Interview w/ Teedra Moses ::: Creating Lifestyle Music, God’s Speed & Champagne Soul

I have a secret. I first “discovered” Teedra Moses back in 2004. I was in Baltimore, at the Latin Palace. I came to the show to hear Tweet (speaking of which, where the hell is she?) and Cee-Lo Green (he wore a ridiculous fur coat during his performance), but when Teedra hit the stage I remember thinking, “Who is she and why are people singing along?” I had never heard of her before, but I loved what I heard. While on stage she cursed a little, was very soulful, and had this engaging way about her. From that day on I was a fan.

And because I was already a fan of Teedra Moses’ music, in my mind I had already met her a thousand times. Together, with her music, she helped me start and end some monumental relationships.  And when I met her, she was exactly what I expected…in a good way. Very down-to-earth but passionate about her craft.

Fast forward to the present day and she’s still that same incredible performer. On Friday, March 11th, Teedra hit up Washington, DC, and performed at the Park at Fourteenth. Before her performance I had the opportunity to chat with her about her new album, how she almost lost herself writing for other artists, and being what she calls, “geechy.”

How long have you been sitting on The Lioness? It’s been about 7 or 8 different line-ups of songs. I’ve tossed ’em out, I’ve given them away…God’s speed is the best speed because I had to learn how to stay true to my sound….because I was a writer. I’m still a writer, but I don’t write for “hire” anymore. (To date, Teedra’s written for Nivea, Raphael Saadiq, Christina Milian, Trina, etc.) I write for my type of sound and if you want that sound, then you take that song. Writing for other people and writing for so many other producers – hit making producers – started to cloud my vision and water down what I was doing for myself. It was really hard to stay focused on what was me versus jumping into someone else’s mode. For the past two years I haven’t gone into the studio with anyone anymore – no more writing music for others.

Writing music, how did that start? I was an artist first. I didn’t know anything about writing music. I just knew that I liked to write songs for me to sing. Then it became a business and it clouded my judgment because I made a lot of money. Each single that I wrote did extremely well, so I made a lot of money. It started to look like this is where the money comes from; this is the thing. All of the things that made me good, I think I started to not pay attention to as much.

How is The Lioness going to differ from ‘Complex Simplicity’? It’s a growth from it…it’s not a true difference. I tell people that the sound is like “Champagne Soul.” It’s real fly.  For pretty girls, sophisticated girls that can curse a n*gga out….like those kinda girls. And it’s for people that want lifestyle music. Music that you can study listening to, clean your house to…that kinda situation. I think that’s what ‘Complex Simplicity’ was but that was without me knowing what I was doing. I’m more aware of it now, and being more aware of it makes me get more involved with it. Strings are the epitome of a sophisticated sound so there are a lot of strings. Pianos. A little modern, but it’s a little classic. “Champagne Soul” sums it up.

What do you enjoy most–writing, producing, performing? I really like writing for myself. I like writing for other people too, by myself. The hardest part is when A&R is on your back. The process is me in my room, singing to myself in a mirror. Honestly, I sing to myself in the mirror.

I read somewhere that your goal is to produce quality music. What does that mean? Quality sound—in the sound that I can sing. I don’t mean like ‘Oh, I can sing so well.’ I mean I’m not Jennifer Hudson, but I can sing. When you see me on the stage tonight, it’s not going to be like ‘Oh, God, they did something to her voice on that album.’ I can actually sing. That’s quality. I think my ear for the tracks that I pick. I am my own A&R….quality music in the sense that it all come from here (she points to her heart). The level of the engineering is good. Quality music to me is well put together music, and music that is true to form. If I’m a singer, I can sing. If I play the piano, I can play the piano and I’m not just playin’ chords. Quality and true.

Do you produce better music when you’re going through something personal? Yes.

Later that evening, to a packed crowd, Teedra performed some of her new material and classic hits. I’m not sure if it’s because everyone in that space knew every single song or because she has a gift of connecting with her fans, but the room was magnetic. Peep her performance here.

Special thanks to Beny Blaq Entertainment, the DC based promotion company, who are the master mind’s behind the Park Unplugged series.