Artist: Tessa Lee Single: Mountains Genre: Folk Rock, Alt-Country, Singer-Songwriter Release Date: September 10th, 2024

Tessa Lee’s “Mountains” is the kind of track that captures the restless spirit of adventure with an effortless charm. There’s something in the song’s laid-back, infectious energy that makes it feel like a soundtrack to a journey—whether you’re on the open road or simply daydreaming about being there. With riffs that stick in your head, a guitar solo that eases its way through the mix, and sweet harmonies, it’s a song that feels light but carries just enough weight to linger.

At its core, “Mountains” is about wanderlust—Lee’s reflection on love that couldn’t quite keep pace with her desire to see what’s beyond the next horizon. The lyric “Mountains in my eyes” speaks to that divide between settling down and the pull of the unknown. It’s a bittersweet tale, but the song keeps things fun and loose, letting the freedom of movement take the lead.

The album artwork for Lee’s upcoming album, Mountains, is deeply personal to Tessa Lee, featuring the piece Mountain(near) by Tasmanian artist Zoe Grey. Lee shares, "My partner and I bought Mountain(near) in April 2020, and it hangs behind our bed. It was part of Zoe’s very first exhibition at Despard’s Gallery, an exhibition which went completely online (due to lockdowns), and yet, completely sold out." This connection between the artwork and the album gives it an added layer of meaning, as the artwork, like the album, is rooted in exploration and a personal journey. Lee adds, "Zoe is an ex-student of mine, and I reached out to her about reproducing the artwork for Mountains, to which she was receptive and supportive... so my little album has suddenly got a pretty well-known artist on its cover!"

Recorded over three years with producer Jethro Pickett, “Mountains” feels warm and lived-in, like it’s been slowly crafted during those quiet moments in between travels. Lee’s voice, backed by the Cold Weather Band, moves through the song with a casual ease, letting the music speak to the free spirit she describes. The homemade, budget-conscious music video, pieced together from phone footage of Tasmania’s landscapes, mirrors the DIY ethos of the song. It’s not about perfection, but about capturing moments as they are—raw and real.

Lee’s ability to fuse the personal with the expansive makes “Mountains” stand out in today’s landscape, a song for anyone who’s ever been torn between love and the open road. It’s fun, yes, but it’s also quietly reflective, balancing those two worlds with a steady hand.

"Mountains" continues the momentum that Tessa Lee built with "Dear Friend," offering another glimpse into her ability to craft relatable, heartfelt music. Where "Dear Friend" captured the warmth of human connection, "Mountains" explores the pull of freedom and the bittersweet nature of wanderlust. As Lee gears up for the full album release on October 15th, we’re looking forward to seeing how these themes unfold across her upcoming work. If "Mountains" and "Dear Friend" are any indication, her album promises to be a diverse and thoughtful journey.

Check them out on socials:

https://www.tessaleemusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/tessaleemusic
https://tessalee.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Y7-V5o2DLG4BtRYbVvdcA
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6yGWKnt6Ftt1yDGdlhZxS5

“Mountains” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating DA DA DA - Best New Music

We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.