Chess Countess is the alias of New Zealand-born, Melbourne-based songstress, Tamsyn Miller, who is well known for her soaring vocals and extensive vocal range, built over years of experience as a classically-trained vocalist. Chess works on blending the two contrasting worlds of classical and pop to create a unique, bordering-on-theatrical experience.
She has supported artists such as Eric Clapton, Tom Jones and Jimmy Barnes at the New Zealand Mission Winery Concerts in the past, as well as sung in Andrea Bocelli’s backing choir and performed as a backing vocalist for George Benson on his NZ Tour in 2010. She performed at the 2012 Auckland Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park event, alongside the likes of Guy Sebastian, Jamie McDell and Ria.
In 2015, CC released her ANZAC centenary tribute single, “Soldier Of The Light”, and toured New Zealand as Jamie McDell’s backing singer.
2016 – 2018 saw Countess spread her wings in London where she met world-class film director, Alexander Miguel, and began a long term creative partnership with him. The release of their first single video, “Court Jester”, dropped in April 2019 and received worldwide accolades. Chess has recorded more singles with plans to film the accompanying music videos with Miguel in the coming year.
Due to visa complications, Chess has had to set up temporary camp in Melbourne, Australia, until she is granted the right to return to the U.K. Although it has been a challenging transition, it hasn’t been altogether terrible. In her travels, CC has connected with electronic producer Skrybe upon who’s February 2020 track release, “I’ll Be Raining Fire”, she’ll be featuring. Skrybe has had many successes in the electronic scene, the most recent of which is clocking one hundred thousand streams on Spotify for his track, “I Will End Where He Begins”.
She has also partnered with Melbourne producer, New Haven (Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Sam Bluer) and London Producer, Michael Stockwell (Kylie Minogue, Gary Barlow, Nina Nesbitt) to build up a strong portfolio of songs to release on an EP.
Having to move countries, leave a lot of her musical equipment and possessions behind in London, and battle through unemployment has set pop artist Chess Countess back more than she would have liked, but there is no stopping this unstoppable force. She will come back with a vengeance.
In the words of her next release, “[She’ll] be raining fire”!
Cover photo by Alexander Miguel.
