Tristen - Unpopular Music Tristen

Hailing from Nashville, Tenn.’s rollicking roots-rock scene, Tristen has established herself as a prolific, versatile musician over the past two decades. Her knack for crafting captivating melodies and whip smart lyrics has attracted high-profile collaborations. She co-wrote Love is an Art, the latest album by Vanessa Carlton, and toured with Jenny Lewis as part of her Voyager band.
Her folk-oriented 2011 debut Charlatans at the Garden Gate earned her praise as “Nashville’s best-kept secret” (The Boston Globe), while 2013’s CAVES, co-produced by Stephen Hague, recasted her as a hypnotic “synth pop siren” (SPIN). Sneaker Waves was released in 2017 and marked her transition to crafting her music and music videos completely in her home studio with long time collaborator and husband Buddy Hughen. Rolling Stone described it as having “Nilsson-worthy power balladry,” while NPR’s Ann Powers called it “bursting with great melodies and hooky arrangements that tickle the ear and won’t leave your brain alone.” 2021 saw the release of Aquatic Flowers, with Talkhouse proclaiming “She’s one of those songwriters and performers absolutely beloved by other musicians, and for good reason. She’s a risk-taker in the studio, venturing out into unknown territory and pretty much always finding something at least interesting, and often incredible”.
Her fifth studio album, Unpopular Music, comes out in October, featuring contributions from Wilco’s Pat Sansone, Vanessa Carlton, Becca Mancari, Erin Rae and Natalie Prass. With that will come a long awaited return to touring, continuing a career that’s seen her share stages with Robyn Hitchcock, Television, Ezra Furman and the Mountain Goats.