CHECK IT: TENDER MISFIT IS OUR FIRST OBSESSION OF 2023

 

By JAMES DURAN

We chatted with Tender Misfit about her upcoming music, performances, and why she looks strangely familiar - CHECK IT

Photography by kyle bertrand

Hello TENDER MISFIT and welcome to BE IN A BAND OR DIE. We are stoked to have you on as the first artist to be featured in our CHECK IT series, a set of interviews where we highlight artists and projects we’re stoked about. The first thing we wanna know about you is: where did the name come from?

Ahh thank you for having me! I'm stoked to be part of the series. So when I decided I wanted to start going under a moniker, I truly came up with some of the most god awful names you've ever heard. I've blocked them out of my memory- so it definitely wasn't instant. Eventually after several laughable name failures, I started going back over old movies and books I loved to see if I could get inspired. I was skimming this book I'd read a million times called "Girls To The Front," about the riot grrl movement and I came across someone calling their friend a tender misfit. It had never stuck out to me before but it just really resonated with me at that moment. I think there's a little bit of a tender misfit in everyone, I certainly feel like one.

Our die-hard readers may be putting together that your face is rather familiar…they might know you under the name ARIEL BEESLEY and we have to ask: What prompted the change to a stage name versus your government name?

Honestly I think I just evolved. Both as an artist and also as a person. As one does, hopefully. I will always be proud of past work but I just grew out of it. Lana Del Rey started off as Lizzie Grant- I'm just trying to have my Lana moment.

Intros are now out of the way, let’s get further into your music. While you’re no stranger to writing and recording songs under various projects, it’s understood that Tender Misfit hasn’t released a track just yet despite incredibly well received snippets on social media site TikTok. We like what we hear and are seriously fiending for more - when can we expect an official release?

This year you will see a series of releases for sure- along with live shows. I'll probably play shows before I release the full songs, so people will have to come to a show to hear the whole thing. muuuhahahah

WE HAVE A TIME-FRAME! With that in mind, we’d love to know more about what drives the passion behind your songs - what’s the music of Tender Misfit all about?

Tender Misfit music is all about letting yourself feel your feelings, dancing through your tears, and remembering you're a bad bitch. I want to sing about the things that sometimes we're afraid to talk about. Music gives people the opportunity to feel less alone, and I want to be a part of that. The dark parts of ourselves are also beautiful.

When is the best time/situation to put on a Tender Misfit track?

ALL THE TIME- but especially when driving with the windows down, dancing with your friends, or when you're really heartbroken and/or angry.

Here at BE IN A BAND OR DIE we understand the music world moves pretty fast, with that in mind - what are your immediate goals for 2023? What’s next for Tender Misfit?!

Playing as many shows as possible, getting people excited for full releases, and enjoying the ride.

KEEP UP WITH US ON INSTAGRAM FOR MORE TENDERNESS

INTERVIEW JAMES DURAN
STYLIST/DIRECTION MARISA LEDFORD
PHOTOGRAPHY KYLE BERTRAND
MAKEUP NIKOLE VEGA

 
CHECK IT, FEATUREJames Durantender misfit, ariel beelsey, james dura, beinabandordie, be in a band or die, marisa ledford, kyle bertrand, nikole vega