Having garnered high praise post-release of her debut EP ABYSS last year, Tessa Dixson is back with her slow-burning electro-pop track “Tender Me”. With a focus on nurturing healthy relationships and ‘tending’ to each other’s needs like you would to a flower, the Brussels-based artist has created a mindful and wholesome track full of hope and, to be honest, good relationship advice.

“Tender Me” relies upon the steady build-up of momentum. It simmers delightfully almost imperceptibly at times, building itself up to a boiling point of electro-pop. The subtle crescendo comes with the introduction of throbbing drums to close out the final minute, a coalescence of everything that’s been built throughout the track.

Tessa‘s distinct yet brooding voice directs the synths seesawing to create an inherently pleasing conclusion. The combination of the voice and the swirling synths winds “Tender Me” to a close but not before working it up into one last cathartic, orgasmic explosion.

Tessa Dixson’s new track displays a confidence in its deviations. It takes its time and opts to blaze slowly but ever so brightly, a trait that actually bodes well for an up and coming artist slowly but surely building up her career.

The accompanying visuals directed by Marie Maite and Nils Van De Cauter, show Tessa Dixson bare-chested but tastefully covered by an artistically twisted pipe contraption adorned with flowers. Amidst pulsating lights, she croons as a male is seen reaching out, performing an expressive dance routine beside her.

Floral imagery is no coincidence as Tessa Dixson actually found inspiration from a visual featuring flowers that she found online. She said “One rainy afternoon, I was very bored and was just dicking around on my phone and I came across this drawing that was just passing by on my Instagram of what seemed like two human bodies with flower heads giving each other water”, Tessa explains, “The illustration was so simple but so pure and true as to what a relationship should be like. Two flowers growing and learning together, giving each other water to thrive and flourish.”

[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agro9TqT7LM”]

Tessa Dixson is assuredly the most exciting pop act coming from Belgium at the moment. Her critically-acclaimed debut single “Prayer” ended up in our Best Tracks of 2017 and, since then, the songstress has delivered a series of sultry and ethereal singles turning pain into beauty. Recently, Dixson also won the latest edition of De Nieuwe Lichting, the popular talent competition hosted by Studio Brussel, Belgium’s leading national alternative music station.

Today, the artist is back with her brand new single which goes even further in the aerial. Paradoxically titled “Ignited,” the light as a cloud song relies on floating chimes, misty layers of synth pad and an otherworldly chorus. Here, only the infectious bass line holds back our feet on the ground. Singing about getting lost in a relationship, the artist details the meaning of the song:

[su_quote]’Ignited’ encompasses the fine line between going your own way but still wanting to stay. These dualities are often encountered in my songs simply because that’s how our emotions work. Your heart is saying yes but your mind is saying no. The song breathes on its own and sparks a fire in whoever needs to be ignited.[/su_quote]

Brussels-based moody pop songstress Tessa Dixson is back to inlay her soulful vocal grit into voluptuous new soundscapes, one long year after her intriguing debut song and video for “Prayer“. On her new offering, the sultry and tense “Beautiful Pain”, the artist who grew up between California, UK and Belgium channels Lana Del Rey‘s tormented pop, trying to overcome her romantic woes while dealing with the so complex feeling captured by Robyn‘s Stockholm syndrome adage « It hurts so good ».

In the accompanying video, the singer-songwriter bares a bit more from her fascinating and contradictory artistry. Stuck in a thick liquid, caught in the trap of her feelings, she sings “How long can I stay here/Mind hazy, so unclear” while she is slowly turning into a golden sculpture. With her heart locked in chains, she is unable to make a choice, suffocating like a victim of Medusa, and sealing the union between beauty and pain for eternity.

[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iNCz30iK7A”]

Each spring, Brussels’ cultural institution Le Botanique opens the festival season with their inescapable Les Nuits Bota. This year again and before everyone, they bring exciting, emerging and established artists to Belgium, in human-sized venues. Even if some shows are already sold-out, there is still a lot of jewels to discover and we made a small selection to help you make your program.

[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmc_10PsNd8″]

First of all, let’s focus on the boiling Belgian line-up and if you’re familiar with HighClouds, all these names should sound familiar. The amazing Blackwave. and YellowStraps will make you move with their chill and groovy vibes. If you prefer cinematic and emotional electronic music, then Haring and Rari are here for you. We take the bet that the two girls of Juicy will energise the crowd with their retro-futuristic R&B and hip-hop music. Ulysse, Pale Grey and Tessa Dixson are certainly the most exciting acts on the Belgian indie pop scene at the moment.

Amongst the international acts that we don’t need to introduce, we’d like to mention the -already sold-out- concert of Charlotte Gainsbourg whose last album “Rest” was particularly good. Impossible to miss the noise-pop os U.S. Girls, the synth-pop odyssey of Porches, the style of Eddy de Pretto and the groove of Jungle.

