- Words Notion Staff
- Photography Jay Izzard
Catching him before he blows, we spoke with TEEG about his future music releases, being true to yourself and what he does away from the mic.
TEEG is determined to do things differently. With only a few official tracks to his name, the rapper’s quickly rising through the cream and into a crop of artists unwilling to be defined by the sounds of yesterday. His box fresh flows have proven equally suited to the cybernetic production of ‘Mice of Men’ and the comparably chilled vibes on follow-up single, ‘Ringing’. Promising more music in 2023, the south west Londoner isn’t to be slept on.
Bonding over the boisterous wordplay of Eminem and 50 Cent, TEEG shared his early rap infatuations with his brother. When the time finally came to write himself, it wasn’t something he took too seriously; the act of making music was cathartic, a form of escapism for the wordsmith. This all changed when he shared one of those recordings with his friends, who responded to the track positively.
Recently, TEEG’s been working with PULLEN: the producer partly down to the early success of artists like KAM-BU, BXKS and Louis Culture. Fans, however, will have to wait patiently for the tracks to surface. One thing’s for sure, though: the multifaceted artist’s dexterous rhyme schemes and flow switches feel like the perfect fit for PULLEN’s unrestrained beats.
Catching him before he blows, we spoke with TEEG about his future music releases, being true to yourself and what he does away from the mic.
Let’s start with an introduction… who are you and what do you do?
I’m TEEG, a rapper, singer and producer from south west London.
What are some of your earliest memories of music?
I remember one Christmas my brother and I got to choose an album to buy. I chose ‘The Re-Up‘ by Eminem and my brother got 50 Cent’s ‘Get Rich Or Die Trying’. We would listen to them together as we shared the same portable CD player at home. I think, back then, we knew we were too young to be listening to that kind of music but we loved it! That’s when I think my passion for music started.
When did you start making music yourself and what made you want to pursue it seriously?
I started writing at 19, it was nothing too serious at first. I was just experimenting with bars that would pop up in my head, but that culminated in my first semi-cohesive song, which I eventually showed to one of my boys. The song was about the experiences of one of my close friends who ended up going to jail. I had a lot of positive reactions from friends who rocked with it and encouraged me to keep on writing. Since then I haven’t looked back.
What’s been the highlight since then?
My highlight has got to be my first show at the 100 Club in London. The energy of the crowd was wild and the buzz of performing live is a feeling that sticks with me always. I try to bring that feeling to the studio with me whenever I record.
What’s been the biggest lesson?
One thing I’ve learnt is that you should always be yourself and never try to be something you’re not. Making music is meant to be fun and when you start to overthink, it sucks the joy out of it. There’s no formula for creating good music. People are going to relate to it or not but your best bet is going in the studio with an open mind, trying to be as original and true to yourself as possible.
Let’s chat through some of this year’s releases – why did you decide to open the summer with “Ringing”?
I’d been in the studio a lot and it had been a while since I dropped music, so it felt like the right time to put something new out. So far, as an artist, I haven’t had the most conventional schedule when it comes to putting music out. I’m keen to focus on quality over quantity. Having worked on a lot of new sounds for the forthcoming EP, I’ve got music in the vault but “Ringing” felt like it had that summer energy, so I wanted to drop it as my first single of the year.
How was the reception to that track?
The reception has been great, to be honest. Social media and promotion aren’t my strong suits I’d say, so the fact that I was receiving positive feedback from all these people I’d never met and seeing that they were listening from all over the world was cool.
‘Ringing’’s visuals were a standout – what was the inspiration behind the video?
My friend Az brought up this idea he had of using a 3D scanner to shoot a video. The release of ‘Ringing’ happened to coincide with that. I’ve got to give him credit for bringing the video to life. We went to use his scanner and began the process by recording me performing the song and interacting with the equipment in different ways, then it was left to him to chop it all together. It was an awesome experience; I’m really pleased with how it came out. Shout out Az Guirey!
How important are visuals to you as an artist?
Visuals are very important to me. As an artist, you want anything you release to be an extension of yourself. A lot of thought goes into visuals for my music whether that be cover art, videos or even my social media posts. I’m still trying to navigate the creative direction side of things as opposed to just making the music but that’s something that will come with time as I discover myself more as an artist.
What else is on the mood board for the EP?
Honestly, I just want to showcase the different sides of me as an artist. There’s going to be some sexy R&B vibes on there, straight rap, love songs, trap and just about any genre I feel has influenced me and paints a picture of the world as I see it.
How do you see the project coming to life in a live setting?
I’ve been working extremely hard to bring this EP together and make it sound cohesive and hard in a live setting. Trying to be more experimental makes this a challenge but I’m working with some very talented producers to take my sound to another level.
You’ve just dropped ‘Polly’, a song about self-determination and relationships, navigating change and moving on. Can you talk is through the meaning of the song in more depth?
It’s basically about surrounding yourself with the right people. People who want to help bring you up in life and not tell you you can’t do something. Whether that be with friends, in relationships or even among your peers. It’s about letting go of things that are weighing you down and finding joy in life.
What genres did you draw from, both in ‘Polly’ and on the project more broadly?
‘Polly’ definitely has a chill, UK rap feel to it; it’s quite laidback. The project as a whole has drawn inspiration from all different kinds of genres: alt-rap, soulful R&B and Afrobeats to name a few. I just wanna push the boundaries of these genres and create the art that I enjoy making.
Do you believe in genre or want to be recognised within one?
I feel like most people see me as a rapper because the songs I’ve released so far have been in that space, but I want to be more than that. I don’t want to be recognised within one genre and that’s what I hope this EP will portray.
How would you describe your sound?
I feel like I’m still working it out myself, but at the same time, it will be something that is ever-changing. To be constantly growing as an artist you don’t want your sound to feel stagnant. I will just be true to who I am and the music will speak for itself. My EP will give you a better understanding of what my sound really is.
While we wait on the EP, what else should we know about TEEG?
When I’m not making music I like to skate. I’d say that was my first passion when I was young. I don’t skate as much as I used to but it’s a good way to clear my head before I get back to music. Really I’ve just been busy trying to finish off this body of work.