Biography
Tenci emerged from Chicago’s tightly connected indie scene, blending textural lo-fi experimentation with the unhurried melodic style and reflective songwriting of frontperson Jess Shoman. The group’s first album, My Heart Is an Open Field, appeared in 2020 and addressed earlier hardships in understated fashion, whereas its 2022 successor, A Swollen River, A Well Overflowing, embraced bolder arrangements and a brighter spirit.
Shoman tracked the debut during 2019 alongside producer Spencer Radcliffe and additional players drawn from Chicago’s lively indie-rock community. Issued the following year, My Heart Is an Open Field favored a lean, atmospheric approach in which echoing electric guitars were sometimes augmented by a rhythm section, woodwinds, or strings. In this solitary yet reassuring setting, Shoman wove together themes of grief and loss through an evocative mix of melody and mood. As work progressed on the next record, Tenci shifted toward a fuller ensemble configuration, with Shoman now accompanied by guitarist/saxophonist Curtis Oren, bassist Izzy Reidy, and drummer Joseph Farago. Upon its 2022 release, A Swollen River, A Well Overflowing displayed broader sonic horizons and inventive departures that reinforced a clear thematic core.
Shoman tracked the debut during 2019 alongside producer Spencer Radcliffe and additional players drawn from Chicago’s lively indie-rock community. Issued the following year, My Heart Is an Open Field favored a lean, atmospheric approach in which echoing electric guitars were sometimes augmented by a rhythm section, woodwinds, or strings. In this solitary yet reassuring setting, Shoman wove together themes of grief and loss through an evocative mix of melody and mood. As work progressed on the next record, Tenci shifted toward a fuller ensemble configuration, with Shoman now accompanied by guitarist/saxophonist Curtis Oren, bassist Izzy Reidy, and drummer Joseph Farago. Upon its 2022 release, A Swollen River, A Well Overflowing displayed broader sonic horizons and inventive departures that reinforced a clear thematic core.
Albums
Singles
