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Teddy Swims
Birth nameJaten Dimsmade [1]
Born1991 or 1992 (age 31–32) [2]
Origin Conyers, Georgia
Genres R&B, soul, country, pop
Occupations Musician, singer, songwriter
Years active2019–present
Labels Warner
Website teddyswims.com

Jaten Dimsmade, known by his stage name Teddy Swims, is an American singer-songwriter, known for blending genres including R&B, soul, country, and pop. [3] Originally attracting fans through his cover performances on his YouTube, which has amassed 400 million views as of 2022, Swims released his debut major label single in January 2020 and has since released two EPs, Unlearning and Tough Love. [4]

Early life

Swims spent his childhood in Conyers, Georgia. His father introduced him to soul music at an early age by way of artists like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Al Green. [4] Swims' family were football enthusiasts, and he had been playing for 10 years when one of his teachers suggested signing up for a musical theater class in his sophomore year at Salem High School. [5] Swims discovered his passion for performance through his high school theater experience, where he performed in a number of musicals and Shakespeare plays. [6] He began playing instruments, including piano and ukulele, and watched YouTube videos of singers to help develop his vocal technique. [4] [5]

Career

2019: Early career

Swims began his music career in a variety of Atlanta-area bands, including alternative rock band WildHeart and post-hardcore band Eris, as well as soul and hair metal cover bands. In early 2019 Swims' friend Addy Maxwell invited him to rap over some beats he had made, which earned the pair an opening slot on a US tour with Tyler Carter. [4] [7] On this tour he began performing under the name Teddy Swims - referring to a nickname from his childhood referencing his size, and an internet-speak acronym for "someone who isn't me sometimes," referring to the idea of integrating different parts of his personality. [4] [8]

In June, Swims posted his first cover performance on YouTube, Michael Jackson's "Rock With You", and continued posting additional covers of artists from a mix of genres regularly including Lewis Capaldi, Chris Stapleton, Amy Winehouse, and H.E.R. [6] [9] His cover of Shania Twain's "You're Still the One" posted in October went on to become his most viewed video, with 86 million views as of 2022. [10] Swims' videos quickly accumulated millions of views, and after releasing one single "Night Off" independently in July, he signed a record deal with Warner Records in December. [4] [11]

2020–2021: Unlearning EP

Swims released his debut major label single "Picky" in January 2020 and embarked on his first headline tour the same month. He released several covers in the months following, including "Blinding Lights" in May, "What's Going On" in June (from which he donated the royalties to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund), and "You're Still The One" (which he had previously posted on his YouTube) in July. [10] Swims released his next single "Broke" in August, and released an additional version with Thomas Rhett in October. [4] [8]

In February 2021, Swims released his single "My Bad", which he performed on the Kelly Clarkson Show, and was named an "Artist You Need to Know" by Rolling Stone. [4] [12] In March he released his single "Till I Change Your Mind", followed by "Bed On Fire" in April, which he performed on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and later re-released as a collaboration with Ingrid Andress. [13] [14] [15] In May, Swims released his debut seven-track EP Unlearning, followed by a tour supporting Zac Brown Band that summer. [16]

2021–Present: Tough Love EP

In August 2021, Swims released his single "Simple Things" which he performed on the Late Late Show with James Corden in September and the Today Show in November. [17] [18] [19]

After releasing his single "911", Swims released his six-track EP Tough Love in January 2022. [5] [20] Swims performed the EP's songs "Love for a Minute" on Late Night with Seth Meyers in January, and "911" on the Ellen Degeneres Show in February. [15] [21] Swims supported the EP with a three month headline tour through Europe and North America beginning in February, followed by a UK & mainland Europe tour in May and June. [15] [11]

Discography

Extended plays

Title Details
Unlearning
  • Released: May 21, 2021
  • Label: Warner
  • Formats: Digital, CD
A Very Teddy Christmas [22]
  • Released: October 15, 2021
  • Label: Warner
  • Formats: Digital, CD, vinyl
Tough Love
  • Released: January 21, 2022
  • Label: Warner
  • Formats: Digital, CD

