The music of Franco-American-Kiwi, Tess Liautaud can not be easily defined. It hangs in the balance of her voice, warm like honey; it carries a depth of raw emotion, delivered with melodic grace and country soul.
Her songs are easy listening, in that Jackson Browne, dreaming of Laurel Canyon, Americana sort of way, so it would make some kind of sense that she’s found a home on the east side of Ōtautahi, among the folk singers and the rock'n'rollers.
Following sold out shows on her 12-date “Gold Digger” tour last year, and chart topping singles “Here Go The Lovers” and “The Way It's meant to Rain”, her album “Blue Mind” was released in October 2024, through Flying Nun/Leather Jackets distribution and reached number 6 in the New Zealand Top 20 Charts, and Number 4 in the Independent New Zealand Charts.
It has since received critical acclaim nationally and internationally.
Liautaud’s songs have been included in Americana and Country music shows on RNZ (“Nashville Babylon”), RTL in France (“Les Nocturnes”), PBS and Double J in Australia, and have been played on many international student and community radio stations.
As well as leading her own band Tess sings and plays with Adam Hattaway & The Haunters, The Eastern and The Jessie Shanks & Tess Liautaud duo.
In Paris she has been invited on stage to sing with Glen Hansard and Bruce Springsteen and back home in Aotearoa has shared stages with artists such as Flora Knight, Adam McGrath, Delaney Davidson, Barry Saunders, Marlon Williams, Dave Khan, Emily Fairlight, Holly Arrowsmith, Ryan Fisherman, Al Park and Pony Baby. And most recently opening for country Queen, Tami Neilson in Paris.
Tess cut her teeth in the Paris music scene for the better part of a decade, honing her live performances and endearing herself to the hearts of audiences and fellow musicians alike. She has toured in Ireland and places beyond and eventually curiosity led her to Aotearoa in 2019. Burgeoning friendships and collaborations swayed her to stay and now two albums and six years deep she has become an endeared part of our musical landscape.
"Tess Liautaud found her people in Ōtautahi, she nestled in and quickly became a part of the region's wider story of folk'n'country rock'n'roll. Her new album Blue Mind, is an assured work of rootsy Canterburycana (a genre title we're workshopping), featuring familiar Christchurch cohorts like Adam Hattaway, Elmore Jones, and Jessie Shanks, the shining star here is Tess Liautaud's warm and heartful voice, riding high over her fantastic new set of songs". - Flying Out
The independent release of "Blue Mind" was funded in large part by a hugely successful crowdfunding campaign that called upon her ever growing community to support the project and bring it to life.
More recently Tess has been busy touring and performing throughout Aotearoa with her band and has appeared on stages at Nostalgia Festival, Summer Sundays Festival (Christchurch Botanic Gardens), Auckland Folk Festival and Canterbury Folk Festival.
Prior to “Blue Mind” Liautaud recorded her debut, self-titled album in Kurow at Sublime Studios. A collection of songs that are an ode to change, reflection, nature, saying goodbye, and the grief that follows.
Liautaud spends her time living between France and Aotearoa, creating, writing and performing all the while.
And is currently writing music for some new recordings honoring her folk americana roots.