Meet Tenise

Tenise Marie is a Canadian songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, performer, and recording artist based in Nelson, British Columbia.

Having grown up listening to strong female singer songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez, falling in love with Soul, R&B, Gospel, Jazz, and now exploring the sounds of her Middle Eastern roots, Tenise's music weaves together each of these influences, while remaining focused on lyrics that cause us to examine our own humanity.

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. As Olivia Herring from Music Mecca described Tenise's ballad "Drawn to You" from her 2021 album Storm: “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”.

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).

Tenise Marie performs the range of human emotion through story and song, navigating heartbreak and humour with insightful lyrics, travel anecdotes, and unique musical landscapes.

Tenise is set to release her newest album, “Off The Record” in July of 2025, recorded with support from Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia. 

The record 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 Iraq with GISHRU: Bridge to Assyria.