TESSE ‘Dead Night Drive’ LP

Following the quiet acclaim of his earlier releases How It All Unfolds (2018) and Everything Trying (2021), Sydney songwriter Tom Stephens (Tesse) returns with his most unguarded and affecting record to date. Dead Night Drive finds him sharpening his lens on themes of mortality, connection, and the small moments of domestic tenderness that carry us through.

Sonically, the record blends elements of indie folk, alt-rock, and lo-fi pop, woven with Stephens’ hushed delivery and cinematic sense of space. Drum machines, tape hiss, and twilight textures create a soundscape that feels both intimate and expansive, recalling the quiet force of artists like Bill Callahan, Cass McCombs, and Julie Byrne. Fans of Big Thief, Hovvdy, and Phoebe Bridgers will find familiar ground here, though Stephens’ voice remains distinctly his own.

Made slowly over three years in collaboration with longtime friend and producer Miles Devine, Dead Night Drive carries the warmth of a handmade record, shaped in small rooms and late night hours. It’s a body of work that doesn’t chase transcendence, but instead sits gently with what is - naming the night, and holding it until morning.