Artist page

Tensei, meaning “Heaven Star” in Japanese, is the collaborative musical project of Chris Kramer and Midas Wells, based in Chicago. With a rich array of influences including hip hop, house, soul, jazz, library, and electronic music, Tensei creates eclectic compositions that blend various styles. Unlike traditional hip-hop producers, Tensei does not rely on sampling from records; instead, they perform and compose most parts themselves using both real and digital instruments. They often collaborate with a collective of esteemed Chicago-based jazz and soul artists, such as Makaya McCraven, Greg Spero, Kafele, and Junius Paul, who contribute to the musical foundation that Tensei then samples and recontextualizes within their production. The duo has released several instrumental projects and remixed tracks for artists like Bilal and Tokimonsta/Anderson Paak, as well as produced a song featuring the iconic Black Thought. Recently, Tensei has shifted their focus to creating full bodies of work with a diverse range of vocalists and artists they have encountered throughout their musical journey. Their first project in this new direction was the self-released Dangerus EP, in collaboration with fellow Chicagoan and Dirty Science crew member, ADaD. Upcoming projects from Tensei will be released by Tokyo Dawn Records.

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