Chris Koehn & Tessa Ia Find Peace In The "Stillness"

Serving up a silver platter of introspection is the architect-turned-musician Chris Koehn alongside fellow vocalist Tessa Ia for their haunting new single, "Stillness."

Chris Koehn's journey into music began as a way to process grief after his brother's passing. His shoegaze-inspired songs explore themes of impermanence and living in the present, offering listeners a chance to reflect and heal through sound.

And perhaps there's no better example than his latest single, "Stillness." Throughout the song, Koehn invites us to pause and breathe in a world of constant noise. The track serves as a sonic reminder to slow down and appreciate the quiet moments that often slip by unnoticed.

Drifting into "Stillness," the song opens on a mysterious yet lush note with ghostly drums that pave the way for melancholy guitar melodies backed by chimes, pads, and atmospheric elements that send shivers down the spine. As Chris Koehn's silky vocals rain down from above, he paints vivid pictures of his surroundings, nature, and the mere enjoyment of taking in the stillness.

Tessa Ia offers breathtaking harmonies on the hook while transitioning into her solo verse—which takes the song's conceptual aspect even further. Her vivid portrayal perfectly captures stillness for what it is: beautiful, one with nature, and something every human must appreciate. The song's uplifting and chilling outro ends the experience on a refreshing yet introspective note, leaving us seeking a moment of peace amid the busy modern day.

Let Chris Koehn and Tessa Ia guide you to a moment of "Stillness," now available on all digital streaming platforms.

Welcome to Buzz, Chris! We deeply admire the atmospheric sound and vibe of your newest single, "Stillness." What inspired you to write a song about slowing down and being present?

I wrote it at a moment I felt overwhelmed with thoughts & emotions. As reminder to slow down and appreciate every moment. 

How did your collaboration with Tessa Ia come about, and what do you feel she brought to the table for "Stillness"?

We were getting to know each other at lunch while talking about our creative projects. 

While I was describing the stillness song, the idea of collaborating together came out. Then, at audio months later, Her voice gave the song a very beautiful vibe. She started improvising harmonies, whispers at the bridge, and different parts of verses that gave Stillness and David Lynchean a cinematic & erotic vibe. 

Can you tell us about the production process for "Stillness"? How did you create such an immersive, layered sound?

I started working on the song at my home studio with guitar chords, adding different layers & textures of reverbed guitars, Moog synthesizers & drum boxes. Then, at Chapel Studio with/ dear friend & producer Jerry Quintana, he brought up the idea of adding piano and textures of pads & keyboards, plus the bridge idea to emphasize a Stillness moment. Loved the result!

Your background as an architect is pretty unique. Does that ever influence your approach to songwriting and music production?

Indeed. I do believe architecture & music work in  very similar ways . Their textures, rhythm ( modulation) , spacial dimensions & time are very related. 

When creating architecture , I try to emphasize the void. Emptiness of spaces and removing elements to create a warm , relaxing environment. 

As for music, my idea is to emphasize the silence between notes and remove unnecessary words & notes to create an awareness atmosphere. 

As Mies van der Rohe's “Less is more” idea and Brian Eno’s importance of silence and removing notes. 

In both disciplines, my intention is to elevate our frequency through awareness. It is in silence that we unite. 

What do you hope listeners take away from "Stillness"? Is there a particular message or feeling you want to convey?

To help elevate listeners frequency. To reflect, slow down and appreciate each and every moment, to connect with nature and our thoughts & emotions. 

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