About Me
I'm Jess Tardy. I'm a writer, singer, and seeker drawn to honest stories, kitchen table conversations, and soulful songs with a little bit of twang. I grew up in Maine, dug a mighty pit of student loan debt in Boston, got a musical education in Nashville's honky tonks, and then returned back to where it all started. Today I'm a community chaplain, podcast producer, and finding my voice in new ways. I'm also coming out of a long musical hibernation and excited to share what I've been working on. A new record, new stories, and live shows are ahead!
I'm Back in Unquiet Country Again.
I grew up along a dusty road in an unsung corner of Maine, where the landscape itself seemed to breathe with stories. My world was small, but it was rich with lore—and songs—passed down through generations. That early immersion in folklore shaped my path, leading me to study it in college, and music became another way to tell those stories, to explore the mysteries that fascinated me.
I've always loved singing and writing about dark skies and the things we can't see: the ghosts in the corners of old houses, the creatures that stir in the woods, the unseen forces that tug at our hearts and shape our lives. But life has a way of taking you on unexpected detours, and I stepped away from performing for a time. What brings me back now is Unquiet Country, which is both a podcast and a brand new record. (My first record in over a decade!)
Produced by the wonderful Dave Brophy and featuring a stellar lineup of musicians, this project will finally unleash songs I've written over the last decade in the key of unquiet: murder ballads, ghost stories, tortured love songs, and revenge tales, all woven from the threads of those early influences.
I love shows like 'Lore' and podcasts like 'Supernatural with Ashley Flowers' so much I've run out of episodes to binge. But I've always wanted to know more about the narrator's connection to what they're sharing. With Unquiet Country, I'm telling (and singing) tales from the fireside here in my farmhouse at the heart of it all—and I'm also inviting you to travel that hometown road again with me.
These stories are my inheritance, and soon they'll be yours too. Unquiet Country is my way of combining two of my favorite things: making music and telling stories. After stepping away from performing for a while, I'm excited to be back in this territory again. I hope you'll join me for the ride. Stay tuned for more updates soon!
