Scene Stories: When The Ball Starts Rolling

By Stephen Jabaut on July 24, 2024

There is a quote going around right now that says, "It takes ten years to be an overnight success." Usually when an artist or an actor finally gets your attention, it is only after they have coursed a long journey of development, struggle, and luck. As a music-lover, it can then feel special when we discover acts who are on their way to hit it big. But what is it like for someone who is currently on that path?

We took an interview with an artist who is beginning to make some serious headway in her public exposure. Tess Polachek is half of a duo called TESSLA, which includes her friend Lauren Ashely. While Tess has a musical theater background, that lent itself to piano and songwriting, Lauren Ashley has music production experience and DJ experience, as well as a network of people in the industry.

Their initial connection was working at the Snow Lodge venue together in Aspen, Colorado. Tess was on holiday with her family in 2021, and one of the waitresses got Covid and needed a replacement for a week or so. That was her foot in the door, and Tess ended up being hired in bottle service until she found her next opportunity to DJ at the venue. Lauren was a VIP host who had spent over ten years building a networks in Los Angeles and Aspen. During the pandemic, the two decided that with Lauren's connections and Tess's talent, they should go for it.

TESSLA is now in that phase of their career where they are booking major festivals like CRSSD in San Diego, and Lollapalooza in Chicago, Illinois. Their names aren't very high on the line-up yet, and their slots are on smaller stages in the early afternoon, but they are very happy to have their name on the poster with folks like Kaskade and Lane 8.

Booking Lollapalooza might seem to be an impossible task for a musician starting from scratch. But it's a building process and, according to Tess, it's all about relationships. And sometimes those relationships can get you in big rooms, and on some pretty great stages. And Tess has been fortunate enough to stay present and grateful for the gifts she's been given.

In Tess's words, "When you have a show, it's an opportunity to showcase what you've got going on. When you have that opportunity, you make the most of it. Have a clear vision of what you want to do, and when you're up there, have a lot of fun."

So when TESSLA opened for DRAMA at the Snow Lodge in Aspen, CO, it so happened that one of the Lollapalooza festival runners was there. They had such a fun and engaging performance that afterwards, they were offered a slot at the famed Chicago festival.

With their relationship with the Snow Lodge, sometimes they'll get flown out to perform sets at the Surf Lodge (the sister establishment in Montauk, NY). At this point, they've done Burning Man, Palm Tree Festival, and opened for acts like Disclosure, Claptone, Channel Tres, and Phantoms.

When Tess talks about their dynamic on stage, she mentions that "She (Lauren) will read the room, she'll know what to play, keep them engaged, she'll host. And I'm the artist, a little more creative, and drive the emotion into the work."

And why do this at all? According to Tess, music has the power to bring people together, and it allows for expression beyond simple description. Come to find out, she could connect with people over her art, and make a living doing so. And although the work ebbs and flows, she recognizes that:

"It's a privilege and I'm trying to embrace that as much as I can."

So maybe you're considering taking steps forward toward the paths of music and performance. Based on this interview, it seems to me that this is an incremental process, one where loyalty and small connections pave the way for growth and improvement. Where a serving job taken on a whim is the thing that leads to your first opportunity. The thing that stands out to Indy Review in this interview is Tess's vision and determination. We at the Indy Review all wish her the best on her journey toward the top of that lineup.

Listen to the duo's music here, and check out their website with upcoming tour dates here. Playing in Los Angeles, August 11th and Montreal, August 14th.

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