Tia Carrera

The Austin, Texas outfit Tia Carrera stands apart from most musical groups through the unplanned, spur-of-the-moment manner in which their entire trajectory unfolded. Distinct from the actress and part-time vocalist Tia Carrere, the project originated in 2003 when guitarist Jason Morales and drummer Erik Conn came together, later adding bassist Andrew Duplantis to complete the lineup that lacked a dedicated vocalist. Their improvisational studio sessions drew from hard rock, stoner rock, space rock, psychedelic rock, and heavy metal influences without producing anything resembling mainstream chart fare, rendering vocals unnecessary yet allowing a dedicated following to form around their occasional shows and recordings such as November Sessions from 2004, the self-titled Tia Carrera in 2006, and the Heaven/Hell EP of 2007. Australia's Cattle God Records handled those early efforts, after which the band connected with Detroit's Small Stone to issue their 2009 full-length The Quintessential, a title offered with a note of sarcasm.