Teddy Swims

Early life Swims was born and raised in Conyers, Georgia, on September 25, 1992. His maternal grandfather was a Pentecostal minister. His father introduced him to soul music at an early age by way of artists such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Al Green. High school musical theater provided him an avenue into performing. Offstage, he would review YouTube videos of his favorite singers with a couple of supportive teachers to help develop his vocal technique and presentation. Swims' family were American football enthusiasts; he had been playing football for ten years when, during his second year at Salem High School, one of his teachers suggested he and a few of his teammates sign up for a musical theater class. The teacher also said he should join the chorus.

Swims discovered his passion for performance through his experience in high-school theater, where he performed in musicals such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Rent, as well as Shakespeare plays. He began playing instruments including piano and ukulele, and watched YouTube videos of singers to help develop his vocal technique. He adopted the stage name "Swims" from internet forum-speak—an acronym for "Someone Who Isn't Me Sometimes"—as a way to perform in character.

In June, Swims posted his first cover performance on YouTube, Michael Jackson's "Rock with You", and continued posting additional covers of artists from a mix of genres, including Lewis Capaldi, Chris Stapleton, Amy Winehouse, and H.E.R. His cover of Shania Twain's "You're Still the One" posted in October became his most viewed video, with 167 million views as of January 2024. His videos accumulated millions of views quickly and after releasing one single "Night Off" independently in July, he signed a record deal with Warner Records in December.

2020–2022: Unlearning and Tough Love EPs Swims released his debut major-label single, "Picky", in January 2020 and embarked on his first headline tour that month. He released several covers in the following months, including "Blinding Lights" in May, "What's Going On" in June (the royalties from which he donated to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund), and "You're Still the One" (which he had previously posted on YouTube) in July. In March he released his single "Till I Change Your Mind", followed by "Bed On Fire" in April, which he performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and later re-released as a collaboration with Ingrid Andress. In May, Swims released his debut seven-track EP Unlearning, followed by a tour supporting Zac Brown Band that summer. In August 2021, Swims released his single "Simple Things", which he performed on The Late Late Show with James Corden in September and Today in November.

After releasing his single "911", Swims released his six-track EP Tough Love in January 2022. He performed "Love for a Minute" on Late Night with Seth Meyers in January and "911" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in February. Swims supported the EP with a three-month headline tour of Europe and North America beginning in February, followed by a United Kingdom and mainland Europe tour in May and June. Swims and Trainor performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in June and The Late Late Show with James Corden in August. Swims also collaborated on singles with Mitchell Tenpenny, Illenium, MK and Burns, and Telykast. After releasing a short performance clip in May, Swims released a cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" in August. He performed the song on America's Got Talent alongside season 14 winner Kodi Lee and Journey guitarist Neal Schon. In September Swims embarked on a seven-week US headline tour.

2023–present: I've Tried Everything but Therapy

Swims first appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2023 with the release of his single "Lose Control". The single is from his 2023 debut album, I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1).

In 2023, Swims collaborated with Armin van Buuren & Matoma, X Ambassadors, Maren Morris, Meghan Trainor, and Elley Duhé. In March, he announced his I've Tried Everything but Therapy international headline tour, including shows in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, and New Zealand in July and August. He also performed at BottleRock, Bamboozle, Boston Calling, TRNSMT, and Latitude music festivals the same year. Teddy also opened for the rock band Greta Van Fleet on the tour to support their new album Starcatcher.

On December 6, 2023, Swims performed at Avicii Arena for the Together For A Better Day concert. The concert promoted mental health awareness and was sponsored by the Tim Bergling Foundation to honor the memory of the Swedish DJ Avicii. At the concert, Swims performed his song "Lose Control" and Coldplay's "A Sky Full of Stars", which Avicii produced.

In October 2025, Swims performed at the 2025 NRL Grand Final.

In April 2026, Swims performed at Coachella 2026.

Personal life On January 8, 2025, Swims and his girlfriend, Raiche Wright, announced that they were expecting their first child. On June 27, he announced the birth of their son.

Discography

Studio albums I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1) (2023) I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 2) (2025)

Tours Headline Tough Love World Tour (2022) US Fall Tour (2022) Summer International Tour (2023) I've Tried Everything but Therapy (2023–2025) The Ugly Tour (2026)

Supporting act Zac Brown (2021)

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2024 MTV Video Music Awards Song of the Year "Lose Control" Best New Artist Himself Push Performance of the Year Best Alternative "Lose Control" (Live) MTV Europe Music Awards Best New Himself Best Push Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Breakout Artist NRJ Music Awards International Revelation of the Year International Hit of the Year "Lose Control" Most Radio Airplay in France Los 40 Music Awards Best International Song Best International Album I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1) Best International Act Himself Best International Live Act Billboard Music Awards Top New Artist Top Song Sales Artist Top Hot 100 Song "Lose Control" Top Streaming Song Top Radio Song Top Selling Song Top Billboard Global 200 Song Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Song 2025 Grammy Awards Best New Artist Himself Brit Awards International Song of the Year "Lose Control" American Music Awards Song of the Year Favorite Pop Song New Artist of the Year Himself Favorite Male Pop Artist Swiss Music Awards Best International Breaking Act Best International Hit "Lose Control" Los 40 Music Awards Best International Song "The Door" 2026 Grammy Awards Best Pop Vocal Album I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 2) Hungarian Music Awards Foreign Modern Pop-Rock Album orRecording of the Year Foreign Electronic Music Album orRecording of the Year "Gone Gone Gone" American Music Awards Collaboration of the Year