Tessa Violet
Violet in 2018
Born
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • social media personality
  • director
  • model
Years active2006–present
Musical career
GenresIndie pop
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
  • ukulele
Labels
YouTube information
Also known asMeekakitty
Channel
Genres
Subscribers1.86 million[1]
Total views232.6 million[1]
100,000 subscribers
1,000,000 subscribers
Last updated: September 13, 2023
Websitetessa-violet.com

Tessa Violet Williams is an American singer-songwriter, social media personality, actress, music video director, and former child model.

Originally a vlogger under the username Meekakitty, Violet has since focused primarily on her music career. She has released three studio albums, Maybe Trapped Mostly Troubled (2014), Bad Ideas (2019), and MY GOD! in 2023.

Early life

Violet grew up in Ashland, Oregon and performed in theatre productions while in high school. She created her YouTube channel under the name Meekakitty in July 2006. In 2007, Violet began making daily vlogs for a school project while working in Hong Kong and Thailand as a fashion model.[2]

Career

After moving to New York City in 2009, Violet gained attention after winning $100,000 in a YouTube competition by receiving the most comments on her video entry.[2][3] In 2011, Violet was featured in fellow YouTube creator Nanalew's unofficial music video for the song "Sail" by Awolnation. The video went viral and has since amassed over 370 million views.[4] On September 24, 2012, Violet appeared in the music video for Family Force 5's "Cray Button" ft. Lecrae[5]

2014–2018: Maybe Trapped Mostly Troubled and Halloway EP

Violet released her first album Maybe Trapped Mostly Troubled on March 18, 2014.[6] The album was produced by Seth Earnest at Maker Studios, with John Zappin as A&R.[7] Despite the lack of attention from traditional media sources, the record debuted at number 10 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and sold 5,000 copies in the first three months.[8]

Violet released the lead single "Dream" from her EP Halloway on September 16, 2016.[9][10] The full EP was released October 14, 2016. She released videos for all songs on the project.[11]

2018–2022: Bad Ideas

In 2018, Violet revealed she was working on her second album, Bad Ideas.[12] "Crush", the first single from the record, was released June 15, 2018.[13] An accompanying music video directed by Big Forest was released on YouTube on the same day.[14] As of January 2024, the music video has reached over 103.69 million views on YouTube. The single led to Violet being featured on YouTube's Artist On The Rise.[15] The entire album was set to release on August 3, 2018,[16] but instead was delayed and set to be released in three different parts.[17] The album's title track, "Bad Ideas," was released as a single on November 30, 2018, alongside a music video.[18][19] "I Like (the idea of) You" came out in May 2019.[20] She released Bad Ideas (Act One) in July 2019, featuring remixes of the first three singles of the project.[21][22][23] The plan for the project then changed to release the rest of the album all at once.

On October 25, 2019, Violet released her second album Bad Ideas. The album contains 11 tracks, 6 of which had been released as singles (Crush, Bad Ideas, I Like (the idea of) You, and Games). The song was released via the label T∆G MUSIC.[24] She promoted it with The Experience [25][26]

On November 5, Violet was featured on a remix of the I Dont Know How But They Found Me song "New Invention."[27]

2022–present: MY GOD!

Tessa Violet performs at the Brooklyn Steel in 2023 as an opener for Half Alive.

On February 15, 2022, Violet released "YES MOM", the first single from her third studio album.[28] She then opened for Cavetown on his 2022 US Tour, alongside Addison Grace.[29]

On May 29, Daysormay released a version of their song "Role Model" featuring Violet.[30][31] On June 1, Violet released the single "Breakdown",[32][33] alongside the announcement of her Rise of the Phoenix tour with openers Will Joseph Cook and Daysormay, which ran from August to October 2022.[34][35] On August 9, Violet released the single Kitchen Song, followed by a voice memo version of the song on August 16. On September 7, Violet featured on Will Joseph Cook's single "Gummy", which also appeared on his album Every Single Thing (2022).[36] Violet then opened for Cavetown's 2022 UK and Europe Tour along with Orla Gartland from October to November 2022.[37]

On March 21, 2023, Violet released the single "You Are Not My Friend".[38] In April and May 2023, Violet toured as an opening act for the for Half Alive's “Conditions of a Punk” tour.[39]

On June 9, Violet released the single "MY GOD!",[40] and announced her third studio album MY GOD!, which released on July 14, 2023.[41] Violet embarked on MY GOD! The Tour in the United States and Europe to support the album, with Frances Forever as the opener, from July to September 2023.[42]

On July 13, Violet released a video for her song "Bad Bitch",[43] followed by the release of a single version of "Play with Fire", featuring Frances Forever, on August 16.[44]

Influences

Violet cites artists such as Lorde, Bleachers, Lily Allen, Taylor Swift, Cavetown, Julia Michaels,[45] and Fun[46] among her influences. A PUP concert Violet attended in 2019 inspired her to delve into her punk-influenced upbringing for her "Games" collaboration with lovelytheband.[47]