French acts Malik Djoudi, Royaume, Polo & Pan, Bagarre and L’Impératrice should undoubtedly make memorable sparks. Amen Dunes just released one of the best albums of 2018 so far and he’ll be playing it in Brussels. South African queer artist Nakhane will bewitch you with the songs of his new album “You Will Not Die”. Be ready to dance with pop princess Mabel and to swag with Little Simz. Finally, new alternative sensation Yellow Days will also join the party.

Check the 2018’s full line-up of Les Nuits on their website and via their Spotify playlist below.

[su_spacer]

100. CITY FATHER – “Coquette”

99. BILLIE EILISH – “Bellyache”

98. SABRINA CLAUDIO – “Belong To You”

97. PETRA GLYNT – “Fell In A Hole”

96. HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR + SHARON VAN ETTEN – “Omnion”

95. GIRLI – “Hot Mess”

94. THE SOFT MOON – “Burn”

93. J.I.D – “Never”

92. ACE TEE + KWAM.E – “Bist Du Down?”

91. CRALIAS – “Hope You Are”

[su_divider top=”no”]

90. CHROMATICS – “Shadow”

89. RUN THE JEWELS – “Legend Has It”

88. CARDI B – “Bodak Yellow”

87. YELLOW DAYS – “Hurt In Love”

86. JFDR – “Airbone”

85. SUSANNE SUNDFØR – “Undercover”

84. TOM TRIPP – “Aurelia”

83. SUPERORGANISM – “Something For Your M.I.N.D.”

82. KAN WAKAN – “Still Feather”

81. NILÜFER YANYA – “Baby Luv”

[su_divider top=”no”]

80. WAKE CHILD – “In The End”

79. JAJA BU – “Sweetness”

78. ALVVAYS – “Dreams Tonite”

77. KIDÄ – “Bone Mother”

76. HÅN – “The Children”

75. ULYSSE – “Mañana”

74. SHY GIRLS – “You Like The Pain Too”

73. GOURMET – “Delicious”

72. SORCHA RICHARDSON – “4AM”

71. MILLIE TURNER – “Underwater”

[su_divider top=”no”]

70. NABIHAH IQBAL – “Something More”

69. KEDR LIVANSKIY – “Your Name (имя твоё)”

68. MORGXN – “xx”

67. GRIZZLY BEAR – “Mourning Sound”

66. DANIEL CAESAR + KALI UCHIS – “Get You”

65. DILLON – “2.KIND”

64. COUCOU CHLOE + SEGA BODEGA – “Flip U”

63. THE TRP – “Soda”

62. JAY SOM – “The Bus Song”

61. GFOTY – “Tongue”

[su_divider top=”no”]

60. SELENA GOMEZ -“Bad Liar”

59. ELA MINUS – “Juan Sant”

58. EMPRESS OF – “Go To Hell”

57. SHE Major – “Please Don’t”

56. VAGABON – “Cold Appartment”

55. NADINE – “Ultra Pink”

54. SONDER – “Feel”

53. RINA SAWAYAMA – “Alterlife”

52. SEGA BODEGA + SHYGIRL – “CC”

51. GOLDLINK + BRENT FAIYAZ – “Crew”

[su_divider top=”no”]

50. CRATER – “Unearth”

49. QUAY DASH – “Decline Him”

48. YELLE – “Romeo”

47. GABRIEL GARZÓN-MONTANO – “Fruitflies”

46. WESLEE – “Bathwater”

45. FOREST SWORDS – “The Highest Flood”

44. KENDRICK LAMAR + ZACARI – “LOVE.”

43. ALEX CAMERON + ANGEL OLSEN – “Stranger’s Kiss”

42. SMERZ – “Oh My My”

41. SASSY 009 – “Are You Leaving”

[su_divider top=”no”]

40. CHARLI XCX – “Roll With Me”

39. TESSA DIXSON – “Prayer”

38. TOMMY GENESIS – “Tommy”

37. SSION – “Comeback”

36. PIXX – “Romance”

35. DANNY L HARLE – “1UL”

34. LCD SOUNDSYSTEM – “american dream”

33. LANA DEL REY – “Love”

32. KING KRULE – “Dum Surfer”

31. SAMPHA – “(No One Knows Me) Like The Piano”

[su_divider top=”no”]

30. MAKTHAVERSKAN – “Vienna”

29. CCFX – “The One To Wait”

28. KLLO – “Downfall”

27. KELLY LEE OWENS + JENNY HVAL – “Anxi.”

26. BLUE HAWAII – “No One Like You”

25. FEVER RAY – “Wanna Sip”

24. JULIEN BAKER – “Turn Out The Lights”

23. LIL PEEP + LIL TRACY – “witchblades”

22. FAKA – “Uyang’khumbula”

21. TR/ST – “Bicep”

[su_divider top=”no”]

20. SARO – “Eyelids”

[su_divider top=”no”]

19. BROCKHAMPTON – “Summer”

[su_divider top=”no”]

18. TYLER, THE CREATOR + KALI UCHIS – “See You Again”

[su_divider top=”no”]

