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Tess Roby

Tess Roby
OFFLINE
1149
Basic Member
Tess Roby
She/Her/Elle
Montreal
Quebec
Tess Roby
Artist
Tess Roby’s explorative brand of electronic music is unique and visionary. Born in Toronto and now based in Montreal, Tess Roby is an acclaimed musician and photographer. Her debut album "Beacon", an homage to her late father recorded with his drum machines & synthesizers, was released in 2018 by Los Angeles-based label Italians Do It Better. She released her sophomore album “Ideas of Space” in April 2022 as the inaugural release on her record label, SSURROUNDSS. This album was written and produced entirely by Roby and featured collaborations with Austin Tufts (Braids), Ouri, and Joseph Shabason (Destroyer). Her songs ride the lines between synth pop, ambient and alternative folk structures, with emphasis on voice as instrument. Her lyrics drift between dreams and memories, and are brought to life by the rich intimacy of her voice. Circling loops of synth rise alongside interweaving vocal patterns, effortlessly creating minimal yet complex soundscapes. She has collaborated with celebrated electronic artists such as Khotin, Seb Wildblood, Austra and ionnalee, and is also a member of the Montreal synth-pop trio Dawn to Dawn, who debuted their live performance at MUTEK Montreal in 2023. Tess was selected as the 2024 resident at Canada's National Music Centre, and completed her residency in September 2024, working on the recording and production of her third full-length album. Also in 2024, Tess was also selected to take part in the Keychange program; a global network and movement working towards gender equality in the music industry. She is currently working on two new records while expanding her SSURROUNDSS label, which she founded to support women and non-binary electronic artists in Canada. The label operates on a sustainable, artist-friendly model that prioritizes transparency, creative freedom, eco-conscious practices, and equitable deals that empower musicians.
A&R, Artist relations, Project manager
Artist, Creative designer, Singer, Touring musician
Artist, Performer, Singer, Studio musician, Touring musician
  • Keyboards
  • Piano
  • Vocalist
Synths
Co-writer, Lyricist, Songwriter
Music video director, Music video editor, Photographer, Content creator
Mixer, Producer
Electronic, Experimental, Indie Rock, New Wave, Pop
Panelist
Artist, 2015 - Present
SSURROUNDSS, 2022 - Present, Founder & Label Head
Folk Alliance International, 2024 - 2025, Production Coordinator
POP Montreal, 2015, 2020, Online Content and Community Manager
English