Tess Wiley
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Tess Wiley | |
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![]() Wiley performing in 2015 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Tess Wiley |
Born | Texas, U.S. | November 5, 1974
Genres | Pop rock, soft rock, alternative rock |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
Instrument | Guitar |
Years active | 1991–present |
Labels | Tapete, Nordpol |
Website | www |
Tess Wiley (Born November 5, 1974) is an American singer-songwriter.
Biography
Early life
Tess Wiley is the daughter of poet Kathryn Wiley and musician Fletch Wiley. She showed an interest in music and songwriting from an early age, adding "Create in Me a Clean Heart" and "Tender Shepherd" to her repertoire at the age of two. She began to play the piano at the age of five, then the violin at 12, and the guitar at age 14. She wanted to make her musical style along the lines of hard rock guitarist Slash, but riffing soon gave way to contemplative songwriting. She spent her high school years singing in the band Nothing in Return while studying classical piano at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas.
Career
Sixpence None the Richer
In 1994 and 1995, Wiley joined the band Sixpence None the Richer[1] on their European and American tours and wrote "Disconnect" for their second record, This Beautiful Mess. Wiley left the band shortly after the American tour in 1997. When Sixpence reunited in 2007, Wiley rejoined in 2008 and performed several shows including the European tour, but left shortly thereafter.
Solo career
After her departure from Sixpence, she began recording under the names "Splendora", "Phantasmic", and "Tess Wiley and Her Orchestra". She also lent her vocals to Velour 100 on the album Of Color Bright in 1997. Wiley then moved to Germany, where she married Christian Roth, co-founder of MOB Skateboards, and stayed in his hometown of Giessen.[2]
Wiley has returned to America periodically, including to New York City to record her debut album Rainy Day Assembly (Effanel, 2002). That was followed by Not Quite Me (Tapete, 2004), Superfast Rock n' Roll Played Slow (Tapete, 2007), and Little Secrets (Nordpol, 2013).[3]
Personal life
Wiley was married to Christian Roth and in 2005 they had their first son, Henry Fletcher Roth.
Discography
- Rainy Day Assembly (Effanel, 2002)
- Not Quite Me (Tapete, 2004)
- Superfast Rock n' Roll Played Slow (Tapete, 2007)
- Little Secrets (Nordpol, 2013)
References
- ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Sixpence None the Richer - Biography | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ^ "Tapete Records: Tess Wiley". Tapete Records. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ^ "Tess Wiley | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
External links
- Tess Wiley at Facebook
- Official YouTube channel