»The older I get, the further I move from who I thought I was«

MYP Magazine:
Teddy, your new record sounds like a basket full of soul and groove. Is there a specific personal emotion from which you wrote the album?

Teddy Swims:
I believe this record simply reflects the ups and downs of coping mechanisms I use in my life. When I came up with the title, “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy,” I had in mind that the young generation of our time is the first one that is really openly talking about mental health and ways we can deal with issues like depression. As I grow older, I think that everyone would benefit from therapy, myself included. However, I feel that it’s still very hard for me to motivate myself to do it for whatever reason, even though I know it would be good for me. Maybe the reason lies in the way I was raised — I just feel like I’m terrified of going, you know?

MYP Magazine:
So, you’ve literally tried everything but therapy…

Teddy Swims:
Indeed, I haven’t tried it yet. But this album is my first step into openly discussing my own mental health with the world and engaging in sincere conversations about the ways I cope with things. Whether it’s drinking a lot of tequila, biting my nails or cheeks, or having any other tics, I have specific ways of dealing with things. However, as I already mentioned, there’s a deep-seated fear within me when it comes to considering therapy. Maybe it’s because I’m afraid of getting answers to questions I didn’t even want. That’s why this album, for me, is my first step into trying to accept that some things are out of my control; and that I can openly talk about my insecurities and hopefully be candid about my issues. By the way, I made a promise to myself that when the album comes out, that’s when I’ll start therapy. I’ll allow myself just a few weeks of fear, and then I’ll finally face it. (laughs)

MYP Magazine:
But don’t be afraid — be excited! Therapy can significantly improve your life.

Teddy Swims:
I believe I’ll feel that way. However, for some reason, something has been preventing me from pursuing it for many decades now. I don’t know what it is. That’s why I’ve made this promise to myself. And I think if I can share these thoughts right now, perhaps it will encourage someone else to take that step towards getting help too.

MYP Magazine:
Your father introduced you to soul music when you were a little boy. Would you say that was the point when you actually started creating your first album?

Teddy Swims:
I guess I always wanted that. I remember hearing Keith Sweat, Al Green, or Boyz II Men for the first time and just thinking, “God, I want to be that too!” I mean, I’ve never heard music like Al Green’s before. The moment I heard his voice, I was convinced that I would never forget it. And I still haven’t to this day — it changed me forever.
My dad raised me on a lot of good soul music, but he also introduced me to other genres like old hip hop, as well as country music from artists like George Strait and Alan Jackson. I really have to thank my dad a lot for my music taste, and he’s also the first person who encouraged me to become an actual musician. When I was 19, I was attending cosmetology school to learn about hair. He told me, “Son, if you want to pursue music as your career, you need to drop out of school immediately and focus on this without a backup plan.” He added, “Believe me, this is going to work.” I followed his advice, and now I’m here.
That’s why I’m so grateful to my dad. All I personally needed was his support; I just needed his permission to chase my dream, which meant dedicating my life to making music. He was completely supportive and just said, “Go for it, baby.” To any parents out there: You should recognize the power you give your kids by allowing them to pursue their dreams.

MYP Magazine:
You were born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. How did this place shape your understanding of pop culture and music in particular?

Teddy Swims:
Well, I’m very fortunate. You know, all the guys you see here today, the people touring with me, they’re all my best friends from school. For instance, there’s a guy named Jessie who has been my best friend since I was in sixth grade. His dad was the first person I knew who played guitar and sang. He used to be in bands, and we spent a lot of nights at his house when he was downstairs in the basement rehearsing old rock songs with his band. He introduced me to all the cool rock shit, like Van Halen or Pink Floyd. That also had a significant impact on my musical upbringing.
And just being from Georgia in general, a lot of country music comes out of Georgia, while hip hop largely originates from Atlanta. I mean, we had T.I., we had Jeezy, we had OutKast! There are numerous hip hop artists and soul musicians as well. Legends like James Brown, Otis Redding, and Ray Charles came from Georgia, among others. So, I would say that some of the best music ever, from every walk of life, has emerged from Georgia. It’s the most beautiful melting pot. I think just culture and people in general, I love it there.

MYP Magazine:
Wikipedia says: “Jaten Dimsdale is an American singer-songwriter, known for blending genres including R&B, soul, country, and pop.” That sounds like an old winemaker who blends a special cuvée from many different grapes. What is so charming about this way of making music?

Teddy Swims:
I love that comparison. I never really think about the genre when I’m in the process of making music. I just focus on which sounds would best help convey the emotion. And maybe certain genres are more suited to certain emotions than others. When I used to play in metal bands, literally the best way to express anger was to scream. You can’t really channel that level of anger in R&B, you know? But at the same time, in metal, you can’t really express love in the way you can in R&B or talk tenderly about the love of your life. And if you want to tell a compelling story in the right way, you have to lean more towards country, as it allows you to convey a chronological narrative. I believe that certain genres or styles of music are more adept at conveying specific emotions you want to portray. I’m always striving to match the emotion I want to express with the song’s style or genre, as they naturally align with that emotion.

MYP Magazine:
You grew up in a football-crazy family and played yourself for many years before discovering your passion for musicals and theater. What have these different worlds imparted to you for your life today? What experiences and lessons can you draw upon?

Teddy Swims:
I remember when I first got into musical theater, I went to my mom and said, “I think I don’t want to play football anymore. I just want to do this — only this.” Her response consisted only of crying and more crying. She said, “You’ve been playing football since you were six years old. Why would you do this?” She was so hurt by it. But I recall the first musical theater performance I did. I mean, I only had like two lines to say, but she heard me and she just said, “Maybe this is where you belong. This is your superstar moment.” I think in American Football, I wasn’t going very far at a height of 5’7’’ anyway. (smiles)
To be honest, becoming a musician wasn’t easy for me either, at least in the beginning. When I first opened my mouth, I wasn’t very good at it. Even though I improved my singing over time, I had actually fallen more in love with the process, the acting, and the emotions that come alive on stage. I just loved that. I felt so at home there. And I still do.

