Tessa de Lyon (Mystery Waitress) Shares Debut Solo Album 'Tessa's Album'

Driving force behind Pōneke's Mystery Waitress, who released their second album Bright Black Night earlier this year via Flying Nun, Tessa de Lyon reveals another side to her abundant songbook with today's debut solo long player Tessa’s Album. Out via Home Alone Music and crafted with the aim of spotlighting works that suit more of an intimate sonic setting than full blown band arrangements (and in some ways dialling back to the solo roots of Mystery Waitress), Tessa’s Album orbits de Lyon's rekindled love for the piano — joined at various junctures by Alexander ‘Honey’ Boulton on banjo, Home Alone founder Timothy Blackman on violin and guest vocals, Olivia Campion on drums, and scene stalwart Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa playing drums on 'Olivia’s Boots'.

Recorded and engineered by Brooke Singer (of French for Rabbits, who also contributes electric piano), de Lyon's mellifluous tones belie the thorny lyrical territory and difficult emotions confronted on Tessa’s Album — "family members with mental health issues, ‘losing your mind’ and not being taken seriously, falling in love with someone with a long term-illness, and a song about a toxic friendship that took years to recover from." 'Olivia's Boots' feels like a standout to these ears — offering tumbling rhythms, fidgety strings and personal storytelling reflections with a stately, spacious aura — while Lyon's self-made video for lead single 'Theme Song' stars ducks, paddling about the sword-wielding artist's sparkling sound world. Two albums in one year is impressive work to say the least, explore Tessa’s Album and head along to de Lyon's joint record release show with Michaela Tempers, just before Christmas at Vogelmorn Upstairs...

Tessa De Lyon + Michaela Tempers: Tessa's Album And Good Woman Release
Saturday 14th Decemeber - Vogelmorn Upstairs, Wellington
Tickets on sale HERE via UTR (waged / unwaged options available)

'Tessa’s Album' is out today via Home Alone Music on major streaming platforms.