After dazzling us with her stunning comeback singles ‘Sweet Devil’ and ‘Let Me Be’ last year, South Africa-born singer-songwriter t.e.d recently got her 2024 underway with the heartfelt new offering ‘Good Memory’.
Bringing back that warm and lofty appeal she has been cultivating over the years, ‘Good Memory’ sees her returning to the fold with one of her most captivating releases yet. So we caught up with her to discover the influences and inspirations behind her recent material.
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Can you tell us a bit about your musical background and how you got started in music?
I have been singing my whole life but only started taking music seriously when I was about 18, just after moving to the UK with my family from South Africa. It was a really dark transitional period in my life, the culture and way of thinking was so different, that I struggled to communicate at first, so music was my only outlet. I began writing poetry to understand the world around me, helping me to process this new experience and life. I would hum the poetry into melodies, which lead to my obsession of finding sounds and rhythms that compliment each other as well as express deeper and harder emotions to process.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences, both past and present?
Queen, Raye, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Bebadoobe, Florence and the Machine are definitely my top five. The way that each of these artists use their vocals to convey such deep meaning really drives me to do the same.
Are there any specific artists or bands that have had a significant impact on your music style or approach?
EDEN, an electronic artist, was a huge first step into music and sound creation for me. My brother introduced him to me at the peak of my depressive episode, so he became the soundtrack of my struggle. The way he writes lyrics and puts this with experimental sounds and classical instrumentation, it was such a new way of thinking about music for me, and really challenged me to experiment with sound as a fluid emotive tool.
Could you share any memorable moments or experiences that have shaped your musical journey so far?
Playing with my twin brother really taught me a lot about songwriting and perspective through lyrics. He really allowed me to express myself and accepted me in all my states, so this gave me freedom to experiment and actually believe I could do this as a career.
Headlining The Louisiana in Bristol and attending The Brits were huge moments for me and my career, as so many greats have played these events and venues before, so to be a part of this was otherworldly. It taught me that the sky’s the limit if you have worked hard and have an unshakeable belief in yourself.
How do you express your personal experiences and identity through your music?
Lyrics and melody in all my songs hold a special meaning in my heart as they are all linked to a traumatic memory or experience that I’ve gone through. That’s why I choose to keep things more acoustic and stripped back to mirror the raw experiences that we all have, simultaneously alone yet experiencing it as a collective.
Have you faced any challenges or obstacles as a female musician, and if so, how have you overcome them?
As a female musician, I am always compared to the female musicians I work alongside, being judged on looks, and what feminine qualities I have, rather than my character and music. It’s been a struggle for the industry to take me seriously as a musician, because I don’t fit into a mold, but I relish that my mere existence is a rebellion against the judgment I face!
Are there any particular themes or messages that you aim to convey through your music?
Honesty and raw authenticity are at the core of everything I do as a musician. I want to change the status quo, and create the soundtrack to the ever changing aspect of life.
Can you talk about your creative process and how you go about writing and producing your music?
I always start with lyrics because I really want it to tell the story that is nudging my heart at that point in time, and then from this into a vocal melody that would emphasise this meaning. I usually take it to the piano or guitar after this and choose a chord progression that compliments but contradicts the melody, adding a deeper, more complicated layer, to mirror the human experience.
How do you hope your music will resonate with your audience, especially with other aspiring female musicians?
I want my audience to find their own meanings in the words that I’ve written, losing themselves in the experience that they link to the music. I want them to feel seen and process their thoughts in a healthy way, finding a safe place in these sounds to exist in. Ultimately, finding strength in the community of other humans, to just come back to the true meaning of existence, which is to feel.
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Listen to t.e.d’s latest single ‘Good Memory’ below.