Teen Daze


Written by Lucy Natek
Photos and illustrations by Lydo Le, Tash King
21 Monday 21st February 2011

Who is Teen Daze?

That guy that's filling up your Twitter feed with James Blake, love.

You were given a platform to showcase your music because of the internet, which is hardly exceptional these days. Is this type of business a blessing or a curse for emerging artists?

I’d say both; it allows smaller bands to reach a much larger audience without things like a publicist or a label. But internet success can very easily stay that way if the artist isn't capable of translating it into a live show. In order to create any sort of a career, you need to not only have a solid presence online, but also be able to prove yourself as a musician in the real world.

When are we going to hear anything new from you? What is the sound going to be like?

I'm posting new music quite regularly, but I don't really know what the next releases are going to sound like. They tend to mirror what I'm listening to at the time.

Teen Daze

What song is your guilty pleasure right now?

I can’t get enough of Fleetwood Mac’s “Everywhere”.

You create extremely feel-good music with your sounds: Are you a happy-go lucky individual?

Depends how much vitamin D I'm getting.

Tell me about the last gig you played. What did you think about it?

I played a coffee shop show with my side project Two Bicycles, and it was the most frustrating night of music I've had in a long time. A lot of people come to coffee shop shows with no intention of paying any attention to the music that's being played, which just leaves you with a sour taste in your mouth, you know?

Where do you like performing the most?

I think San Francisco and LA are my favorite. Both places have been so good to me.

What do you think about mainstream music right now?

I think it could use less fake sex and more real feelings.


Is there anybody out there you would like to collaborate with?

Kate Bush.

The world is going to end in 24 hours: where are you?

With my girlfriend and my family, hopefully.

What would you be doing if you weren't making music?

Sitting around, wishing I was making music.

Teen Daze's Together b/w Something single is out now on Cultus Vibes, a digital release label he helped set up. Check him out on tumblr to hear about upcoming releases.
