Teddy Swims to make a splash in upcoming Manila concert
Teddy Swims first found online success four years ago with YouTube covers of such timeless hits as Michael Jackson’s “Rock with You” and Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One.”
But with the success of his single, “Lose Control”—which rose to the No. 1 spot of the Billboard Hot 100 chart last month—the American singer-songwriter has found himself on the other side: Now, it’s his songs being covered.
“It’s beautiful ... justifying,” Teddy said of his career turnaround in a recent interview on “The Jennifer Hudson Show.”
Seeing the song dominate the airwaves and rack up streaming numbers (more than 530 million on Spotify alone) is something the 31-year-old artist finds heartening because he used to be riddled with self-doubt.
“When I was doing covers— and when you’re known for doing those—a part of you feels like people won’t listen to your own music and that you would just get stuck in that world,” he related.
Commercial success
He realized that entertaining such thoughts wouldn’t do him and his music any favor. “I felt like I would never be able to write a song that means as much or be as good as [the ones I covered]. I’m not saying that I have. But there’s a comparison that you do to yourself with people you look up to.
“And you just can’t do that to yourself,” said Teddy, who now has 2.7 billion worldwide streams and 40 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Teddy has been putting out original material since 2019. And while he achieved mild success in the United States with some of his singles, it wasn’t until “Lose Control” in 2023 that he started achieving commercial success and critical acclaim around the world.
The song comes from his debut album, “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1).” A heady mix of soul, funk, pop, gospel and R&B, the record was four years in the making. It had Teddy writing about the emotional roller-coaster he has been on. It delves on mental health, processing traumas and his journey toward healing and self-forgiveness.
“I’m watching people connect with the messages and stories, and realizing that not only are the songs helping me, but they’re also helping them, too,” Teddy said in a statement. “It feels like all that work on the back end, all that internalizing, is finally making a difference.”
Held on July 24
“People are now starting to talk about therapy and mental health more openly. In the past, it has always been about being tough. Being vulnerable is seen as a weakness in some way,” he said on “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” “I hope people find something from my journey that makes them go, ‘Hey, maybe I need some help, too.’”
Now, Teddy’s Filipino fans will finally get to hear his powerful and soulful voice in the upcoming Philippine stop of his “I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy” world tour. Presented by Live Nation Philippines, the one-night concert will be held on July 24 at The Podium Tent in Pasig City. Visit www.livenation.ph or www.smtickets.com.
Teddy still can’t quite wrap his head around his success and the fact that he’s traveling the world, doing what he does best. But he will make sure to “actively” savor every moment.
“Lately, I’m just trying to work more on being present and being in the moment. We get so focused in the future that you forget to be that way,” he said. “I’m really trying to work every day and take a second, breathe and think, ‘Man, you’re lucky and blessed and fortunate.’”