB: @tessposnermusic
Website: www.tessposnermusic.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6E0ipJwSn72SyGZUHAp2ht
Drop a hint of a surprise you have a instore next!
There is so much more to come, I am just getting started!