Sweden’s fast rising slacker pop antiheroes Teddy Failure today release their eagerly anticipated debut EP ‘I’m A Failure Part. 1’. The pair have grown in stature over the course of its three singles to date, their laidback pop and free-spirited attitude inspiring fans and tastemakers alike. Their tales of teenage coming-of-age experiences have struck a chord with Gen Z audiences as they tell stories of unrequited love (‘1000 Tears’), disposal romance (‘Be My Guest’) and dreaming of being The Big Lebowski (‘Stoner’) - the dude abides.

Teddy Failure commented, “‘I’m A Failure Part. 1’ is our first EP, and it's a mix of things we like. It was made in the winter in Stockholm so a lot of the songs are about escaping and wanting to be somewhere else. We have some love songs too, because we are two romantic guys!”

To coincide with the EP’s release, Teddy Failure today share a new video for the song ‘Beach Life’. Getting the summer started ahead of schedule, the song’s intoxicating blend of jaunty acoustic guitar, blissed-out beats and laidback lyricism provides an escapist vibe to raise our spirits after a long drab winter. The visual only adds to its uplifting feel, with seaside imagery given a surrealistic touch by the off-kilter animation.  Watch the video below

‘I’m A Failure Part. 1’ is completed by the tone-setting introduction ‘Welcome’ and the sweet folk-pop love song ‘Special’ which name-checks Tom Hanks. Throughout the EP you’ll hear touches of the diversity of Teddy Failure’s influences, from the throwback funk of Earth, Wind & Fire to more recent influences such as Remi Wolf and Kendrick Lamar.

Teddy Failure have a simple test for any songs that they write: it’s only good enough if it sounds like it could have been featured in the film ‘Juno’. Most of their lyrics feel like scenes from coming-of-age classics or stoner comedies, all of which adds to their light-hearted looks at youthful mistakes made in the pursuit of life and love. As their name suggests, they embraced failure as something that we all have to go through. It applies to their songwriting too. If they create something great after discarding their first nineteen ideas, the time it takes is all worthwhile.

The pair - Teo Runsiö and Frans Torell - met while studying a prestigious music course at Stockholm’s Södra Latin school. They had their own specialities (classical guitar for Teo, bass and jazz for Frans), but had infinitely more fun working on their own playful song ideas. After collaborations with the likes of ALMA, bülow and Oscar Scheller, they focused on starting the Teddy Failure project when they retreated to the coast as Covid hit. Their name was a serendipitous encapsulation of their music: the tenderness of youth combined with an acceptance of the fact that we all get it wrong, sometimes.

‘I’m A Failure Part. 1’ tracklist:

1. ‘Welcome’
2. ‘Special’ 
3. ‘1000 Tears’ 
4. ‘Beach Life’ 
5. ‘Stoner’ 
6. ‘Be My Guest’ 

 Follow Teddy Failure:

Spotify | Apple Music | Instagram | YouTube

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and Managing Director of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.