In 2020, Tenci, the stage name of Chicago-based singer songwriter Jess Shoman, delivered her critically acclaimed debut, My Heart Is an Open Field. For a project which began in late 2018 as a bedroom-folk project, the final results, backed by musicians from Chicago’s DIY scene proved to be both unique and unconventional.
Tenci has just released her new single ‘Two Cups’ and announced her debut album follow-up, A Swollen River, A Well Overflowing (out November 4, 2022, on Keeled Scales). The release will also mark the start of her North American tour (dates below).
Where her first album dealt with themes of grief, letting go and emptiness, her new album, as suggested by the bountiful title, holds an abundance of love and newfound joy, her songs acting as the carrier of those overflowing waters. Each song forms a spell to “fill my heart back up,” Shoman says, “by reframing complex feelings by turning my head sideways and seeing them in a different way.”
From the close-knit Chicago scene, Shoman is joined by Curtis Oren on saxophone and guitar, Izzy Reidy (Izzy True) on bass, and Joseph Farago (Joey Nebulous) on drums. The years following My Heart is an Open Field saw the band playing shows together all over the country before regrouping in Chicago to record with engineer Abby Black. The album was mixed by Melina Duterte, better known as Jay Som. The band’s playful interplay of loose drums and bass, huffing sax, and vocal waterfalls leave us warmer than before.
As you can hear on Two Cups, Shoman’s vocals are still killer, with the song opening on a yodel of “Put the can/Against the wall…” before rejoicing in her newfound joy…”I didn’t know I had to wait to fill my cup I won’t wait, I won’t wait To fill my cup”.
John TerEick directed the video.
Tenci North American Tour Dates
Tickets for all shows will go on sale this Friday, August 26
Nov 4 Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
Nov 7 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry
Nov 9 Toronto, ON @ The Baby G
Nov 10 Montreal, QC @ Casa Del Popolo
Nov 11 Cambridge, MA @ The Lilypad
Nov 12 Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right
Nov 14 Philadelphia, PA @ PhilaMOCA
Nov 15 Washington, DC @ DC9
Nov 16 Lakewood, OH @ Mahall’s
Nov 17 Cincinnati, OH @ MOTR Pub
Nov 18 Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop
Nov 19 Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village
Pre-Order A Swollen River, A Well Overflowing: Keeled Scales (US) | Norman Records (UK)