Discography

Studio albums

List of EPs, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US Heat[48] US Indie[49]
Maybe Trapped Mostly Troubled
  • Released: March 18, 2014
  • Label: Maker Music
  • Formats: CD-R, digital download
 10 47
Bad Ideas
  • Released: October 25, 2019
  • Label: T∆G Music
  • Formats: LP, digital download, streaming
 19 48
My God!
  • Released: July 14, 2023
  • Label: T∆G Music
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
 — —

Collaborative albums

List of EPs, with selected chart positions
Title Album details
You, Me, and Christmas
(as a member of People You Know)
  • Released: November 11, 2014[50]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
Leaves and Branches
(as a member of People You Know)
  • Released: July 23, 2015[51]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download

Extended plays

Title Album details
Halloway
  • Released: March 18, 2016
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Halloway B-Sides
  • Released: 2017
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: digital download
Bad Ideas (Act One)
  • Released: July 26, 2019
  • Label: T∆G Music
  • Formats: Vinyl, Digital download
Bad Ideas - The Remixes
  • Released: July 26, 2019
  • Label: T∆G Music
  • Formats: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Album
"Dream" 2016 Halloway
"Not Over You"
"Crush" 2018 Bad Ideas
"Bad Ideas"
"I Like (the idea of) You" 2019
"Games"
(solo or with lovelytheband)
"Words Ain't Enough"
(solo or with Chloe Moriondo)
"Bored"
(solo or with MisterWives)
"Role Model"
(with daysormay) 		2020 Non-album singles
"Yes Mom"
 2022 My God!
"Breakdown"
"Kitchen Song"
"You Are Not My Friend" 2023
"My God!"

As featured artist

Title Year Album details
"Where Did U Go"
(Pop Culture featuring Tessa Violet) 		2017 Non-album singles
"Crush + Someone Like You Mashup"
(Pomplamoose featuring Tessa Violet) 		2018
"Monster Mashup"
(Pomplamoose featuring Tessa Violet)
"Smoke Signals"
(Cavetown featuring Tessa Violet) 		2020
"New Invention"
(I Dont Know How But They Found Me featuring Tessa Violet) 		2021 Razzmatazz (Deluxe Edition)
"GUMMY"
(Will Joseph Cook featuring Tessa Violet) 		2022 Non-album single

Other appearances

Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"I Wan'na Be Like You" 2016 — Everybody Loves Disney
"Cash Cash Money" The Matchbreaker (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
"Feelings Are Fatal" 2019 mxmtoon plum blossom (the edits)

Music videos

Title Year Director
"Sorry I'm Not Sorry" 2016 Evan Spencer Bruce
"Dream" Isaac White
"Not Over You" Tessa Violet
"Haze" Sean O'Halloran
"On My Own" Shawna Howson
"I Don't Get to Say I Love You Anymore" Sean O'Halloran
"Crush" 2018 Jordan Harms & Isaac White
"Bad Ideas" Jade Ehlers
"I Like (the idea of) You" 2019
"Games" (official lyric video)
"Bored" 2020
"Words Ain't Enough" —
"Wishful Drinking" Rachel Reizin

Covers

Title Original Artist Year
Boats and Birds Gregory and the Hawk 2016
I Wan'na Be Like You Disney Songs 2016
Lonely Boy The Black Keys 2016
IF This is Love (Featuring Jon Cozart) N/A 2016
Moon Song (Featuring Hazel Hayes) Karen O 2016
Your Life Over Mine Bry 2017
Pity Party Melanie Martinez 2017
Cannibal Queen Maniature Tigers 2017
Teenage Dream (Featuring Dodie) Katy Perry 2017
Crazy (Featuring Dodie) Patsy Cline 2017

