OFF RADAR: What influences your fashion style?
TENCI: I feel like my style is honestly all over the place. I change my hair a lot. My students always joke that every time they see me, it’s a different color. My style can be fun, or darker and more moody. I think it’s like my music, because my songs are pretty different from each other too.

OFF RADAR: What was your favorite album of 2025, and what have you been listening to lately?
TENCI: That’s hard, because I don’t usually listen to full albums all the way through. But I think my favorite album might’ve been one by Rachel Chinouriri. I love her lyrics. It’ll be really soft, and then the chorus comes in with this strong guitar. I love that contrast.

OFF RADAR: What was your top song of the year?
TENCI: “American Love Song” by Momo Boyd. 

OFF RADAR: Do you think being a teacher, especially an art teacher, plays into your music at all?
TENCI: Not really, honestly. I just started this career, so I don’t think it’s influenced my music yet.

OFF RADAR: How did you first get into music?
TENCI: I feel like I’ve always loved music. I know everyone says it, but it’s true. Even as a kid, I was always singing. My brother used to get annoyed because I would literally make up songs about anything. I was making music videos and songs really young, and I’ve been writing music for as long as I can remember.

For a long time, I thought you needed a whole crew or a studio to put music out. But once I learned people were using things like DistroKid and recording at home and, especially because my brother was already putting music out, I realized I could do it too.

In college, I had to make a music video for a class, and I didn’t even know anyone else who made music, so I figured I might as well use my own song. My friends encouraged me to release it, so I put out one song in 2024. Then in 2025, I decided to actually take it more seriously.

OFF RADAR: What kind of music does your brother make?
TENCI: That’s a hard question because he really does everything. He doesn’t like being tied to one genre. He might make rap, indie pop, even folk. Right now, some of his stuff leans more alternative or experimental, kind of hippie vibes. His artist name is Ducky.

OFF RADAR: How does New York compare to the DMV music scene?
TENCI: I go to New York a lot. I have family there, so I’m pretty familiar with it. I honestly love it and could see myself living there. There’s always something happening, and the creative community feels much stronger than here.

Maryland is tough. Years ago, I ran a page highlighting artists, and I noticed cities like Atlanta were way more supportive. Maryland feels stronger in other areas, but music-wise, it can be hard to find space unless you’re very experimental, and even then, it’s not really my favorite scene.

OFF RADAR: So is social media mostly how people are finding your music?
TENCI: Definitely. I’ve never performed in Maryland or DC. My only live show so far was in New York. Most of my listeners are actually in Chicago. Social media, especially TikTok, is how people find me. If TikTok didn’t exist, I don’t think I’d have the following I do now.

OFF RADAR: Do you ever get negative comments online?
TENCI: Honestly, most people are really supportive. Occasionally someone will say something like, “This isn’t my cup of tea, but keep going.” Even when there’s mild criticism, other people usually jump in to defend me. 

OFF RADAR: I guess having any kind of criticism means you’re doing something right. What was it like performing live for the first time?
TENCI: It was terrifying at first. I had anxiety all day. I’ve sung in front of people before, but never my own music. I was nervous about everything: how it would sound live, the mix, the backing track. I mix my own music, and half the time I don’t even know what I’m doing. But once I got on stage, the nerves went away. It felt really natural, like something I’ve always wanted to do.

OFF RADAR: Where do you usually find inspiration for your songs?
TENCI: It depends. A lot of my songs come from personal experiences. My first song, “Bloody Chasers,” was about something that happened my freshman/sophomore year of college. Others are more storytelling-based or inspired by things I’ve seen or heard.

I love love songs, even though I don’t really know much about love. I like writing about being young, free, and figuring things out.

OFF RADAR: Do you produce your own music?
TENCI: No. I don’t know how to produce. I usually find beats on YouTube and pay for them. People have reached out to make beats for me, but I have a weird way of working, and I haven’t found something that clicks yet. Huge respect to producers.

OFF RADAR: When searching for beats, what kind of beats do you look for?
TENCI: Sometimes I search for specific “type beats,” like Steve Lacy or Jean Dawson-style beats. Other times I just click around randomly. If I can come up with a chorus, I’ll build the rest of the song from there.

OFF RADAR: What are you working on right now?
TENCI: I want to put out an EP this year. I’m planning to release a song next month, one that I performed live, and hopefully another project in the spring.

OFF RADAR: I’m so excited to hear it again! How has social media impacted how you make music?
TENCI: It’s complicated. I want to make music for myself and hope people like it, but social media definitely makes you overthink. You’re constantly thinking about what will grab someone’s attention in five seconds.

At the same time, I appreciate feedback. If someone points out something technical, I’ll listen. Overall, it pushes me to work harder and experiment more.

OFF RADAR: What do you like doing outside of music?
TENCI: I crochet. I started last year just for fun. I also got really into audiobooks. I’m probably on my fifth one this year. Mostly romance. I don’t have much time to sit and read, so audiobooks are perfect.

OFF RADAR: Are you watching anything good right now?
TENCI: Yes. Heated Rivalry. I love the show, especially the acting. You can really see the emotion on the actors’ faces. I’ve listened to almost all the audiobooks too.

OFF RADAR: Final question: Is there anything you wish people knew about you as an artist?
TENCI: I think just that I’m still experimenting. I’m figuring it out as I go, and I’m really excited to keep growing and trying new things.