Jaten Dimsdale, known by his stage name Teddy Swims, is an American singer-songwriter, known for blending genres including R&B, soul, country, and pop.[2] Originally attracting fans through his cover performances on his YouTube, which has amassed 400 million views as of 2022, Swims released his debut major label single in January 2020 and has since released two EPs, Unlearning and Tough Love.[3]
Teddy Swims | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jaten Dimsdale[1] |
| Born | (1992-09-25) September 25, 1992 (age 30) |
| Origin | Conyers, Georgia |
| Genres | R&B, soul, country, pop |
| Occupations | Musician, singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels | Warner |
| Website | teddyswims |
Swims spent his childhood in Conyers, Georgia. His father introduced him to soul music at an early age by way of artists like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Al Green.[3] Swims' family were football enthusiasts, and he had been playing for ten years when one of his teachers suggested signing up for a musical theater class in his second year at Salem High School.[4] Swims discovered his passion for performance through his high school theater experience, where he performed in a number of musicals and Shakespeare plays.[5] He began playing instruments, including piano and ukulele, and watched YouTube videos of singers to help develop his vocal technique.[3][4]
Swims began his music career in a variety of Atlanta-area bands, including alternative rock band WildHeart and post-hardcore band Eris, as well as soul and hair metal cover bands. In early 2019 Swims' friend Addy Maxwell invited him to rap over some beats he had made, which earned the pair an opening slot on a US tour with Tyler Carter.[3][6] On this tour he began performing under the name Teddy Swims – referring to a nickname from his childhood referencing his size, and an internet-speak acronym for "someone who isn't me sometimes," referring to the idea of integrating different parts of his personality.[3][7]
In June, Swims posted his first cover performance on YouTube, Michael Jackson's "Rock With You", and continued posting additional covers of artists from a mix of genres regularly including Lewis Capaldi, Chris Stapleton, Amy Winehouse, and H.E.R.[5][8] His cover of Shania Twain's "You're Still the One" posted in October went on to become his most viewed video, with 86 million views as of 2022.[9] Swims' videos quickly accumulated millions of views, and after releasing one single "Night Off" independently in July, he signed a record deal with Warner Records in December.[3][10]
Swims released his debut major label single "Picky" in January 2020 and embarked on his first headline tour the same month. He released several covers in the months following, including "Blinding Lights" in May, "What's Going On" in June (from which he donated the royalties to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund), and "You're Still The One" (which he had previously posted on his YouTube) in July.[9] Swims released his next single "Broke" in August, and released an additional version with Thomas Rhett in October.[3][7]
In February 2021, Swims released his single "My Bad", which he performed on the Kelly Clarkson Show, and was named an "Artist You Need to Know" by Rolling Stone magazine.[3][11] In March he released his single "Till I Change Your Mind", followed by "Bed On Fire" in April, which he performed on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and later re-released as a collaboration with Ingrid Andress.[12][13][14] In May, Swims released his debut seven-track EP Unlearning, followed by a tour supporting Zac Brown Band that summer.[15]
In August 2021, Swims released his single "Simple Things" which he performed on the Late Late Show with James Corden in September and the Today Show in November.[16][17][18]
After releasing his single "911", Swims released his six-track EP Tough Love in January 2022.[4][19] Swims performed the EP's songs "Love for a Minute" on Late Night with Seth Meyers in January, and "911" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in February.[14][20] Swims supported the EP with a three-month headline tour through Europe and North America beginning in February, followed by a United Kingdom and mainland Europe tour in May and June.[14][10]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Unlearning |
|
| A Very Teddy Christmas[21] |
|
| Tough Love |
|
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Someone You Loved" | 2019 | Non-album single |
| "Rivers" | ||
| "Night Off" | ||
| "I Can't Make You Love Me" | ||
| "Picky" | 2020 | |
| "Blinding Lights" | ||
| "What's Going On" | ||
| "Picky (Acoustic)" | ||
| "You're Still The One" | ||
| "Broke" | Unlearning | |
| "Please Come Home for Christmas" | A Very Teddy Christmas | |
| "Broke (feat. Thomas Rhett)" | Unlearning | |
| "Silent Night" | A Very Teddy Christmas | |
| "My Bad" | 2021 | Non-album single |
| "Till I Change Your Mind" | Unlearning | |
| "Bed on Fire" | ||
| "Bed on Fire (Stripped)" | Non-album single | |
| "Bed on Fire (with Ingrid Andress)" | ||
| "Simple Things" | Tough Love | |
| "Simple Things (Piano Version)" | Non-album single | |
| "Please Turn Green" | Tough Love | |
| "Please Turn Green (Live Piano Version)" | Non-album single | |
| "911" | 2022 | Tough Love |
| "Amazing (Strings Version)" | Non-album single | |
| "Dose" | ||
| "All That Really Matters" (with Illenium) |
TBA | |
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Free Them" (One Ok Rock featuring Teddy Swims) |
2022 | Luxury Disease |
| "Bad for Me" (Meghan Trainor featuring Teddy Swims) |
Takin' It Back | |
| "Better" (MK & Burns featuring Teddy Swims) |
Non-album single | |