EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW W/ TEEDRA MOSES

I’ve been a fan on Teedra Moses for quite some time. When her first material leaked on the internet, I was immediately hooked and was fiending for her album. Complex Simplicity dropped in August of 2004, and in October 2007, it still remains a classic to me and I bump it to this day. So you can imagine that calling someone’s phone that I hold in such high regard, I was a little nervous. I was warmly greeted by Teedra’s manager, and after being on hold briefly, I immediately heard the familiar voice that I’d fallen in love with 3 years ago. Teedra is the perfect mix of street and sweet, and her love for music, performing and her fans was made quite clear in this exclusive interview…

Brian: Okay, so, first I just wanna say hi and tell you that –
Teedra Moses: Hey Brian! (laughs)
Brian: Heeey! (laughs) I’ve been a fan of yours for a really, really long time.
Teedra: Thank you!
Brian: I’ve been listening to Complex Simplicity, well, I still listen to Complex Simplicity, so first I just wanna say thanks for putting out, y’know, great music and first question I wanna is… how are the twins?
Teedra: The twins are good. One is sick. One is sick like me. We have a bug in our house, I don’t know what it is, like, a little cold. My homeboy Bryce (?) from New York, he stayed with my homegirl, and my homegirl went to Vegas and she gave it to me, and I brought it back to my house, now everybody in my house got it. So one of ‘em is sick, and the other one is runnin’ around at the gym or somethin’, y’know, I dun’ know.
Brian: Oh okay, so how did the show in the Chicago go?
Teedra: It went really well! I got a really great reception in Chicago. You know, I had a few people that came up to me like, “Oh, I came from Columbus, oh I drove all the way from this place,” or whatever, so that’s always cool to hear, when people make an effort to really come and see you, y’know. But it went really well, and you know, I performed in front of Erykah Badu, who I love. [] was there, who is like a really raw talent that people should really get involved with, because she’s talkin’ real shit, y’know. And uhm, Chrisette Michele was there, so it was a great show. It was some really strong, powerful performers.

Brian: Most definitely! I understand you have a show in Atlanta on Tuesday, right?
Teedra: On Tuesday, yes, darling. I will be rockin’ Atlanta on Tuesday.
Brian: Okay, I’m definitely gonna try to make it out there.
Teedra: I hope so!
Brian: It’s at Opera, right?
Teedra: I–, you know what, I can’t even quote you! But if you know, that’s probably exactly where I’m going.

Brian: (laughs) Oh okay, so, uhm, I know Complex Simplicity was released in August of 2004, can you talk about what’s been going on with your new project, The Young Lioness, I know a lot of the readers at ConcreteLoop really, really are waiting on your project. So can you talk about what’s going on with that right now?
Teedra: Actually, it’s pretty much, y’know, musically? It’s pretty much done. I never stop until they say, y’know, we can’t go any further, but more than anything, it’s not a situation that I have a lot of control on when it’s coming out, and you know, I’m just gon’ be honest with you, it’s not a situation I have a lot of control over, y’know, because the label makes that decision. They tell me it’s coming out at the top of next year, so that’s what I’mma tell you.
Brian: Okay, cool.
Teedra: But I’m done with my part. Just let the readers know that! (laughs)
Brian: Most definitely!
Teedra: I’ve done my job!
Brian: So last time, you work pretty much exclusively with Paul Poli, except for some songs you did with Raphael Saadiq and Lil’ Jon, who are you working with this time on the record, y’know, are we still gonna get that Complex Simplicity flavor or have you decided to take a new direction with your music and start working with some other people?
Teedra: I’m definitely working with other people, but as far as new direction, I don’t know because I look at Complex Simplicity a lot different than other people because I’ve known Teedra before Complex Simplicity, during Complex Simplicity and after Complex Simplicity, y’know? You guys met me in that period of my life, so I think sometimes people may look at me for just that period of my life. And not that anything I’m doing is totally different, I know that if you heard Complex Simplicity and picked up The Young Lioness, you would definitely correlate that’s the same chick, you know what I mean? Same vibe, same style, same point of view in life, y’know, but I have definitely matured. And I’ve learned a lot more, and I wanna try different things as far as producers because I wanna see what came out of me from just different people, like Cool & Dre, I like their sound, I wanted to see what came out of me when I got on top of a Cool & Dre track. And I have been out here writing with a lot of different producers as well, and I like some of what we did for other people, so I’m like “Okay, lemme try what I can do for myself.” So, on my album, I’m working with Raphael Saadiq, of course, because that’s somebody I have a great musical connection with. I worked with Paul Poli, of course, that’s a person I have a great musical connection with. I’m not gon’ just shut off those people, because I’ve already proved to myself and to people that we have great musical connection. But I picked up some new people, like Vick Bee from down in Miami, who did “Unpredictable” with Jim Johnson for Jamie Foxx and I wrote with him on the Trina and Kelly Rowland song, “Here We Go Again.” So, I just like the drums. His sound is real soulful but with these bangin’, bangin’ drums, so I wanted to try that, y’know, and as well I have– who else do I have on the album? Oh, God, it’s slipped my mind right now, Brian, gimme two seconds–
Teedra: Uhm, but I have Big B, Raphael Saadiq, I have Poli, I have this guy by the name of Terrence Mautin, who’s comes out of Snoop Dogg’s camp. I have Warren Campbell, who’s like, uhm, Mary Mary, and Brandy and all those people. It’s about a handful about 5 different producers that I worked with and we just did a ton of songs and I just start pickin’ the ones I like the best, y’know.

