Teedra Moses: No More Blues (Interview)

Five years ago, Teedra Moses came on the scene with the potential to take over the R&B game. She had it all: the look, the songwriting capabilities (she’s wrote songs for many notable R&B songstresses), and her album entered No. 10 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. So what happened?

In 2003, Moses penned a song for Nivea, and in the following years, Teairra Mari, and wrote “Dip It Low,” Christina Milian’s most successful song, reaching No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Unfortunately, what seemed like the opportunity of her dreams turned out to be a nightmare. Moses received positive reviews for Complex Simplicity, but TVT Record’s lack of promotion for the album affected her record sales. Despite these hurdles, Moses proved that she was able to persevere. Even with the poor record sales, the songbird’s talent was not overlooked and she developed a strong following of fans.

Due to issues with TVT Records, Moses was unable to put out her second LP and was left to find her own resources. Working with the indie label left her with little experience. “TVT Records never quite grasped the R&B market and the necessity of maintaining good relationships in this business,” says manager Tamia Schannell. “It ultimately led to their demise.” Out of their list of artists, TVT had three active R&B acts.

As of now, Teedra is a free agent and has broken ties with TVT Records.  She released a few mixtapes over the years, her most recent effort in 2009, Lionhearted – Young Hustla Vol. III, sold out on her myspace. Never the victim, Moses self-reliance pushed her to overcome roadblocks. Now a few years later, stronger and experienced, Moses has never felt more alive, hungry to release from the pen, the lion she’s been taming inside of her.

25: A lot of your fans are awaiting your return.

Teedra Moses: As you know TVT went bankrupt, and they are totally defunct now. Before I go to a new label I basically want to put out some new music myself. I was supposed to put out a mixed CD last year, the Royal Patience CD from the Young Hustla Volumes, but I chose not to do it because I wasn’t in the right place. It wasn’t the songs that I wanted and I wanted to see what was going on contractually with record labels and now that’s cleared. So I’m just going to go ahead and put out a small mixtape entitled Young Hustla Volume 3. From that point on I’m going to shop for a new deal which I’m not even sure if I want at this point.

Rather than have a mass appeal to everybody and be a huge star on the cover of all the magazines, it’s more important to me that I get to do the music I want to do and that my vision gets out clearly to the people that are my fans already. Labels, sometimes try to make artists into packages. And you know its great cus God has blessed me with the record label at TVT. It’s given me a pretty broad fan base because they’ve been waiting around for a while. So I can’t really say right now, and unfortunately it’s been a couple of bumps and some problems with business situations, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m writing everyday.

25: You said earlier, that labels try to make artists put out packages…how do you plan to avoid this?

TM: I love that people love what I’ve done, but if what I do next doesn’t get pushed, I really can’t concern myself with that unfortunately. I love my relationship with the people that appreciate my music. It is on a level that most artists don’t get a chance to have. I’ve talked to them by AIM, or email or text messaging. Like I have connected with people with my music and I appreciate that and I appreciate every person that comes out to see every show I do.

And the promoter for the club would ask ‘Who is she?’ And by the time I leave the club it’s like ‘O that’s who she is. People were singing her song. Somebody loves her.’ And I love that. And the crazy thing is that when I’m performing I am that person for that hour or however long I perform, and I can’t pretend that I’m not that. So it is one of the most important things that I stay true to myself. That’s why I think about the idea of going to a label and whether that’s important enough right now.

25: How have you grown as an artist since your first album?

TM: My first album was just shoved out. It wasn’t quick, but it was. I started writing and recorded songs with that album. ‘Caught Up’ was one of the first songs I ever completely wrote, recorded, and arranged and it was like ‘Yo I can do this it’s kinda cool’. But then it all started coming so quick. Paul Poli and I had musicians, and other talented people around me and we kinda like had a little camp. You always had creative help, and you know things changed and everyone went their own way, and I’m here left to do my second album basically by myself. I had to learn so much, because Shaffer Smith taught me a lot about how to arrange.

He could arrange something in 15 minutes, which it would take me 15 minutes or it could take me 5 days. Paul Poli pretty much was the first person for me to start writing with, so I just chose some of the tracks that he gave me. And after that process, on the second album, I had to pretty much A&R myself and to learn to speak to the producers and to get what I want. I really wanted to get my side of it, like the lyrics, the melodies and arrangement, and get that as tight as possible. To me it seems like these past few years have been college for me.

The first album came out- I think it’s a great album and I’m very very proud of it. Not in an arrogant way, but you know you experience things in your life, and you don’t really care if people pay it any mind, it’s like you just fuck with it. But I’ve had to learn business wise about this industry, by running into brick walls and jumping over these hurdles that normally, you just have a record label that helps out for all that and I didn’t really have that. And I’m not disrespecting TVT, because I appreciate them, and I thank God for TVT, because I was able to learn so much and I was able to do all the writing on my first album and hone my skills.

25: So how does things look for the next album The Young Lioness?

TM: I’m gonna take my time, and unfortunately with TVT, there was nothing I could do, and I praise God that I didn’t get stuck with them because as much I appreciated them, that wasn’t the home for me. I really am a creative person and I love being in a creative environment, and they make club music and that’s cool, but I want to be around people that understand that there are still music lovers out there. Sometimes when you’re creative, people don’t understand it. And sometimes if it’s not something that’s going to be jumping in the club they just don’t believe in it. I hate that they had to fall so quickly apart but for me to get off, I don’t really care.

