Premiere: Meet teddie, who bursts out with her craterface-featuring debut, call me

Header image by Campbell Burns.

Over the last few years, we've spoken seemingly non-stop about the wealth of talent in Newcastle, with Novocastrians proving themselves time and time again as cutting-edge additions to the Australian music world regardless of genre, from dainty indie-pop and hard-hitting rap right through to dance-punk, punk-rock and even experimental alt-rap – they've got it all. There's something to say about the city's collaborative and community-built music scene that's really worth celebrating, and as new musicians continue to put Newcastle further on cultural maps at a near-fortnightly basis, it feels like the rest of the country is catching up in a way.

Teddie is a musician that knows all about the city's collaborative nature, working as a saxophonist for the now-Sydney-based Imbi – formerly imbi the girl – while finding herself a friend and close collaborator with some of the city's other most daring and sensational acts, building a skillset that with her solo project launching today, places all of it at the forefront for the first time, and the results are really something. With her shimmering debut single call me, teddie – real name Teleah Riordan – proves she's got what it takes on a solo level too, capturing an energy and passion that she brings to everything that now, presented on its own, blossoms into its most potent form.

In a way, it almost feels like a love letter to Newcastle's music world. Musically, the track darts between shadings of electronica, indie and pop, bringing these sounds and their mannerisms together in a way that feels reminiscent to someone like Clairo or even Wolf Alice; purposefully subtle and DIY-esque but still full of sheen and shine. It's also a track that sees her come together with two Novocastrian collaborators: One of our favourite finds of this year in alt-rap duo Craterface, and Campbell Burns from flag-flying indie-rock group VACATIONS, the latter of which working on Call Me and much of teddie's future work too.

In other ways, call me is so much more than just celebration of Newcastle. It's a debut from an artist long-watched by those in the know, now opening her wings and blossoming with a project that places her in the spotlight, rather than those she's trying to amplify and spotlight behind the scenes – "I don’t think anyone’s expecting this from me but this has been a little dream I’ve had for a really long time," she says – while in another way, it's a single that deepens Australia's alt-bedroom-pop sound; one that's become somewhat synonymous with the internet's pop era – particularly in the last few years – and how its likely to keep presenting us cool and relatable musicians in the future.

In the meantime, however, call me is something special, and if nothing else an entrance by a musician you should be paying attention to for the rest of the year. Take a dive into call me below as it premieres on Pilerats with its release today, and better introduce yourself to the fresh face as she opens up underneath:

Tell us about yourself?

Hello Pilerats, I’m teddie; I like writing sad little pop songs and long walk’s on the beach. I am 20 years old and am really involve with where I live, Newcastle.

For some reason I was always scared of singing in front of people so I never did, in the past year I’ve tried to ignore the 'scary part' because it turns out that singing is something I really like to do. Saxophone has been who I am for a long time, so I’m excited to make a project that is very different but also very me.

What’s the ‘vibe’ music-wise?

I write little indie pop tunes, ones that you can kinda bop your head and gently sway to. Artists like Clairo, beabadoobee and girl in red heavily inspire me. teddie songs have electronic elements but the sheer cutesiness of them adds to the bedroom pop vibe. 

What are your production and writing processes usually like?

My songs always begin with my sitting in my room, trying to find some pretty chords to play on guitar. Some day’s nothings happen, but other days a whole song comes out of nowhere. Step 1 is now done, I then bring this to my friend Campbell Burns, he’s a Logic wizard and is able to give my little 2 chord songs a bunch of glitz and glamour. Once all the bits and pieces are there and recorded the song is done!

Can you tell us about your new single, Call Me?

Call me is about being infatuated by someone who cant even return your call, and you continue to like them anyway. I have endless love for Campbell and Craterface for making the song with me, it’s really special being able to make music with friends.

What does 2020 have in store for you?

Very excited to put together a band and play these songs live, hopefully all around the place, sleeping on couches and doing long drives for a 20 minute sets.

What do you want people to take away from the project?

This is a very fun and silly project that is also very dear to my heart, I’ve never been this open writing music and I hope people listen and kinda go, I get what she’s trying to say. 

Where can we find more of your music?

Everywhere!! :) xoxox

Follow teddie: FACEBOOK / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM