Formula Indie Sessions – Interview with Tessia
Tessia is a female-fronted melodic death metal band from Bergen, Norway. Their music combines heavy riffs, progressive elements and grand storytelling, built around the dark fantasy universe of ‘The Cataclysm’ In 2026, they released their latest album, The Cataclysm, which represents the biggest and most ambitious chapter of the band so far, and has been praised by critics as one of the best albums of 2026.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I (Julie) have been singing my whole life, and one of my earliest memories was singing with a choir and singing solo for the first time. I was terrified but did it anyway. I had a desire to perform in front of people even though I was scared, and that passion is still with me.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
When we became Tessia and started to really make music together, I would make vocal melodies and co-write lyrics, and when I heard the final song, I was so proud of what we had made, and that made me want to make more.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
It kind of started with Dennis wanting to create a metal project, and I started singing on his songs. We found it really fun, got together with some friends, and in the end we created Tessia. We really struggled with finding a name for the project; in the end we landed on Tessia, taken from a planet in the video game series called Mass Effect.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
This is a bit tricky; we never shy away from taking bold moves in our music that might exclude some people, but keep others interested. We get genres tossed towards us all the time, and people ask us, what kind of music are you? And we say, you tell us haha!
But dynamic, heavy, fierce, melodic, and powerful
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
I am classically trained in singing and have attended music school, and there, every wrong note and grit was not encouraged at all, but I discovered and learned growling on my own, which changed the way I created music and totally gave me an extra layer to build with. I am thankful for the singing lessons, as they gave me the correct foundation regarding breathing and where to put your voice so as not to damage it, and I apply the same technique in my growling.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Well, not anything special; guitar, drums, and bass are essential for our music, and the use of modern DAWs is making the creative side and especially the way we can experiment a lot easier, by layering and testing out ideas.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I’m really into the band Moyra at this moment, really cool melodic death metal.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I think life in general tends to influence the creativity of artists, and I would say it’s the same for me. The ups and downs I go through can set the tone of the lyrics and how my voice sounds.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I hope people can find their own interpretation of the songs and place them where it fits in their lives. We write lyrics in a metaphorical and interpretational way so the listener has the opportunity to fill in the meaning in their own sense.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
To be myself and not try to copy anyone else. The metal scene is a place for everyone, no matter who you are; you can find a space here. I wanted to sound like my favourite artists, but that is simply not possible, and I had to accept that I am me and I sound the way I do, and that is beautiful and absolutely as it should be.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I really want to go back to Wacken Open Air; that experience was life-changing. Other festivals like Hellfest in France or Download in the UK would be amazing as well; I’ve seen so many legendary live performances from there. For some reason, Royal Albert Hall comes to mind, haha. It’s a really beautiful venue.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Hands down, Devin Townsend. People that have worked with him say he is amazing to work with and is able to get the best out of you. Robb Flynn of Machine Head would also be frikkin awesome. Having a guttural duet with Travis Ryan of Cattle Decapitation is also on my bucketlist.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Our website is Tessiaband.com. Here we sell merch, have info on where we are playing next and other info.
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/2qB2dNnA0tnNNX72gn5VnW?si=Kdg2xpohQoqD_QlH4mxodQ
Instagram.com/Tessiaband
Our music is also available on Apple music, Amazon music
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
Playing more gigs, going on tour, and promoting our latest album ‘The Cataclysm’
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
That we are really hardworking, have a professional, easygoing attitude, and really enjoy having good times with our fans. When we are playing, we want to have fun with the audience and share an experience. Of course, we really want them to discover how much we put into our music; we are doing almost everything ourselves, from writing, producing, designs, artworks, music video creation, lore building, and much more. We have even written a lore book to keep things in order. People are often surprised by all we do.
