What is your names?
Teddy Grey. Musicians I play with vary, but for my recent EP I worked with Alex Anastos.
What is your genre of music?
Pop rock, pop punk, indie rock, garage rock. It’s just catchy vocal melodies over melodic guitar lines. Whatever genre that falls under is fine with me.
Give us a little bio about you
I’m from Massachusetts, and am currently going to college in New York, so I consider myself an artist in both areas. I’ve played in a few bands but being a bit of a control freak and being frustrated with the lack of dedication from band mates led me to develop a solo act. I started writing songs about 4 years ago, and have been recording for about 3 years. This “The Price of Youth” EP is the first project that I think accurately represents me as an artist. I’ve been playing shows for a few months and I’m looking to expand my following and reach as wide of an audience as I can.
Are you a signed?
Currently unsigned. Let’s hope it doesn’t stay that way forever.
You have released your EP ‘The Price Of Youth’ ,tell us more about that.
“The Price Of Youth” EP is a collection of 3 songs I’ve had written for months that I think accurately represent where I’m at currently in my musical journey. I’ve released singles in the past, but they’ve either sounded too stiff or too sloppy. This is the first time I have put out a full project, even if it is just a short 3 song EP. It was recorded over a period of 2 days, and mixed in 1 day. I was going for a spontaneous, freewheeling sound with these songs and I think that was achieved given how fast it was recorded. They’re just songs about the restlessness of youth and trying to capitalize on the ambition and ideals you have while you’re still young, and hungry to get yourself out there. I think anyone who likes catchy rock music will at the very least enjoy it, and those who feel a deep connection to rock music will find it to be a very relatable and honest set of songs.
What was the recording process like?
“The Price Of Youth” EP is a collection of 3 songs I’ve had written for months that I think accurately represent where I’m at currently in my musical journey. I’ve released singles in the past, but they’ve either sounded too stiff or too sloppy. This is the first time I have put out a full project, even if it is just a short 3 song EP. It was recorded over a period of 2 days, and mixed in 1 day. I was going for a spontaneous, freewheeling sound with these songs and I think that was achieved given how fast it was recorded. They’re just songs about the restlessness of youth and trying to capitalize on the ambition and ideals you have while you’re still young, and hungry to get yourself out there. I think anyone who likes catchy rock music will at the very least enjoy it, and those who feel a deep connection to rock music will find it to be a very relatable and honest set of songs.
What was the writing process like?
Writing is both a spontaneous process and a labored process. The idea or spark of a melody for a song comes instantaneously for me, but actually writing the whole song out, getting proper lyrics and doing all the arrangements can take me a long time. The goal is to not lose the initial spark of inspiration while you’re evolving the song. I come up with new melodies and lyrical ideas every day, but I’d rather put quality over quantity so I pick the best ones I can and take them as far as they can go. That was the case for these songs.
Describe each track in three words.
Sorry I’m Here: triumphant, cathartic, anthem.
Not Your Friend: energetic, catchy, rollicking.
Broadcast Youth: reflective, honest, wistful.
Did you collaborate with anyone on the EP?
I collaborated with my friend Alex Anastos, who played bass for all 3 tracks and some additional guitar parts.
Would you be interested in collaborating with any other bands or musicians? if so how can they contact you.
Jeff Rosenstock would be a dream collaboration for me. Bon Iver as well I think would be incredible to work with. I also have dreams of collaborating some day with big name pop producers, like Pharrell, even if that seems far off in the distance as of now. Plenty of time to sell out later! They can contact me at teddytgd3@gmail.com, as can anyone else.
Do you play any instruments?
Yes. I play guitar and bass, though the focus for me is always singing. I noodle around on piano as well, but I’m a shit piano player. I really just play instruments so I can write songs. Though it is fun.
Who are your influences?
God, so many. Oasis, The Strokes, Guided by Voices, Lemonheads, The Exploding Hearts, Fleetwood Mac, The Replacements. There are so many bands and artists that have just seeped into my consciousness when I’m writing music and trying to develop my sound.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
The melody always comes first. Usually vocal melodies come to me right as I’m about to fall asleep in bed, so I have to decide whether it’s worth it to get up and record it, or fall asleep and try to remember it tomorrow (I never do). My lyrics are just influenced by my own feelings, my experiences, and relationships. As of right now, I’m a fairly personal songwriter. I don’t think I’ll always be that way but you just gotta write what you know, as they say. Maybe someday I’ll write about Africa like Bono or about political issues like The Sex Pistols, but as for now I find inspiration in little things. Turning everyday emotions into grand statements and displays of passion, that’s what I strive for.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Hopefully my music career takes off, but if not I’ll probably be in a New York Studio apartment with a girlfriend who’s trying to be an actor. I play shows on the weekends and she has auditions. Whoever makes it big first will leave the other. We’ll understand.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Listening to music, probably. My world has revolved around music for a long time now. I like going to parties and watching documentaries but I feel like my days consist almost entirely of music these days.
Where would your dream venue to play in your hometown?
There aren’t really any dream venues in my hometown. I’d like to play the Whiskey A Go Go in LA. And Brixton Academy in London. Those are some of my dream venues for sure.
What would be your dream show to have your music played on?
Any and every show. All exposure is good. Even if they put me on some Norwegian technical death metal show, I don’t care. Someone might hear my shit and like it there.
If you could collaborate with one UK Artists or Band who would it be?
Noel Gallagher is my possibly my biggest songwriting hero, so I’ll say him. To work with the guy who wrote “Live Forever” would be one of the best experiences I can imagine.
If you could collaborate with one US Artists or Band who would it be?
I’d like to have a beer with the guys from Japandroids. A collaboration would be nice too, but I’ll drink a beer with them first.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
Hm. A toss up between “Live Forever” by Oasis and any song off of “Alien Lanes” by Guided by Voices. That album has 28 songs on it and almost of them are great, which inspired me to get off my ass and try to write at least one great song. If Robert Pollard can write hundreds of great ones, there’s no reason I can’t write a few.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
“Smell that milk before you drink it”
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
We’re all in this together. If you have the talent, the songs, and the passion, it’s not for nothing.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
“Don’t let someone else’s quote define who you are” -Teddy Grey. (Apologies for the pretension)
You get off a plane in your hometown,
1/ where is the first place you visit
Gotta see my dog
2/ where is the first place you see
Gotta see my dog
3/ where is the fist food place you go and what do you get
Any 24 hour breakfast place. Waffle, eggs, bacon
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
That if you fuck up, the audience probably doesn’t know. That if you fuck up twice, they probably still don’t know. That if you fuck up three times, they might start to catch on. That if you fuck up four times, they’ll definitely notice, and that if you fuck up five times, you’ll be exposed as a shitty guitar player.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Absolutely. Twitter: @TeddyGreyMusic, www.facebook.com/teddygreymusic. I’m on Bandcamp, Spotify, and iTunes as well.
