Tristen at Stanczyks

Credited as being a part of a group of indie rockers began reshaping the city’s musical vocabulary nearly two decades ago, Tristen is a Nashville-based recording artist who has built a reputation for crafting melody-driven songs rooted in clever, story-forward lyricism.

Recorded in her home studio with her husband and longtime creative partner Buddy Hughen, her music showcases a striking intimacy and cohesion, with the two tracking most of the instruments themselves. Playfully self-described as “refining unpopularity since 1982,” Tristen embraces eccentricity and independence of thought as core artistic values.

Her discography charts an adventurous artistic evolution. Charlatans at the Garden Gate (2011) paired retro-pop hooks with lyrical storytelling, while C A V E S (2013) explored synth-driven, orchestrated arrangements. With Sneaker Waves (2017), she wove together folk-rock warmth, garage-tinged drive, and cinematic pop textures, the album’s title serving as a metaphor for life’s sudden turns.

Her latest album Unpopular Music comes out Nov 7, 2025.