Tess Brunet (born September 12, 1978) is an American musician and producer, who has recorded and performed under the band names The Black Orchids, Au Ras Au Ras, Animal Electric, Generationals, and Deadboy & the Elephantmen.
She began working in the lo-fi genre of underground rock, recording on portable cassette tape machines while living in New York City.
Though she was born in New Orleans, Brunet was adopted at age four and spent most of her childhood in Bayou Cane, Louisiana.
She was raised in a Catholic family, though she left Catholicism behind at a young age.
Brunet moved to New York City when she was 19 years old, where she met Mel Terpos (aka The Guitar Doctor) while working at S.I.R.
Mel was the guitar guru for Keith Richards, Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton, and Hall & Oates, among many others.
Terpos became her mentor and played a large role in her becoming a drummer and later a guitarist.