Los Angeles – Valerie Teicher, the mastermind producer behind Tei Shi, would certainly be considered a citizen of the world if there ever was one. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Teicher also called the Colombian capital of Bogata home, as well as the Canadian cities of Quebec and Vancouver – all while she was still just a child and a teenager. Currently residing in Brooklyn, New York after attending Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, Teicher’s latest EP finds her delving deeper into the minimalist dance pop project.
Tei Shi began to attract a greater following in response to her cover of Beyonce’s “No Angel,” which was released in 2014 along with her other single from that year, “Adder(f)all.” Tei Shi expertly blends the familiar sounds heard in modern hip-hop and R&B with more genre-pushing avant-garde sounds and song structures, giving it a familiar yet challenging quality. Verde, out this week on Mermaid Avenue and Double Denim, continues in this tradition, offering up five tracks of sensual, danceable pop music.
The first single to be released from the EP, “Bassically,” begins with a simple 4/4 beat and Teicher’s breathy voice multi-tracked over itself, while a catchy synth line guides the rhythm of the wordless chorus. The manner in which Tei Shi is able to blend traditional mainstream sounds with a heavy helping of quirky indie influence is reminiscent of the territory Grimes ventured into with her breakout LP, Visions. It speaks highly of Verde that these songs hold up well when compared to what is considered one of the best albums of the decade.
Opener “Can’t Be Sure” is an effective intro to the album, with a minimalist bass instrumental and Teicher simply repeating “I can’t be sure of it” over and over, using multi-tracking to layer her voice on top of itself and give the song a captivating dynamic. “See Me” has syrupy-sweet but unconventional hooks in the verse, which contrasts with the much more traditional-sounding chorus that is marked by warmly distorted guitar lines and echoing vocals. The staccato keyboard line and soaring vocals of “Go Slow” help make it the most mainstream pop oriented song on the EP.
While the entire EP feels quite sensual due to the breathy vocals, slow grinding beats, and abundance of “ooh/ah” choruses, none of the first four songs songs are overtly sexual. That trend is strongly reversed on the closing track, appropriately titled “Get It.” After beginning with several moan-like “ahs”, the lyrics get pretty naughty with several double entendres and unsubtle come-ons. It is a fitting close to an album that felt ready to burst with sexual tension; Teicher simply could not hold herself back any longer.
Tei Shi is preparing to embark on a tour of the United States in support of Verde, with dates along the East Coast and West Coast. Following that short tour, she will head across the Atlantic to perform in the United Kingdom, Belgium, France and Netherlands. While in Europe, she will play several festivals including Dot to Dot in Manchester and Bristol, United Kingdom, as well as the Liverpool Sound City Festival 2015.
Keep on an eye on Tei Shi’s Facebook page for more details on tickets, venues and show times!
Photo of Tei Shi by Eric White
Matt Matasci
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