Joining Audacy’s Julia for an all-encompassing conversation, Teddy Swims discussed his debut album I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1), the inspiration and meaning behind his cover art, and more.
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Divulging the vision he had for his album’s visual, Teddy share, “When I was a kid I watched this movie A Clockwork Orange and I loved that movie. It was kinda like based in the future, but the past as well, kinda retro futuristic thing.” Trying to articulate a particular scene in the film that involved “like really really awful people” and “brainwashing,” Teddy went on to say, his interpretation was trying to convey "symbolism of me trying to retrain my brain.”
As for the reasoning behind that, he went on to note, “I’m in this place right now where I’m doing a lot of self-work and a lot of healing,” And while on this “mental health journey”, he’s “trying to reteach my brain and make these new neuro-pathways of telling myself I’m deserving of love and that I’m worthy of love, and that people can love me and that I can love me.”
A couple weeks shy of being two months since the release of I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1), Teddy, currently on is US headlining tour, is feeling “good” about the reception of his debut album. “We’re playing it and people are singing it, which is so cool, y’know they’re already into it, knowing the words and stuff.”
“I think it’s crazy, cause I wrote the album before the relationship I was in was finished. And I didn’t realize how much I was mourning the loss of this relationship for so long and my subconscious was just telling me where I needed to be." Teddy continued, “now that it’s out, I’m hearing,” he finds himself thinking, “why didn’t you just listen to yourself a long time ago, you would have been so much happier.”
After revealing that his favorite song off the album “as of now” is “Suitcase,” and excitedly discussing with Julia their mutually favorite album, Tha Carter III, as well as his love for Lil Wayne, Teddy went on to share about all the “unexpected things” that come with touring, where spandex would come in handy when he’s performing, and more.
To hear it all, listen to the entire interview above.