Brian: Oh okay, so that goes great into my next question, you said you’ve been working with a lot of people, and y’know, a lot of people don’t know that Christina Milian’s biggest song, “Dip It Low,” was written by you. So you have been writing for other people’s projects lately, and if so, let us know who…
Teedra: Well, I had a chance to work with Raphael Saadiq on his last album, and of course I had a chance to work with Christina. I worked with Trina on her record with Kelly Rowland, I worked with, what’s her name? On Def Jam– I don’t some stuff– I can’t think of the girl’s name, Lord, have Mercy– what’s her name? That little Roc-A-Fella girl!
Brian: Teairra Mari?

Brian: It’s okay! Teedra: Teairra Mari! I worked with Macy on her last record, which was really cool. That was one of my favorite people to work with because she is a person that has a lot of control of what she does. She takes a lot of charge of what she does and she doesn’t really write for people like that.
Brian: Yeah, her last album was dope.
Teedra: And she called me and asked me to work with her, so I was definitely excited about that. And Brian, I’m not the kinda person that runs around trying to find everybody to work with. Really, that’s just not my personality. I know this is a grind and everything, but I like living a very happy, comfortable life, so I try to work with people that wanna work with me, instead of trying to force myself on people. And you know, it has worked out very well financially as well as me enjoying what I do. So, I’ve had a chance to work with quite a few people and, uhm, hopefully, beginning to work with more. I’m supposed to be working with LeToya Luckett, there’s a record of mine that she’s interested in. So, I just continue to put it out there, and see what God brings back to me, but I’m not the kinda person that’s gonna slam myself in your face and start coonin’ to make you like my song. I’m just really laid back. If you like it, let’s do it. If not, that’s cool, maybe we’ll get together next time or something like that.

