Among the folk singers and the rock'n'rollers on the east side of Ōtautahi, a small corner of nowhere that feels like everywhere, comes Tess Liautaud's sophomore album 'Blue Mind'.
Sharing the stage with collaborator Adam Hattaway, Lyttelton legends The Eastern and even Bruce Springsteen, Liautaud has made her mark during her short time in Aotearoa. A reflection of that time, the ten track, folk-rock long player sings of bruised hearts, burdensome bonds, self care and personal growth. The songs are intense but easy, in that Jackson Browne, dreaming of Laurel Canyon, Americana sort of way.
The album will have it’s awaited celebratory launch in Ōtautahi with her musical companions at Space Academy on the 26th October, with support from Emily Fairlight.
Title track, 'Blue Mind' is a soulful anthem that serves as a heartfelt reminder to pause amidst life’s hustle & bustle. Tess says "it encourages listeners to prioritise their mental health & find joy in everyday moments, inviting them to embrace tranquillity & self-care.''
Paired with a music video by Max Liautaud and Caleb McDonald filmed in the southern high country. We follow Tess solo trekking through the untamed surroundings of Arthur’s Pass, dense bush, torrid rivers and cascading waterfalls to find her blue mind.
"Tess Liautaud found her people in Ōtautahi, she nestled in and quickly became a part of the region's wider story of folk'n'country rock'n'roll. Her new album Blue Mind, is an assured work of rootsy Canterburycana (a genre title we're workshopping... Featuring familiar Christchurch cohorts like Adam Hattaway, Elmore Jones, and Jessie Shanks, the shining star here is Tess Liautaud's warm and heartful voice, riding high over her fantastic new set of songs". - Flying Out