Tessa Lee’s new single, “Dear Friend,” opens with a dynamic drumming intro that dives you straight into the heart of the song. The track instantly settles into a groove, a breezy jazzy feel with ringing guitars, carefree drumming, and a rich organ that perfectly complements Tessa’s gentle, flowing vocals. This flawless combination of instruments helps create the ideal atmosphere for what ought to be an emotional and touching musical experience.
Independent singer-songwriter Tessa Lee offers the third single from her anticipated full-length album, Mountains. Following ‘Big Slow Beating Heart’ in March 2024, ‘Dear Friend’ is off the album due for release in September 2024.
“Dear Friend” was written during the course of the Tasmanian lockdown in the autumn of 2020, when the whole world was isolated, and it took some effort to keep in touch with close people. The song is a moving plea for solidarity and support during trying times. Producer Jed Pickett injects some of those rich classic vibes from his Hammond organ right from the first notes into this down-home rock ballad. Fintan McCullough’s slide guitar sparkles throughout the mix, equal to the charm in any of The Band’s timeless recordings. The rhythm section in this song is definitely led by the solid drumming of Ian Howard and the anchoring bass parts of Isaac Gee.
Recorded at Hobart’s Huon Valley’s Rolling on the River Studios, “Dear Friend” was produced by creative engineer Jethro Pickett and mastered by Colin Leadbetter of Leadbetter Productions. The Cold Weather Band—Ian Howard, Isaac Gee, and Fintan McCullough—creates the perfect musical canvas for Lee’s soulful grooves, divine vocals, and masterful storytelling.
Tessa Lee of North West Tasmania has developed a rare melodic style and freedom within her writing. Her exuberant sound and vocal warmth are indie-pop but with solid flavors of jazz and blues, all connected by insightful lyrics that feel pretty masterful. Lee’s music is otherwise marked by soulful grooves, divine vocals, and epic storytelling, with an extra touch of jazz flute—something she wields masterfully since her days at the Academy of Performing Arts in Western Australia.
Tessa explains, “Walking was such an important activity for so many people during those weeks of lockdown, and this video captures me and my dog (my dear friend!) in the simple act of walking in nature. My family lost our other dog late last year, so for my own selfish reasons, making a beautiful documentation of my gorgeous kelpie girl whilst we are still together (she’s getting on in age) ticked a number of boxes for this video. I wanted to capture the companionship and loyalty of a faithful dog.”
With “Dear Friend,” Tessa Lee has expressed her remarkable ability to combine personal experience with universal themes, and she creates songs that speak to people’s hearts. This track is not just a song but a heartfelt message of connection, perfectly suited for the times we live in.
You can listen to ‘Dear Friend’ below: