Recommended Tracks: “Power in Pain”, “What I Owe”, “Ready”
Artists You May Like: Leon Bridges, Black Pumas, Anderson East
When it comes to the business of making albums, it is believed that most bands and artists have their “whole life to write their first album,” as deadlines and complex schedules due to touring and promo have yet to exist. Well, it may not have taken Teddy Grossman his “whole life” to create such an album, but it did take him most of his adult life. After graduating college and committing to a 9-5 job that left little room to fully invest in a music career, the singer-songwriter decided that it was finally time to leave his corporate job behind and make the move to Los Angeles. The result is his debut album, Soon Come, which looks back on the special experiences and connections that Teddy made in order to get where he is today.
It certainly took a lot for Teddy to make such a big change in his life, so of course we get songs throughout Soon Come that explore the concept of taking on new challenges. On “Out of Thin Air,” for instance, Teddy sings about going after more and figuring out the right time to make it happen. The track originated during his time as a salesman before heading to LA, so it very much sheds a light on just how much he wanted to make his dreams a reality. We also have “Leave it on the Line” and “Ready,” which are relationship-based, but have a bigger meaning. On the ever soulful “Leave it on the Line,” Teddy describes an out-of-control situation where he was “done playing games,” while on the warm and earthly “Ready,” he taps into all of the good that comes when opening up to someone you love. Even though they focus on Teddy’s connections with others, the tracks send a universal message about putting your intentions and energy into scenarios that can only benefit you in the future.
When going after what you want, there are times when you have to stay focused and do your part. Containing plenty of infectious harmonica solos, “What I Owe” sums up the journey that Teddy has had while pursuing his music career and how grateful he is to be at such a point in his life right now. While he is clearly making things happen, he still knows that he has much to do and plenty to owe, but is more than fine with letting it all unfold at its own pace. We get a separate story on the anthemic “Power in Pain,” where Teddy observes the pain and the division that has been plaguing society for the past few years. Strongly, he mentions, “We all have power / We all have pain / So let’s come together again,” using the hurt as motivation to strive for a world without it. In the end, it is all about making the best possible connections with others and doing what you can to make a difference.
Obviously, when working on such a reflective album, there are going to be special people that need to be acknowledged, even if they are not directly addressed. On the humble “Crowned,” Teddy pays tribute to the legendary singer-songwriter Bill Withers, the title referencing a phrase that Bill used to say when Teddy was in his presence. There is also the moving “Why Should I Pretend” cover, containing pleasant trumpet sounds from Teddy himself. The track was first written in the 1930s by Teddy’s grandfather and later recorded by the jazz artist Louis Prima and His New Orleans Gang, so it holds a special place in Teddy’s heart.
Overall, Soon Come feels like an album that was meant to happen. The sprawling production of the tracks and the diverse stories that are told could have been created by the iconic singers and songwriters Teddy grew up listening to and learning from, instead of by a talent that is new to the scene. When describing the album, Teddy mentioned that he wanted to “be able to look back at my life and say I gave it a real go.” This album definitely preserves this ambition and will be something Teddy can admire in the years to come.
You can listen to Soon Come on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
Catch Teddy Grossman perform Soon Come in its entirety on April 13 at Gold Diggers in Los Angeles here.
Keep up with Teddy Grossman: Instagram // Twitter // YouTube // Website