Brian: Dope! So… as of late, I’ve been hearing about doing shows. You’ve been doing a lot of shows recently. We actually, uhm, on ConcreteLoop, we posted some footage of your show at the Roxy in LA and everybody was really feelin’ it. How do you prepare for a performance? You connect really well with your audience, they always rock out with you. I remember there were some live recordings with you from BBC 1Xtra, and the audience was really going off, so how does that feel when you’re performing live, people really get into you when you’re out there performing and stuff.
Teedra: You know what, Brian? No matter what I’m doing, if it’s cooking gumbo, if it’s getting on stage, singing a song, writing a song, if it’s sitting in a meeting, if it’s hangin’ with my girls, I’mma be myself, you know what I mean? I’mma put myself into it, and I can’t worry about how people receive it. I swear to you I’m a selfish artist. I can’t help it, you know what I mean? I do it all for me, y’know? So I try my best not to disappoint myself. It’s hard to please me, don’t get me wrong, I never got off the stage and say, “Damn, I rocked that show.” I never get off the stage and say “That was a great show.” Y’know, and I’m trying to get better at that and be more grateful for God giving me natural talent, you know what I’m sayin’? But, I just go hard and give myself. I don’t hold back nothin’, like, I’ll say somethin’ crazy on stage like, y’know, “I’m havin’ a fucked up day, and blahblahblahblah, but that’s okay– ’cause,” — whatever I’m going through, I just deal with it with them, it’s not like you’re coming to observe, you’re coming to get involved in my life at that time, you know what I mean? And if it’s a record, that’s what you’re doing, you’re getting involved in my life or whatever I’m doing, I just– I really bring people in and I leave and I go back to what I was doing, but I give my all on stage and I don’t try to choreograph too much. Of course we rehearse, but you know, I dance on stage. I’ll pull somebody up on stage, if the stage is like that, and get somebody on stage, I’ll call people on stage for them to rock with me, just like — it’s like havin’ fun. If I go to somebody’s concert, I want them to hold my attention for the whole hour they’re on stage, throughout the performance. Hold my attention. So I’m not gonna stand there and sing for you, I’mma dance for you, I’mma talk to you, I’mma stop and tell you about some shit that’s goin’ on in my life, I’mma ask you about you, y’know, I’m gonna get involved with you, ’cause I wanna hold your attention and I want you to be entertained. And if you never saw me before, I want you to go back and say, “Who the fuck is Teedra? Who is this bitch? ‘Cause she kept my attention.” Y’know, whether I liked it, I hated it or whatever, [], that’s my aim when I get on stage, told hold their attention. And enjoy myself and my band enjoy themselves. We just love to have fun, and y’know the funny thing is, Brian, when I get on stage and people haven’t seen me before, they’re expecting something real mellow. Real mellow. And I when I’m stage, I be kickin’, jumpin’, and my dresses be real short and I be like, “Teedra, do not show your panties…” (laughs) But I like to have fun. Y’know, actually, one of my favorite people that I like to watch, that I actually had a chance to work with when she was still in No Doubt, as an assistant wardrobe stylist was Gwen Stefani. And Gwen Stefani goes hard. I mean like, she don’t even go as hard as she used to when she was with No Doubt, but Gwen Stefani… she goes hard on stage. And I always enjoy watching her on stage. And I always enjoy watching Teena Marie on stage, ’cause she goes hard — I mean, not Teena Marie, Teena Marie too, but Tina Turner. And I mean, these are the people that I admire, and I like to rock out on stage, ’cause I want people, I mean, like another performer to come and say, “I like the way she gives that energy on stage. I wanna go hard like that.”

Brian: Yeah, and it doesn’t hurt that you have a very, very loyal fanbase. Everyone that I know that bought Complex Simplicity in ‘04, still listens to it this day. Like, earlier today, I was listening to “Caution,” so…
Teedra: Awww, cool…
Brian: Yeah, so, y’know, it’s really great that you have such a loyal fanbase.
Teedra: Yeah, and it’s a bless, it’s a huge blessing. And I appreciate them more than I know. And any time that they come out to shows, I try my best to like, connect with them and talk to them, even if it’s personal meeting. ‘Cause I’m not the type of person that’s gonna stay all penned up when someone else is on stage, I go get in the crowd, ’cause I wanna see. I wanna feel the crowd, I wanna see what’s going on. And people’ll walk up to me, and be like, “Yo, I really love you, I love your work or whatever and blahblahblahblah,” and I don’t take that for granted, Brian, I don’t. Every single person, I am blessed and grateful for.

