I wanted to pursue music as far as I could. I waited tables, taxiing-anything to make ends meet. Ever since high school, I did everything I could to make music the priority. I lost everything at once-it all seemed to end. Prior to that, I had gone through a lot-my roommates moved out, my transmission went out on my car and I moved in with my Dad. We were on tour and I had the chance to do some writing in Los Angeles. On Christmas Eve, I signed with Warner Records. How did the idea for “Broke” come to you? With M Music & Musiciansmagazine publisher, Merlin David We talked with Jaten Dimsdale, known by his moniker Teddy Swims, about his creative process with his friends-his family, his need to shine a spotlight on social justice, how evoking emotion and being authentic is most important and why his heart needs to always be in the right place. His goal through music is to break barriers and bring people together. Swims stands for: Someone Who Isn’t Me Sometimes, a reference to his struggle to integrate the different parts of himself. In June, Teddy released a cover of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” and donated the royalties of the song to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. I was able to buy my Dad a new truck.”Įarlier this summer, he shared a stunning cover of the Shania Twain classic, “You’re Still the One” produced by Grammy Award winner Dave Cobb. My brother and best friends now have full-time salaries through Teddy Swims. I was so used to being broke my whole life that it is hard to believe I’m not hurting for money anymore.
“Broke,” produced by Julian Bunetta, is a track with a boisterous beat that echoes beneath Swims’ bold baritone as he announces, “I’m so used to being broke, but not no more.” He said, “The song, as carefree as it may sound, comes from an honest place. In January, this red-hot Atlanta powerhouse signed with Warner Records and released his first original song “Picky.” He now has 1.3 million subscribers on his YouTube channel and his videos have racked up an astonishing 160 million views. Over the past year, Swims has been building a devoted fanbase. “Broke” is a catchy, funk-infused, soulful anthem for 2020 that we can sing-along, dance-along and experience Teddy Swims’ inner peace, joy and silent longing to create a better world where friends are family. It’s a beautiful view of life in this current pandemic situation where some want to only lookout for themselves. It’s important to him that they experience success together. They live together, write together and make music together. Jaten Dimsdale is Teddy Swims, but as he says, “ I’m Jaten Dimsdale- we are Teddy Swims.” His circle of friends is his family. When Teddy Swims sings “Broke” you can feel the pain he must have felt when $20 would have changed his world, yet you can also experience his joy that shines from inside because he is part of a family. TEDDY SWIMS RELEASES THE CATCHY, FUNK-INFUSED, SOULFUL “BROKE”