INTroducing: tee rae

A CHAT WITH emerging south london artist, tee rae.

Interview BY PORTIA BRAJKOVIC

TIRADE: HI tee, how are you?


tee rae: I’m good. I’m chilling, I’m blessed. I just got back from Manchester.

TIRADE: First off, why music?

tee rae: I’m a creative at heart. I like the process of creating music, videos, concepts. It’s an outlet. When you’re not one to express yourself like that, music allows you to do so. It’s just you and yourself in that moment - no judgement. You can speak about what you want, say what you want. Music’s got me through difficult times in my life. There’s only a few things that allow me to be that vulnerable.


TIRADE: WERE YOU A MUSICAL CHILD?

tee rae: I don’t think I was. But when I speak to people, they’re always say ‘Oh yeah I remember in school, when we used to do raps and make beats.’ For me that was just banter, it wasn’t anything like that, cause my mind wasn’t on that. I used to play football for Crystal Palace and Fulham. But I stopped because there was too much going on: I was playing, I was going college, I was working.I felt like I’d done all that I wanted to do with football. And women don’t get treated the way that men do in sport, like in terms of pay and attention.

TIRADE: DO YOU FEEL THAT MEN AND WOMEN HAVE IT DIFFERENTLY IN MUSIC?

tee rae: With music there aren’t really those same restrictions. I mean, men and women still get treated differently, but you can be as big as you want to be. You can take it as far as you want to take it.

TIRADE: WHAT ARTISTS DO YOU SEE YOURSELF SITTING AMONGST?

TEE RAE: I don’t look at it like that. Obviously I have inspirations, but I dont want to be too big. It sounds weird, because everyone wants to be the best, innit.

TIRADE: BUT BIGGEST DOESN’T MEAN BEST

TEE RAE: It’s true. I just want to be in a position where the talent is undeniable. I just want to be coasting in the middle. Or somewhere above the middle, that sweet spot. 


TIRADE: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE TEE-RAE SOUND AND UNIVERSE IN THREE WORDS? 

TEE RAE: Mood. Real. Gritty.

TIRADE: WHAT IS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS LIKE?

TEE RAE: I write when I can. Sometimes when I’m going home from work. Or if it’s hot outside during the day, I’ll go for a walk and write. But more in the night, because that’s my alone time. 


I normally find a beat. Then I’ll find the flow and melody that matches the beat. Then I’ll pick a topic. I’ll try focus on something I haven’t spoken about yet. 

TIRADE: TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST SINGLE, ‘THICKIANA’.


TEE RAE: I wanted ‘Thickiana’ to be a sensual vibe, but I also wanted it to be empowering for women with thicker body types. You get how it is with the usual body standards; it can be harder for thicker women. I wanted to make a song that empowers, like ‘no, you’re not getting your body done, you look good.’ If you have confidence and embrace yourself, it doesn’t matter what you look like. I already had this topic in my mind ahead of making the song. I didn’t want it to be too intellectual or too motivational, I wanted it to be sexy. I didn’t want to drop it yet because it won’t get the love it deserves. But I know that in time people will look back through my catalogue and find it.

TIRADE: YOU SAID BEFORE THAT MUSIC ALLOWS YOU TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT. WHAT DO YOU LIKE SPEAKING ABOUT?

TEE RAE: Girls. Nah, I speak about everything. You can’t actually get a full picture of what I’m about yet, from the stuff I’ve put out. I like to speak about women, real life situations, experiences I’ve had. I have unreleased songs, deep stuff. I’ll drop those when the time is right, when people want to know who I am and how I grew up. Generally, I like to speak about whatever I’m going through at that time. Whatever resonates, resonates. 

TIRADE: HOW ARE YOU INFLUENCED BY YOUR UPRINGING?

TEE RAE: I’m from a Carribean background, so I like dancehall music, and I gravitate towards beats that have that dancehall vibe. I grew up in South London, so I listen to real rap. Potter Payper. Nines. People say it’s depressing, but it’s real music. People talking about life. And I like melodic and dreamy beats. I like to mix both. 


My nan listens to a lot of reggae. Every day. I used to wake up to the radio at 5am, CHOICEFM. Speakers blazing. Get up. There’s no laying in. And my mum listens to a lot of 90s R&B: Ashanti, Aaliyah.

When it comes to my music, I like to think about my lyrics. I don’t like to talk rubbish. There’s a message behind every song. Growing up, I listened closely to the lyrics. And let me tell you something about them reggae songs- them reggae songs be lyric-ing. They are talking the sweetest. I think that’s why I don’t like to be too nasty or too on the nose in my lyrics. I like a subtle cheekiness. 

TIRADE: WHAT WOULD WE FIND ON YOUR SPOTIFY PLAYLIST?


TEE RAE: Anyone that likes chill rap, I have the best playlist in the world. Potter Payper. Nines. Drake. Skrapz. Lil Durk. A Boogie. 

TIRADE: WHAT DO YOU DO FOR PEACE?


TEE RAE: That’s the hardest question you’ve asked. I like to be around family. Music- that’s the first thing that came to mind. 

TIRADE: What’s next for you?

TEE RAE: Getting out there more. Trying to show myself more on socials. And my next single ‘Party Girl’ will be out in July… maybe.

FOLLOW tee rae

Instagram | SPOTIFY