California Native Tessa Rae moved from Oakland to Los Angeles at an early age. The byproduct of creatives that founded the Wasteland clothing stores, Rae has been surrounded by fashion and music her entire life. She spent her youth immersed in her father’s vast vinyl and vintage rock t-shirt collections.
Tessa Rae has crafted compelling pop music through a multitude of stylistic lenses before settling into a sweet spot writing folk-tinged indie-pop in 2022. As Rae builds towards the release of her Sweetly, Softly EP later this summer, each new single is a continuing exploration of the genre; displaying her innate talent for compelling emotion and imagery in her lyricism, and setting the tone for an exciting year to come.
May 15th indie-pop singer-songwriter Tessa Rae shares her yearning new single “if you still like me in the morning.” The achingly sincere track examines Rae’s experience with jealousy as she wrestles with feelings of anxiety, desire, and uncertainty after having a dream where her crush chooses to return to a relationship with an ex. “If you still like me in the morning” is the second single offering from Rae’s upcoming EP Sweetly, Softly, arriving this summer.

How would you describe your musical style today?
It's indie pop with a lot of folk and bedroom pop influence. I’ve never been a pop girl but I love a good pop song structure. I think my sound is a whimsical amalgamation of a lot of niche influences.

Tell us about your new single. How was it writing it, how has it been creating it?
“if you still like me in the morning” was inspired by a dream I had that mirrored some emotions I was probably hiding from myself. It’s a little honeymoon love story with a big dose of jealousy. I wrote most of it alone on acoustic guitar and it turned out much more upbeat and colourful than I had envisioned.

What emotions do you want listeners to have when they listen to your music?
I hope listeners experience a spectrum of emotions—curiosity, nostalgia, a sense of connection. There is power in accepting there is no good without the bad. I try to grapple with that in my writing and I think people can relate to that dichotomy.

What inspires you to write and create music?
Songwriting is just an itch I have to scratch. It’s an instinct I follow that always leads me somewhere new. I love the unpredictability of it. It's important to keep creating and exploring new versions of yourself.

Tell us three things about you that are important or funny?
I’m the most indecisive person I know. I am likely to become a crazy cat lady. Rae is my middle name.

Do you have any wishes? Advice for others?
I’m working on feeling more confident and learning to enjoy being perceived. It’s touch and go. My hope is to lean into that. Advice for others…light the candle. Take the walk. Write in your journal. It’s the little things that make a big difference.

What do you enjoy doing when not working?
I’m so boring, all my friends would say music is my only hobby! It’s literally my favourite way to socialise. There’s nothing like it. I also love practising tarot. It grounds me and reminds me there are greater powers at be.

How do you keep yourself sane with all your attention and work?
I have a calm yet chaotic energy so I’ve found staying busy helps me stay sane. I’m a chronic over-thinker. Sometimes the less time with my thoughts the better.

What do you gather energy from?
I am an introvert at heart. I love time alone at home with my animals. I’m super cliche. Give me some sage, some incense and some mind numbing reality tv and I can usually find my happy place.

What are your plans for the summer and autumn?
Savouring the simple pleasures. Releasing an EP I’m endlessly proud of. Also envisioning a real New York moment in my near future.

Listen to her new single 'if you still like me in the morning' here.