This tropical house/pop singer gets his influence from warm weather, positive energy, and pineapples…? The upbeat and talented artist, has recently broken into the music scene and is on a mission to become your season’s official summer anthem! Originally a MIZZOU man himself, he now calls Los Angeles home, where the overwhelmingly awesome climate and city’s creative persona positively impacts his writing and music production. Our new pal Teasley is here for the summer (and beyond), and he’s only getting started. Scrimshaw Collective got to chat with Teasley to learn a little more about how he got his foot in the door, and to discuss collaborating with Red Bull & College Weekly for his new music video for the single “Hit It”. Check out the video and our conversation below!
Scrimshaw Collective: What’s up Teasley, great to finally meet you! For starters would you mind telling us a little bit about your background?
Teasley: I was actually born in San Francisco, and then moved out to St. Louis to be closer to family. I wanted to be in San Diego for college, but came to a deal with my parents and went to school at the University of Missouri, knowing that I’d eventually make my way down to L.A. But I didn’t really know what I was getting into. I had always loved music as a kid; I took piano and singing lessons here-and-there. Michael Jackson was a huge idol of mine, as well as Usher; I learned to dance by watching Usher’s “U Don’t Have to Call” music video! So I knew what I liked, but just never knew how I would get there.
SC: So did you study music?
T: I did not, I went for communications and actually ended up joining a fraternity. Still very passionate about music, I downloaded Logic Pro and really started creating music in my fraternity bedroom. Being at school was a great learning experience; I just wanted to live my life, and in the process I found music.
SC: That’s great that you were able to discover your own style of music, and stay active with it during undergrad. Did you ever DJ at your parties or anything with this new found passion?
T: Yeah, so I was always in charge of sound at parties, and to be honest, I was more of a hip-hop and R&B kind of guy. I would sing and write songs. Funny story, is that one of the songs that I was doing back then, kind of blew up and I made it in BroBible’s top 100 artist post… from 2011! Still in school at the time, I somehow managed to book these tropical spring break trips for like my entire school! I’d make a huge commission, and then used that commission to go on a headlining tour with one of the members in Cheat Codes (who was then on another project). Those were some of the worst but best days of my lives. I had no idea what I was doing, I just thought it was cool to tour ya know? But I was getting booked all over the place! Zero preparation, but I wouldn’t take that back for the world, because I learned so much by just throwing myself in the fire!
SC: Wow, sounds like a whirlwind! Have you shared the stage or played with anyone else we might know?
T: Yeah, then I spent the last year experimenting with my sound, playing with G-Eazy, Hoodie Allen, Timeflies, and a few other acts. I opened for these guys, and have had some great experiences working pretty hard to get me to where I am right now! Actually do you know who Mike Stud is?
SC: Of course! Have you played with him too?
T: Not exactly, but my current manager is the guy who booked Mike Stud’s first couple shows. It’s crazy how the world wraps around like that.
SC: Yeah it is, and amazing that you’re able to be a part of it all. So, you said you’ve been influenced by Michael Jackson, and have performed with newer artists like G-Eazy & Timeflies, but who are some other influences of yours, and do you follow or gather inspiration from other tropical house acts such as Kygo and Lost Frequencies?
T: Honestly, my largest influence vocally is probably Bruno Mars; the most relevant and relatable. The way his voice projects, and his feel good sounds! I could say when I started to find out the way I wanted to sing, was when I started covering his songs. And they sounded better than anything else I was trying to cover. I’m a loud person, but never knew how to use my loud voice, to project in a way that just felt free! Bruno man… But EDM wise, Madeon, Flume, just very good vibes. I actually went to TomorrowWorld as a brand ambassador the past three-years, just soaking up the good vibes, and that feeling is ULTIMATE! That’s where I actually saw Kygo for the first time. We get there, and I’m really into his set, thinking his music was awesome! Madeon is probably my favorite, but when I heard Kygo for that first time, it definitely resonated with me in a way that I didn’t think I’d be touching on today. I just never thought that tropical house would become my genre, and he opened a couple doors for me indirectly.
SC: TomorrowWorld & Tomorrowland are on our lists…someday! So, Teasley, how would you specifically define tropical house?
T: I would describe it as enabling music that makes you feel like nothing else in the world matters. Uplifting music that’s purely based off feeling. Nowadays when you hear songs, I feel like it’s less about the lyrics but more of what you feel when you listen to it. You can have the best lyrics ever, but if you get a bad feeling, you’re not going to listen. But if you can close your eyes, and don’t even know what they’re saying, but the feeling takes you… that’s kind of what “Hit It” is — it’s the first single I’ve released — I mean you can interpret “Hit It” in multiple ways, but it’s honestly the feeling. So if you’re mad, you may think about punching someone to that song, but if you’re happy, you may think of… hitting a bottle, and having a cheers!
SC: Sounds like a good time all around. We definitely have a good feeling when listening to “Hit It”. So this your first officially released track?
T: Yeah, this is the first one!
SC: Can we expect for more to come…?
T: Oh of course, I’ve got a full EP ready to go!
SC: Sweet man, is that still in the works or is that to be released soon?
T: It’s literally done and recorded, but will hopefully release it before the end of the summer. My music video for “Hit It”, was just released and it’s absolutely insane by the way, if you’ve seen pictures, they did not do it justice - everything worked out perfect!
SC: So how did you team up with College Weekly and Red Bull? That seems like a pretty good gig right there!
T: Yeah yeah, especially for filming your first video!?! It was pretty legit! Honestly my manager is just awesome, and we’ve just been trying to maximize this video. Everyone we’ve let hear the song, has been so willing to be a part of it. One of the producers had a connection with Red Bull, and they hopped on immediately! Plus, College Weekly just so happen to be touring on their college tour nearby at Chapman University, a rep gets to the shoot out in Indio, CA and is like ‘Oh my god, this is an insane song and an insane time!’ All of a sudden, I’m doing shout outs on their Snapchat, and I wake up to them posting about the video on their Instagram!
SC: Well the video is epic, and we think is a strong catalyst for more to come. One last question man, are you planning on doing any tours soon?
T: Yes, the plan is to be touring by this Fall. There are lots of things popping up and I’m waiting to see what’s going to be the best opportunity to tour. But if a later tour session comes up that’ll make more sense, I’ll probably do that.
SC: Absolutely man, we’ll you’ve got to come visit NYC, the East Coast (just as much as the West Coast), is ready for your summertime vibes. And make sure to bring some fresh pineapples with ya!
With homies such as Cheat Codes and Lostboycrow, Teasley has settled in very comfortably to the tropical music world in L.A., and has a very strong support network. Now under OverDose Management, as his team continues to strengthen, his music will only grow! We’re genuinely looking forward to where this electric artist sparks next, and following along on this talented vocalist’s journey.