Katy Tessman shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Katy, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Who are you learning from right now?
Learning from my parents has been a lifelong gift. They’ve shown me patience, resilience, and compassion in ways that continue to guide me. One of the best lessons I’ve applied in life is learning to laugh at myself—it keeps me grounded and helps me handle challenges with grace. I’m also leaning into the value of open communication: being honest, listening deeply, and creating space for genuine connection.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Katy Tessman, a Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter whose music blends heartfelt Americana with stories of resilience, hope, and transformation. As a young survivor of breast cancer—now 15 years cancer-free—my life has been shaped by navigating challenges, embracing change, and finding the joy in each new chapter.
I recently released “Turnbuckles,” a collection of songs about holding on when life tries to throw you out of the ring. One of its centerpieces is “Ghost Ranch,” a song born from the tension between the gift and the reckoning of creativity—a force that can consume you while still calling you deeper. Named after Georgia O’Keeffe’s desert sanctuary, it’s a plea for escape and clarity, for a place where the noise fades and only the art remains. My work is all about connection—sharing stories that feel deeply personal but land like a shared truth in the hearts of my listeners.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Judgment is one of the quickest ways to break the bonds between people. Not knowing our neighbors—whether that’s literal or in the broader sense of “others”—can breed assumptions, misunderstandings, and even fear. What restores those bonds is the realization that we are all the same at our core, each navigating our own challenges and wanting to be seen. When we take the time to learn about others, to listen and connect, we replace judgment with empathy—and that’s where real connection takes root.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I realized I could be the hero in my own story. Surviving breast cancer at a young age forced me to confront everything I was afraid of—and to decide what I was going to do with it. Instead of letting it define me in a way that kept me small, I turned it into fuel for my art and my life. Songwriting became the place where I could transform fear and loss into something that could connect, inspire, and maybe even heal others. That’s when pain stopped being a weight and started being a source of strength.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe that as humans, we are all creative. It might not always show up as painting or songwriting—it could be problem-solving, cooking, parenting, or simply finding a way forward when life changes course. Creativity is part of our wiring, even if we don’t always recognize it in ourselves. That belief is woven into Turnbuckles—each song is about finding your own way to hold on, adapt, and keep creating a life that’s true to you. And in Ghost Ranch, I explore that same idea in the tension between the fire that fuels creation and the quiet clarity we crave. That spark is in all of us—it’s just waiting for permission to shine.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say I lived with kindness, courage, and creativity—that I used my voice to lift others up and my art to make people feel seen. Connection with people has always been important to me, especially through life’s push and pull. I’d want to be remembered as someone who turned challenges into songs that gave hope, and who showed it’s possible to keep fighting, keep loving, and keep creating no matter what comes your way. If “Ghost Ranch” leave anything behind, I hope it’s proof that you can take the hits, stay standing, and still make something beautiful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.katytessman.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katytessmanmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatyTessmanAuthorSingerSongwriter
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@katytessman
Image Credits
Tom Smouse, Sean Montoya, Sammie Jean Cohen, Troy Lanoux