MYP Magazine:
But is there something that you learned in football that you can use today on stage as a musician?

Teddy Swims:
Yeah, I believe discipline. Very much so. Discipline is something I’ve taken away from my time in football. Getting up, moving your body, staying hydrated, and drinking water — these habits I learned from football are applicable. While what I do on stage isn’t as physically demanding as football, maintaining or improving my physical condition, adhering to discipline, waking up early, and starting my day with purpose are all lessons I’ve carried over. Additionally, football taught me about teamwork, leadership, and the importance of a sense of family. We’re all a team here.

MYP Magazine:
You came comparatively late to a career as a professional musician. What is the advantage of entering this world as an adult compared to those teen stars?

Teddy Swims:
I think that only now I am finally ready for the storm that’s about to happen because even just three years ago, if I had experienced the success I’m having right now, I would have been drinking too much, partying too much, and doing cocaine too much. I would have constantly put fucking whatever up my nose and into my lungs.

MYP Magazine:
Or maybe you would have bought a Lamborghini…

Teddy Swims:
Yeah, buying stupid shit is another one of those behaviors. But I’m very aware that my priorities are in order. For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m truly a grown man. And I’m doing what people do who are grown men. I’m fortunate to be able to say that I’ve become someone people trust, that my close friends and I work together, and we make money together. Our health and well-being is crucial to keeping food on each other’s tables. I believe that if I were younger, my priorities would not be the same. So, I’m grateful to have the mindset I currently do and to know what truly matters in life. I feel that my priorities are heading in the right direction. And I’m no longer constantly getting hammered like I used to when I was a kid. (smiles)

MYP Magazine:
You have an hourglass tattooed next to your left eye. What does time mean to you in your life?

Teddy Swims:
I believe everything is about timing. Timing holds immense power. Just as you mentioned, if I had started earlier, I don’t think I would have been prepared for it. I think everything comes with divine timing, whether that’s guided by a higher power or something else. I believe that everything unfolds in its proper moment. And, when it comes to timing, I’m also a firm believer that there is a certain set of words said in a certain way at a certain time that can fix any problem on the planet. I truly hold the belief that if you convey the right message at the right time, it has the potential to heal almost anything.

MYP Magazine:
The second part of your artist’s name stands for “Someone Who Isn’t Me Sometimes.” What’s appealing about not being yourself occasionally?

Teddy Swims:
I’ll say it like this: The older I get, the further I move from who I thought I was — the person I was planning to be five or ten years ago. Today, I am so distant from what I thought I wanted and who I believed I was supposed to be or going to be, or how I perceived myself.
That name resonates more with me as I grow older because I am constantly evolving into somebody different. Over the last two years, I’ve felt like I’ve been three different people. The aspects of music that I’ve cherished, and the way this has become a career, have undergone a complete transformation for me. There are aspects of it that feel like a job; I had to retrain my brain, get rid of onerous habits, and remind myself to be grateful for being here.

MYP Magazine:
That sounds very challenging.

Teddy Swims:
Absolutely. Let’s put it this way: If you’re in a relationship for two years and you keep growing, it’s not like every day you wake up thinking, “Oh, it’s another wonderful day loving you. I’m so happy all the time.” You have to choose love every day. You have to rediscover yourself and let parts of you die every day to approach each day with a fresh perspective and tackle everything as it comes. Sometimes I’m not able to do that. I falter. Sometimes I wake up and think, “Okay, I just want to punch everybody. I don’t want to be around anyone.”
And then, I have to remind myself that I’m incredibly fortunate to be here. I look at myself in the mirror and say, “You are beautiful. You deserve this. You are good enough for this. You are good enough in general. You are lucky. Be thankful for being here!” So, a significant part of that name serves as a reminder to me that I will continue to grow and transform into someone else throughout every step of the journey ahead.

MYP Magazine:
There’s a following quote of you in your press kit: “I’m finally learning to trust my gut, stop trying to compare myself to people, and to just let me be authentic to the only me in the world.” Comparing yourself to others, for example on Instagram, seems to be causing more and more emotional damage in our society. What has comparing to others done to you?

Teddy Swims:
I think it completely made me such an insecure person. When I was coming up and doing covers, I covered so many great songs that are some of the best in the world. And when I tried to transition to making my own music and releasing that, I felt like I was holding myself to that same level of fame. But you can’t just step out and expect your own music to be like “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” It takes time. It takes years to develop. And not just that. You can’t compare where you don’t compete, you know? I always thought, “I’m not John Mayer, I’m not Otis Redding. I’ll never be like them and I’ll never beat that. I’m setting myself up for failure. I’ll hate everything I create.”

MYP Magazine:
A classical imposter syndrome…

Teddy Swims:
Rather a mental block. There was a time when I was experiencing severe writer’s block. I was at home during the holidays or Christmas. I started talking to my aunt and she said, “Son, you’re always in places like L.A., Nashville, or London, just writing, writing, writing, and we never see you. Yet, you’ve only released five songs. What are you doing all that time?” And I replied, “Well, I’m just trying to make sure I write something good.” She said, “Why do you only write the good ones?”
That hit me like a ton of bricks. I realized I can’t write great songs every time. I have to write the shitty ones, the bad ones as well. And that realization unlocked something for me. I understood that writer’s block only happens when you expect something to be good, when you compare it to your desired outcome and block out what’s actually there. The creative part of your brain wants to be free; comparisons and expectations are the artist’s worst enemies.