Tiny Vipers

by Heather Phares
The subtle, largely acoustic music of Tiny Vipers is the project of Seattle-based singer/songwriter Jesy Fortino, a self-taught guitarist whose intricate playing and lonesome vocals give her work a uniquely haunting quality. Though she played in a few bands, Fortino found she worked better on her own, and began releasing Tiny Vipers albums -- including one that consisted of a single 30-minute song -- and playing local shows. A friend working at Sub Pop brought her to the label's attention, and Fortino signed with them in 2006. Her debut EP for Sub Pop, Hands Across the Void, arrived in summer 2007.