References

  1. ^ a b "About Tessa Violet". YouTube.
  2. ^ a b Cohen, Stefanie (July 25, 2010). "Cashin' in on video". New York Post. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  3. ^ "19-Year-Old YouTube Vlogger Receives Over One Million Views and Wins $100,000 in Lashes to Riches Giveaway" (Press release). PR Newswire / Beauty Biosciences. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  4. ^ SAIL - AWOLNATION (Unofficial Video), retrieved January 7, 2023
  5. ^ Merge PR (September 25, 2012). "Family Force 5 Hits the "Cray Button" with new Video Premiere Featuring Lecrae". Breathecast. The Christian Post. Archived from the original (Web) on January 19, 2013.
  6. ^ "Maybe Trapped Mostly Troubled". All Music. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  7. ^ "Maybe Trapped Mostly Troubled". All Music. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  8. ^ Tessa Violet [@meekakitty] (March 27, 2014). "My album is #10 on @billboard 's Heatseekers chart!!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ Tessa Violet (September 16, 2016), Tessa Violet - Dream (official music video), retrieved September 27, 2016
  10. ^ "WDIJW? "Dream, " by Tessa Violet, directed by Isaac White". The Greylock Glass. September 20, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  11. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Tessa Violet Talks 'Halloway' EP, Transatlantic Tour, and YouTube". October 26, 2016.
  12. ^ Violet, Tessa (April 22, 2018). "a year of bad ideas". YouTube. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  13. ^ Mamo, Heran (June 15, 2018). "Tessa Violet Presents a Dizzy Dance Performance in a Grocery Store for 'Crush' Video: Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  14. ^ Aikins, Gabriel (August 16, 2018). "Tessa Violet is personally inviting you into her world". Substream Magazine. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  15. ^ Das, Shaoni (November 27, 2019). "Tessa Violet's New Single 'Words Ain't Enough' Is A Poignant, Melancholic Reflection on Love". Music Talkers. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  16. ^ Timmons, Joseph (June 19, 2018). "Tessa Violet Announces New Album, Bad Ideas To Be Released August 3rd". YouTube. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  17. ^ Riddell, Rose (April 1, 2019). "Interview: Tessa Violet on her upcoming three-part album, 'Bad Ideas'". Coup De Main Magazine. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  18. ^ Fair, Anna (December 1, 2018). "Tessa Violet shares "Bad Ideas" in new music video—watch". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  19. ^ Griffin, Louise (December 16, 2018). "Tessa Violet reveals latest single was built on Bad Ideas". Metro. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  20. ^ Roth, Madeline. "Tessa Violet Describes The Real-Life Crush That Inspired Her 'Bold, Confident' New Song". MTV News.
  21. ^ "Fire Tunes Alert: Tessa Violet Just Released Remixes to Her Last Three Singles". www.lofficielusa.com. January 18, 2021.
  22. ^ "Interview: Tessa Violet on her upcoming three-part album, 'Bad Ideas'". April 2019.
  23. ^ "Tessa Violet reveals latest single was built on Bad Ideas". December 16, 2018.
  24. ^ "PREMIERE: Tessa Violet Knows "Words Ain't Enough" on Her Second Album's Lead Single". FLOOD.
  25. ^ "Exuberant 'Bad Ideas: The Experience' livestream shows what Tessa Violet is capable of". May 19, 2021.
  26. ^ "Livestream Review: Tessa Violet // Bad Ideas". May 17, 2021.
  27. ^ "iDKHOW share remix version of New Invention featuring Tessa Violet". Kerrang!. November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  28. ^ Degrazia, Leah (February 17, 2022). "Tessa Violet Is Bursting With Self-Love On New Song "YES MOM"". Genius. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  29. ^ Major, Michael (November 15, 2021). "Cavetown Announces 2022 U.S. Headline Tour With Tessa Violet & Addison Grace". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  30. ^ outnowcontact (July 15, 2020). "Tessa Violet Join Forces with daysormay on a brand new single 'Role Model'". Out Now Magazine | Music News - Charts , Festivals & Clubs. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  31. ^ "Indie Pop Trio daysormay Tour Vancouver In New Video For "Role Model" ft Tessa Violet | Dusty Organ". June 18, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  32. ^ Major, Michael (May 25, 2022). "Tessa Violet Debuts New Single 'Breakdown'". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  33. ^ "Tessa Violet gives us permission to "BREAKDOWN" in new single". Melodic Magazine. June 2, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  34. ^ "Tessa Violet debuts "BREAKDOWN," 2022 headline tour announced". May 26, 2022.
  35. ^ "Tessa Violet Debuts New Single 'Breakdown' Ahead of 2022 Headline Tour".
  36. ^ Cabot, Madeleine (September 8, 2022). "Will Joseph Cook has teamed up with Tessa Violet for his new single, 'Gummy'". Dork. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  37. ^ Ackroyd, Stephen (May 17, 2022). "Cavetown has announced a new UK and European headline tour for later this year". Dork. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  38. ^ Witts, Katherine (March 4, 2023). "'You Are Not My Friend' by Tessa Violet: Single Review". Empoword Journalism. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  39. ^ "Half Alive's 'Conditions of a Punk' tour brings life to the Fillmore". The Diamondback. April 27, 2023. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  40. ^ Vigil, Dom (June 9, 2023). "Tessa Violet MY GOD". Prelude Press. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  41. ^ "Tessa Violet Puts Her Own Desire First on New Single "MY GOD!"". FLOOD. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  42. ^ "Tessa Violet Sets 2023 Tour Dates: Ticket Presale Code & On-Sale Info | Zumic | Music News, Tour Dates, Ticket Presale Info, and More". June 6, 2023.
  43. ^ Connor, DJ (July 26, 2023). "Rewind: Our 5 Favorite Music Videos of the Last Week". Ones to Watch. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  44. ^ Rincon, Alessandra (August 16, 2023). "Tessa Violet and Frances Forever "Play With Fire" in Sultry New Single". Ones to Watch. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  45. ^ "Why We're Infatuated with Tessa Violet". The Fullest. August 7, 2018.
  46. ^ Franco, Casey (March 12, 2019). "Tessa Violet Talks Biggest Inspirations and Performs 'Bad Ideas'". 103.5 KISS FM. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  47. ^ Bredael, April (June 25, 2023). "Interview: Tessa Violet". Tongue Tied. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  48. ^ "Tessa Violet Chart History - Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  49. ^ "Tessa Violet Chart History - Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  50. ^ [citation needed]
  51. ^ "Leaves and Branches". Bandcamp. Retrieved September 14, 2020.

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