17. O-SHiN – “A Revelation”

[su_divider top=”no”]

16. ionnalee – “SAMARITAN”

[su_divider top=”no”]

15. Vince Staples – “Crabs In A Bucket”

[su_divider top=”no”]

14. WWWATER – “My Hands”

[su_divider top=”no”]

13. Björk – “Blissing Me”

[su_divider top=”no”]

12. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Cut To The Feeling”

[su_divider top=”no”]

11. Big Thief – “Mythological Beauty”

[su_divider top=”no”]

10. SZA – “Drew Barrymore”

[su_divider top=”no”]

9. Frank Ocean – “Chanel”

[su_divider top=”no”]

8. Wy – “Bathrooms”

[su_divider top=”no”]

7. SOPHIE – “It’s Okay To Cry”

[su_divider top=”no”]

6. Moses Sumney – “Doomed”

[su_divider top=”no”]

5. Kelela – “Onanon”

[su_divider top=”no”]

4. Arca – “Desafío”

[su_divider top=”no”]

3. Lorde – “The Louvre”

[su_divider top=”no”]

2. Perfume Genius – “Slip Away”

[su_divider top=”no”]

1. Yaeji – “Raingurl”

Listen to the 100 tracks of 2017 according to the HighClouds‘ staff via Spotify, Youtube and Deezer.

The stars must be aligned in a dark-indie, but sensuous electronic way, as this new Deer Du Bois playlist is one for the night or the early dawn.

With the Berlin-based Norwegian-Australian electro-pop duo Lalume, we enter a poetic synth universe on their newest track “Clouds”. More poetic love comes from the goddess Ionnalee and her synth-spell “Simmer Down“.

[su_spacer]

[su_spacer]

Electric fireflies lit up on the tones of newcomer Astrolemo ft. Sinne on their obscure pop anthem “Unknown”. Get poppy with Muki‘s new single “Friends Don’t Make Out”: yes, it is really awkward to make out with your friends indeed.

[su_spacer]

[su_spacer]

[su_spacer]

And look who’s back, our blog’s favourite Sakima teams up with L.A. singer Satica on the tropical tones of “Dysfunctional”. Another sparkling discovery is London singer Rookes, who with her powerful beating track “The Heel of My Hand”, shows that she’s knows how create brooding heartbreak delivered with a distinctive pop edge.

[su_spacer]

[su_spacer]

[su_spacer]

If you want to drink a bit more until you get tipsy, you should check him on Facebook and Soundcloud, and follow his regular posts on our site.

Subscribe to Deer Du Bois refreshing playlist on Spotify now!

[su_spacer]

Debut tracks often are a make-or-break deal for artists these days (first impressions do matter). Brussels-based singer/songwriter and model Tessa Dixson is an example of one starting off on the right foot, as her debut single, “Prayer”, is worthy of praise: when you hear it for the first time, you know it’s a hit, a major quality.

After an unsuccessful experience in “Belgium’s Got Talent”, Tessa didn’t give up, making it to the live shows of the Belgian version of “The Voice” at 16. After the show, she started making waves with prominent Brussels-based artists such as rapper Romeo Elvis and DJ/producer Stereoclip. In 2016, Tessa Dixson signed with PIAS Belgium and has been working on her songs for 2 years now, the first step towards realising her dream. Tessa’s debut song “Prayer” features production from Luuk Cox (Stromae, Girls in Hawaii) & Jeroen Pessemier (Oscar & the Wolf) providing a flawless juxtaposition of murky and bassy undertones, allowing the pristine vocals of Tessa to shine brilliantly through the mix.

Love, sin, pleasure and pain… Discover Belgian new indie pop sensation Tessa Dixson with her impressive debut “Prayer”

[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SBU33q5J_c”]
[su_spacer]

Her sensual vocal delivery directs the entire piece alongside a pre-chorus that catches on instantly: “now, I feel like I’m careless at heart” displaying perfect singalong lyrics. Paradoxically, the power of the song culminates during this sentence that only a few of you will be able to decipher at first. Like the enigma of Mona Lisa’s smile, hard to interpret but irresistible and iconic at the same time.

Using minimal and stylish aesthetics to portray her medium, the charismatic singer-songwriter conveys a radio-friendly sound that is one step to the left from most mainstream, polished pop music, but with a widely accessible vibe bound to appeal to a large audience.

[su_spacer]

[su_spacer]

Over email, Tessa Dixson explained to The FADER premiering her track:

[su_quote]’Prayer’ is an ode to all of us that need to find our way and are struggling through life and love. Filmed in California, it catches all the feels and emotions through Bob Jeusette’s lens. The song is a whirlwind of different emotions such as love, melancholia, and hope which reflects a particularly intense relationship. It’s all part of my journey.”: mirroring the complexity and beauty of relationships.[/su_quote]

Demonstrating excellently how to properly debut, it’s only a matter of time before she blows up. Be sure to keep an ear out for her future releases, because the promise Tessa Dixson‘s exhibited here is real.