Brian: So you’ve mentioned a lot of artist that have inspired you, as far as performance, a lot of artists that you’ve worked with, that you like. What’re you listening to right now?
Teedra: Uhm, I’m listening to Kanye West right now. I love Kanye West as an artist. I really have been like, well, trying to listen to things kinda outside of what I do. And I always try that. ‘Cause, y’know why? When I first started singing, I sounded exactly like Faith. ‘Cause I just loved Faith so much. So, it’s always been a habit of mine when I’m creating, especially for myself, to not listen as much to other people that do something too similar to what I do. But I have been listening to The White Stripes and I love Amy Winehouse, of course. I actually saw the dude from The White Stripes in the airport the other day, and I really wanted to go and say hi, and tell him I love his music, but y’know, a lot of times when I love people’s music, I don’t wanna meet them, ’cause if they’re rude, I’m gonna start disliking it. (laughs) So I just held back, I was just like, you never know what’s gon’ happen. As well, I’ve been listening to– I’ve been traveling a lot, doing shows, playing a lot of music, but in my car, when I get home, I have Kanye, Amy Winehouse, I have the Best of– (hums a melody)– that’s John Coltrane’s CD, really trying to take it– Oh, Cherrelle and Alexandra O’Neal. I’ve been listening to a lot of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, because their chords are just where I feel good, y’know, the kind of chords they use, I really feel good, so I’ve been listening to a lot of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis-produced tracks, I have a compilation CD of their stuff, so that’s what I’ve been listening to right now.
Brian: That’s dope. You have a pretty good mix of stuff that you’re listening to.
Teedra: I do. I love music, Brian. If you love music, you could hear a Polka song. I was actually in– where was I– I was actually coming back in a cab, in some city I was in, and the cab picked me up and this guy was Middle-Eastern and he was playing this Middle-Eastern music, and it was so bangin’. I didn’t know what she was saying. I just hear the rhythm of it and the voice sounds so beautiful. I’m just the kinda person that– I guess music is just in me naturally, so I’m drawn to it, no matter if it’s of my culture or not, if it’s beautiful and it sounds good, I’m just drawn to it.

Brian: Right… okay, well, I’m runnin’ out of tape, but I wanna ask you one last question. If there’s anything that you wanna say to the fans out there, anything that’s on Teedra’s mind that you wanna let the fans know, right now is your chance to say it.
Teedra: Well, I have two things, okay. I always wanna say thank you very much for supporting me and being so damn loyal, you the downest muthafuckas I ever met in my life, and I swear, I think I have the best friends in the world. Uhm, and second thing, we gotta do something about the way the world is going. We have to do something about this Bush nigga that’s fuckin’ up all our shit. So… I’m really tired of talking about, I wanna do something about it, I’m lookin’ for ways to do something about it and I would like to influence anybody else that feels the same way to do something about it. And that’s it.

Brian: Alright, well thank you so much, Teedra, I really appreciate being– just having the chance to talk to you, especially that I am such a huge fan. And–
Teedra: I appreciate you too, but I wanna know for sure if you’re the person I think you are.
Brian: (laughs nervously) Okay…
Teedra: You have dreadlocks?
Brian: Yes.
Teedra: That’s you! I love you!
Brian: (laughs) Thank you so much!
Teedra: I love you! I love your page! Whenever I’m on MySpace, I always go to your page.
Brian: Well if you want me to hook yours up–
Teedra:Your representation of yourself is really good. You seem like a very creative person, and a very bright person. A very bright spirit, a lovely spirit, and I love you. I don’t know you, and I haven’t known you all this time, but I feel like I know you.
Brian: Thank you so much, Teedra, and I hope that I get to– well, I definitely am coming the show on Tuesday, and I really hope we get a chance to speak.
Teedra: Oh yeah, we will! If you see a girl that looks me, that means that’s my manager, or if you see me, just holla, you know what I mean?!
Brian: Thank you so much, Teedra, I appreciate it.
Teedra: Alright, boo! See you in Atlanta!
Brian: Love you!
Teedra: Aw, love you too! Bye-bye.
Brian: Bye!

Make sure you log on to Teedra’s MySpace page for upcoming tour dates, because she may be coming to a city near you. Be sure, too, to check out her official site, teedramoses.com for more information. Also, if you haven’t picked up Teedra’s Complex Simplicity (then you’re really out of the loop!), you should cop it from your local record store or purchase from Amazon.com.