Tenise Marie is a Canadian songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, performer, and recording artist based in Nelson, British Columbia.
Tenise credits her childhood in the remote mountain community of Argenta, BC as the source of her inherent love for music. Her singing and songwriting have been deeply influenced by the folk music traditions she experienced in her early life.
Since graduating from the Contemporary Music & Technology program at Selkirk College in 2015, where she majored in vocal performance, Tenise has worked in the music industry as a touring musician, session vocalist, composer, and festival organizer.
Her original music pairs soulful vocals with acoustic guitar, piano, and oud, crafting a unique blend of Western and Eastern folk music, reflective of her own mixed European and Assyrian heritage. “Watching Marie perform is an emotional experience…coming of age, falling in love, and exploring the world are just the surface level of inspiration in Marie’s pieces” (Olivia Herring, Music Mecca).
A storyteller and traveller at heart, Tenise is inspired by adventure and connection. Her songs deliver folky nostalgia and romance, offering “jazzy folk-pop ambience…luminous vocals and clear-eyed, confessional lyrics” (Darryl Sterdan, Tinnitist).
In addition to her work as a solo artist, Tenise sings alto in the Assyrian Arts Institute’s Assyrian Women choir. Her work with the Assyrian Arts Institute has been instrumental on her journey to discover and reclaim her Assyrian identity. Tenise’s voice can also be heard on a variety of session work including as a focal point on the title track of Folk/ Electronica band Moontricks’ debut album Currents.
Tenise is currently recording her newest album, which features a collection of songs written for her Research & Creation songwriting project with the Canada Council for the Arts, inspired by her experience travelling to the Assyrian homeland in Northern Iraq with GISHRU: Bridge to Assyria.