Teebs takes five

After being a part of the Red Bull Music Academy back in 2008, Teebs has gone onto merge his two worlds of art and music.  Originally known for his paintings and artistic skills, a chance meeting with the legendary Flying Lotus made music part of his international currency with a debut album behind him and a new collection of pieces on his latest release, Collections 01, out now on Brainfeeder.  Helen S caught a few minutes with the man who Mary Anne Hobbs rates as 'gifted and rare' to see what's going on in his world right now.

Pulse: Hello Teebs, where does this interview find you?  Teebs: I'm in Chicago prepping for a solo showing at Pawn Works gallery, it's cold but lovely.

The LA scene is super hot right now- what do you think spawned so much excellent music from the area? Just the history behind the city I suppose. Lots of people moved here, lots of sun, good food and air. This dates way past my life time

Who do you rate on the scene at the moment, who do you regard as contemporaries?  I'm not sure I can rate anyone. Everyone is pretty amazing if they like to make things in their own way. Contemporaries are people and things that are loving whatever they do in life as much as I do.

Who has been most supportive of your music both within and outside the electronic music community? My mother fits both bills. supports my being, but it wasn't always like this when it comes to the creative moves [laughs].

You were a student of the Red Bull Music Academy, how did that change the game for you?  RBMA was a big step into seeing music translated back to me- my first step into being in an actual realm of musicians, it felt like a video game or something. All love and learning.

Tell us about the journey to finally releasing your debut album, Ardour?  It was long and short. It was just two years but my family fell apart, I dropped from school, I met amazing new friends who in turn helped me cope with everything, I learned a lot about myself, I saw so many triumphs, downfalls and resets. It was beautiful and fast and silly. Like when I first saw someone burn all the fuzz balls off of a fuzzy sock in an instant with a lighter.

What can listeners expect from the new record, Collections 01?  An instrumental story.

Your parents are of Barbadian and Malawian origin- how do you think that's influenced you as a person and/or as an artist?  Hard to pinpoint out of my environments influences, but maybe their ways of life gave me examples of what choices could do

Where excites you to DJ right now?  I want to go to South America.

Teebs- Collections 01 is out now on Brainfeeder

Listen to Teebs on Pulse Radio