Singles

Title Year Album
"Someone You Loved" 2019 Non-album single
"Rivers"
"Night Off"
"I Can't Make You Love Me"
"Picky" 2020
"Blinding Lights"
"What's Going On"
"Picky (Acoustic)"
"You're Still The One"
"Broke" Unlearning
"Please Come Home for Christmas" A Very Teddy Christmas
"Broke (feat. Thomas Rhett)" Unlearning
"Silent Night" A Very Teddy Christmas
"My Bad" 2021 Non-album single
"Till I Change Your Mind" Unlearning
"Bed on Fire"
"Bed on Fire (Stripped)" Non-album single
"Bed on Fire (with Ingrid Andress)"
"Simple Things" Tough Love
"Simple Things (Piano Version)" Non-album single
"Please Turn Green" Tough Love
"Please Turn Green (Live Piano Version)" Non-album single
"911" 2022 Tough Love
"Amazing (Strings Version)" Non-album single
"Dose"

References

  1. ^ Young, Robin (31 August 2020). "YouTube Sensation Teddy Swims: 'All I Wanted Was To Be Somebody With Something To Say'". WBUR. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  2. ^ Wass, Mike (23 October 2020). "Teddy Swims Taps Thomas Rhett For "Broke" Remix". Idolator. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  3. ^ Costa, Miguel (1 October 2020). "Teddy Swims on His Upcoming Debut EP, Writing Process, and Metamorphosis [Q&A]". Ones to Watch. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Freeman, Jon (5 February 2021). "The Chameleon Soul of Teddy Swims". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Neunan, Megan (18 February 2022). "Singer-songwriter Teddy Swims got his start in Salem High School musicals". The Citizens. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  6. ^ a b Scott, Jason (16 August 2021). "Teddy Swims: Rags to Riches". American Songwriter. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Tyler Carter - Moonshine Tour". Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  8. ^ a b Ju, Shirley (1 September 2020). "Teddy Swims / Reminiscing About Life on "Broke"". Flaunt. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  9. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (12 January 2022). "Teddy Swims Shows Off His Remarkable Vocal Versatility With Performances On 'The Eye'". Uproxx. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  10. ^ a b Hollabaugh, Lorie (17 July 2020). "Teddy Swims Dedicates Cover Of Shania Twain's "You're Still The One" To His Mom". Music Row. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  11. ^ a b Kawashima, Dale (8 October 2021). "Teddy Swims, Rising Singer/Songwriter & Powerful Vocalist, Talks About His New Single "Simple Things" And His EP, Unlearning". Songwriter Universe. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  12. ^ Paskill, Ashley (3 February 2021). "Teddy Swims releases latest single/video for "My Bad", performs on the Kelly Clarkson Show". That Music Magazine. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  13. ^ Crowley, Erin (26 March 2021). "Teddy Swims releases new single "Till I Change Your Mind"". Melodic Magazine. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  14. ^ Scott, Jason (23 April 2021). "Teddy Swims Consumed By All-Powerful Love In "Bed On Fire"". American Songwriter. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  15. ^ a b c Kelia (24 January 2022). "Teddy Swims Takes Us on a Ride in New EP "Tough Love"". Out Now Magazine. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  16. ^ Brow, Jason (21 May 2021). "Teddy Swims Shares Why His Debut EP Contains Music That 'Means A Whole Lot To Me'". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  17. ^ Miriam (29 August 2021). "Teddy Swims Unveils New Single "Simple Things"". Out Now Magazine. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Teddy Swims talks new music and performs 'Simple Things'". Today. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  19. ^ Teddy Swims: Simple Things (Television production). The Late Late Show with James Corden. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  20. ^ Hutchings, John (7 January 2022). "Teddy Swims Debuts New Single "911"". Music Existence. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  21. ^ "WATCH: Teddy Swims Performs Viral Hit "911" On 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show'". Music Mayhem. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  22. ^ "Credits / A Very Teddy Christmas / Teddy Swims". Tidal. Retrieved 7 May 2022.

External links