There was a lineup outside the venue as I arrived early for the interview. Karkwa are back together, and there is a buzz in the air. All the way from London UK, but with a Canadian passport (Toronto), Tess Parks was ready to face a sold-out venue.
We are in a backstage upstairs room, an oven set to keep very warm.
We start by looking at her first Instagram Post.
The year is 2012, it’s Isabella’s birthday. Family comes first for Tess, followed closely by music.
Early Music Exposure
Her dad had a record collection that included Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and Neil Young. This exposed her to some monumental Rock and Roll bands of the time.
Later, it would be Oasis, Nirvana and The Smashing Pumpkins that would awaken a new universe of sound, one with a harder edge.
Music has always played an important part of her life. Tess was 13 years old when she attended a Dandy Warhols’ sound check with friends.
“We were too young to get into the show.”
They would skip school and go early, to see if they could catch soundcheck.
“The Dandy Warhols are the nicest band in the world.”
The band welcomed them, and even asked them what songs they would like to hear.
“I always had a fascination with meeting the people behind the music, wanting to shake their hand and thank them, because it was medicine to me. It still is.”
Some artists write introspective, first-person songs that bear their soul. It’s a way to get emotions onto paper, thereafter onto vocals in a song. Others live vicariously through a fictional character of their design.
For Tess, “it’s all me.”
One reason is that Tess has to stand behind her own name. While others might have a persona they can distance themselves from, having a band with your name stamped on it, makes it more personal by design.
“I’m just thoroughly this person. These songs are a first-person account. They are my words, and they tie into my life. I just want to honor my family name and doing that proud.”
Tess could envision a fearless alter-ego, but for now, we get an open door into her soul.
Putting Good Out To The Universe
Tess once said: “I only want to put good out into the universe.”
To Tess, spewing out negativity or hate is simply the opposite of her desire to build on positivity and radiate love.
“It changes your life. It changes everyone’s life around you when you only tell good stories and say good words out loud.”
Tess believes in saying things out loud to make them happen.
In the entrepreneur world, this is called the Reticular Activator. It’s as if we have a bouncer protecting our brain.
When we say something out loud, it’s like giving our bouncer instructions to notice what we want to let in.
For instance, if we want to collaborate with a certain artist, and we say it out loud, when an opportunity presents itself, our bouncer will let that opportunity in, whereas it would normally get lost in the firehose of information trying to reach out brains daily.
“I’ve willed things into my life, but I’ve been homing in on it more. It’s a part of growing up and being focused on what you want…speaking it…and letting your thoughts become things.”
Time and time again, it works.
“It’s real and it’s awesome. The more you talk about good things, and your dreams, it grows.”
A big reason things are going so well for Tess, is that even with 10 minutes of knowing her, I can tell she is a generous and open person.
When someone is not in it for selfish reasons, it attracts the right people who would usually find a way to distance themselves from those seeking an advantage. It’s like two magnets repelling each other in a crowded room. The selfish person will never meet the one who is giving.
Yet, come in with pure intensions and you will meet the person that will likewise give.
“There is no harm in being love, being generous and open.”
London England
A Canadian living in London is a big commitment.
“I’ve been very welcomed. I’ve always admired the music that has come out of there and been inspired by it.”
Tess’ love of the London music scene made it a natural destination for her creative endeavors to flourish. The caveat is that she has not been able to support Canada as much as she would like.
“This is my first show in Quebec.”
And Those Who Were Seen Dancing
Even with positive reviews and fans loving the last album, Tess looks forward to an even better next one.
The album was recorded before Covid, in 2019. Tess finished it in Toronto, on her own, away from the band.
“It felt like I just had to finish the songs and release them. This is the best we could have done with what we had, and it was time to move on and work on other stuff.”
Yet, performing the songs is adding the finishing touches to the songs as they keep evolving, but they would not be played tonight.
The Quebec crowd would get to hear an anthology of songs reaching far into the past. This is also in keeping with the Festival de Musique Émergentes. The songs should be new to us all, at least from a live perspective.
Fantasy Rock Band
When asked to create the ultimate Fantasy Rock Band, Tess pulls together a majority of old Rock heavyweights, combined with the new.
Neil Young: Piano
Bob Dylan: Guitar
Paul McCartney: Bass
John Bonham: Drums
Cat Power + Thom Yorke: Vocals. Thom Yorke was first chosen, but a revision came to bring some female energy into the collective.
When I think of Tess Parks’ music, it is a collection of old sounds, with a fresh modern twist, delivered with heart and feeling.
Conclusion
Tess has taken a journey with an open heart. It has led her to work with Anton Newcombe (Brian Jonestown Massacre), which in turn cemented her path towards Psychedelic Indie Rock. Her sound has a foot firmly planted in the past, but joined to her other foot planted in the now. The result sucks you into a time warp of nostalgia and moody vibe that is irresistible.
Writer: Randal Wark is a Professional Speaker and MasterMind Facilitator with a passion for live music. You can follow him on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. His Podcast RockStar Today helps musicians quit their day jobs with out-of-the-box advice from Ted Talk Speakers, Best Selling Authors and other interesting Entrepreneurs and Creatives. He created the Rock Star Today Music Business Jam Session for musicians. Randal is a collector of signed vinyl, cassettes and CDs.
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