I’m free now. And a lot of people don’t understand what I went through over there hustling so hard by myself. My camp was hustling so hard because they [TVT] really didn’t believe in what I was doing. And I don’t know what they thought was going to happen with that first album without no promotion, but I think it did a great job with no promotion. But it’s cool cus I’m still here making music and people want to stay in tune. You know I’m the friend that’s always there. My music will always be there.

25: Is there any music, past or present that is influencing the music you are doing now?

TM: I like a lot. I don’t pick certain people, at least consciously. Even like older artists, like I love Shaka Khan, but I don’t go to be just like her. I love Janelle Monae, and Estelle, and its just so many people out there that I love what they are doing and I don’t literately take it but they inspire me. Jazmine Sullivan as well. I love her too.

25: Are there any other ventures outside of music that you would like to do?

TM: I really love and devote a lot of my time and my attention to making music because of how hands on I am with it. A lot of people are out making fashion lines, acting, and I think I have a slight case of ADD because I’m really focused when I want to do something good. I’m not the kind of person that can spread myself thin and be good at everything. I really love furniture and designing furniture and refurbishing things like that, but that’s really something that I have to wait for. I have so much responsibility with music and I really, really love clothing.

Before I started making music I had an accessory line called Sagittarius and I kind of stopped doing it because I had to start focusing on music. Now that I’ve gotten more comfortable with putting together my music, I am really considering putting Sagittarius back together, but these things will all follow. I just want to get my music out consistently and then those things will come. Another important thing to me is that I have to be a good mom. And I don’t care about making clothes or furniture if I can’t be a good mom. I don’t want to spread myself too thin if I’m not paying attention to that.

25: Would you ever consider doing more than one venture at a time?

TM: I can do more than one thing, I just have to master one first. I just feel like I haven’t had the chance to expose my abilities in music like I want to. So once I get that consistently going, then I’ll really start focusing on Sagittarius and pushing for my furniture store. But first things first my mom used to say, don’t be a jack of all trades and a master of none. Parenting is the first thing I have to stick with and then music came. I think it chose me. It was something that was in my family and that I needed to make money but I never left it. You know, I have to be committed to this first and master it before I move on to anything else. I am a person that is multi-talented and I thank God for that. But I want to master it.

25: What is your motivation to keep doing your music?

TM: I really really love it. And second because I was writing for a lot of people and making money, and going different places, and it’s sad to say that making money was a motivation, but it was the truth. But after awhile that wasn’t fulfilling enough. I was pushing myself to get as much out of myself as I could, so I just fell back for a second to really start seeking my focus. My motivation clearly was to make hot shit. You must love to ride around and listen to your records. I love TO HEAR MY SHIT and say like ‘you did that’. And never stopping my dreams because I have twin boys and they know that this is my dream, and since they were little they’ve seen they’re father go after their dreams and they’ve seen me accomplish them bit my bit. I think for me to ever stop going after my dreams would make me less of a parent.

25: At the end of the day, what do you want people to say about Teedra Moses and your work?

TM: First and foremost, I’m a child of God, and I’m a mother that’s trying my best. I’m hoping that I do a great job. And I’m thankful for my mother because she did a great job raising my brothers and sisters. But I want to be better, because that’s what she raised me to be. Secondly I want to be a person that extended whatever I had to the world to make it better. Me and my best friend is starting a non-profit organization called the Young Legends that is based on building esteem for young people because it’s really hard to be strong in yourself especially these days, with everything that’s coming at you. Everybody wants to be famous, whether it’s Youtube famous, flawless skin, hair down their back, whitest teeth, and sometimes I look at the television, like ‘Are these human beings?’ And I think do what you feel.

If you change your whole look and just carve your whole body out, that’s your business. But I want to extend to younger people to feel comfortable in who you are, and even if you make a decision to change yourself, do it because its what you want and not because other people want you to do it. Musically I want to be consistent and I want people to say that as an artist I tried and she never said ‘hey fuck it I’m just gonna put out some shit’, she always pushed herself to the next level to do good work.

25: And will all these experiences come through on your future mixtape and albums?

TM: I hope so, I think I take a strong stance in my songwriting, on the Young Lioness especially, one of the reasons I called it the Young Lioness and the reason why I am calling my mixtape Lionhearted is a reminder to me that I am courageous. That I’m strong, that I’m not gone let a nigger run over me, that I’m not gone let this industry run over me, that I’m not the prey or victim but always the victor. It will come through in the music.

I work to make music that not just woman, but anybody can listen to and be like ‘that’s right I am good I can do this I’m confident and here I am out here in the world’. Because the world can be a very cruel place and you can have so many people that love you and still feel lonely. I’m not saying that’s my position. I feel very loved and I don’t feel lonely, but I look to see more than what’s just going on with me and it will come through. And I think when people listen to at least three or four songs you can tell who I am and where I’m coming from.

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This entry was posted on Monday, August 10th, 2009 at 1:56 am and is filed under Entertainment, Features and tagged with 25 magazine, indie, interview, miles davis, Music, R&B, record label, teedra moses. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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