Keeled Scales is pleased to announce their new signing, Tenci, project of Chicago-based musician Jess Shoman. Today, they offer her first single “Earthquake” and new song/video, “Serpent.” Tenci began as Shoman’s bedroom-folk project in December 2018. The band name comes from Shoman’s grandmother’s name Hortencia, who she feels is her kindred spirit. Her memories of hearing her sing while cooking or cleaning influenced some of the same qualities in her own voice. Shoman’s music is vividly introspective, blooming with her sweet and shaky vibrato.
“Earthquake” is about that ache when you recognize a feeling or a person starting to fade as you desperately grasp to keep it close. It opens with a peel of quavering, high-noon guitar, and shuffles with gentle percussion.
LISTEN TO “EARTHQUAKE”
“Serpent” was one of the first songs Shoman wrote. It’s about the dizzying pain of lying to yourself and the journey of shedding old skin to find your truth. The accompanying video, directed by John TerEick, explores what it could be like to move through the belly of a snake, incorporating winding roads and tunnels and clips of Shoman wearing snake-like layers. “The guitar solo bends and whines as the poison continues to seep in. As I move through the tunnel you can see the intoxicating effect it has, but it is one step closer to relief,” says Shoman. “It’s not until you finally speak your truth and become vulnerable that you can have resolution, even if that means the death of something.”
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “SERPENT”
Starting tomorrow, Tenci will embark on a North American tour through the midwest and the south. The current lineup is made up of Chicago musicians Shoman met playing some of her earliest shows, including Curt Oren (saxophone, flute, and guitar), Izzy True’s Isabel Reidy (bass) and Joseph Farago of Joey Nebulous (drums). A full list of dates can be found below.
TENCI TOUR DATES
Wed. March 11 – Louisville, KY @ Kaiju
Thu. March 12 – Asheville, NC @ House Show
Fri. March 13 – Athens, GA @ Flicker Theatre
Sat. March 14 – Birmingham, AL @ Firehouse
Sun. March 15 – Jackson, MS @ Unsquare
Mon. March 16 – New Orleans, LA @ The Starlight
Tue. March 17 – Galveston, TX @ Galveston Artist Res
Thu. March 19 – Austin, TX @ Troublemaker Lounge
Thu. March 19 – Austin, TX @ Phluff Hi Austin Hotel
Fri. March 20 – Austin, TX @ Radio Coffee and Beer
Sat. March 21 – Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves
Sun. March 22 – Kansas City, MO @ The Rino
Tue. March 24 – Saint Louis, MO @ CBGB
Thu. April 23 – Oberlin, OH @ Oberlin College
Sun. April 26 – Columbus, OH @ Dirty Dungare
Vents MagaZine Music and Entertainment Magazine
