With her cheeky charm, unfiltered lyrics and raw authenticity, Tessa has, in just a few years, established herself as one of the central forces in Danish rap. Her very first concert ever took place at Roskilde Festival in 2019, and three years later she proved her stature once again when she closed the festival’s second-largest stage with an intense, overheated performance. Now she is ready to make history as the first Danish female rapper to play the Orange Stage, taking over the country’s biggest stage with a spectacular show, a full live band and a new album on the way.
Tessa smashed through the sound barrier in 2019 with the single “Snakker For Meget”, which cemented her as a unique new voice in Danish hip-hop. A voice that does not hold back in its depictions of lust and sex, but also displays sharp linguistic flair and humour in hits such as “Ben”, “Ghetto Fabulous” and “Blæstegnen”.
Through both her songs and her strong stage presence, Tessa conveys an authentic honesty that forges a deep connection with the audience. Despite her sharp-tongued attitude, she has gained both broad popular appeal and an extremely dedicated fanbase of “sjakalinas”, whom she embraces in songs about standing your ground and rising again when life knocks you down. She knows what she is talking about, and she does not shy away from opening up about living on the streets and experiencing sexual abuse – an experience she laid bare on the song “Engletårer” from her debut album, Tessas Hævn (2023).
In her music, she rises above betrayal and setbacks, transforming into a triumphant angel who, behind the raw exterior, carries a warm heart for all outsiders. As she raps on her banger “Bål”: “The best revenge is success.” And what could be sweeter revenge than delivering a huge party on the Orange Stage this summer – with both new songs and plenty of hits? A nasty summer awaits.
