Teebs Explained

Mtendere Mandowa,^[4] better known by his stage name Teebs, is an American record producer and visual artist from Los Angeles, California.^[5] He is a member of the My Hollow Drum collective.^[6] He is also one half of the duo Sons of the Morning.^[7]

Life and career

Born in The Bronx,^[8] Mandowa was raised by parents from Malawi and Barbados.^[9]

Teebs released his first album, Ardour, on Brainfeeder in 2010.^[10] LA Weekly called it "one of the most delicate and lovely albums of the year".^[11] It was followed by a compilation album, Collections 01, released on Brainfeeder in 2011.^[12]

In 2013, Sons of the Morning, his collaborative project with Prefuse 73, released the debut EP, Speak Soon Volume One, on Yellow Year Records.^[13] In 2014, Teebs released his second studio album, Estara, on Brainfeeder.^[14] In October 2019, Teebs released his third studio album, Anicca, also on Brainfeeder, with features from Panda Bear, Pink Siifu, Sudan Archives, and more.^[15]

In September 2022, Teebs released "Did It Again," a single featuring Panda Bear, along with the b-side "NES."^[16]

Style and influences

Teebs' style has been referred to as "beat music", a style which involves recording, layering, altering and organizing several sounds including harps, shakers, drum taps and even tape peeling.^[9]

Discography

Studio albums

• Ardour (2010)
• Estara (2014)
• Anicca (2019)^[17]

Compilation albums

• Collections 01 (2011)

EPs

• The Tropics EP (2010) (with Jackhigh)
• Los Angeles 6/10 (2010) (with Daedelus)
• Speak Soon Volume One (2013) (with Prefuse 73, as Sons of the Morning)

Singles

• "Why Like This?" (2010)
• "Did It Again" (2022) (with Panda Bear)

Productions

• Captain Murphy - "The Prisoner" from Duality (2012)

Remixes

• Populous with Short Stories - "Only Hope (Teebs Remix)" from Remixed in Basic (2010)
• Nosaj Thing - "Caves (Teebs Remix)" from Drift Remixed (2010)
• Exile - "So We Can Move (Teebs Remix)" from Radio Bonus (2010)
• Oscar McClure - "Teebs' Never Repeat It Mix" from Compost (2010)
• Flying Lotus - "Archway (Teebs Remix)" from Cosmogramma Alt Takes (2011)
• Shlohmo - "Wen Uuu (Teebs Remix)" from Vacation: Remixes (2012)
• Hundred Waters - "Boreal (Teebs Remix)" from Boreal Remix EP (2013)
• The Go! Team - "Get It Together (Teebs Remix)" from Thunder, Lightning, Strike Remixed (2025)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Brainfeeder Records, the artist's record label's birthday greeting to him. Facebook. April 10, 2013. January 6, 2017.
2. Web site: TEEBS – ARDOUR Brainfeeder. 2017-01-08.
3. Web site: Album review: Teebs' 'Collections 01'. Los Angeles Times. Randall. Roberts. January 2, 2012. April 7, 2015.
4. Web site: Alan. Ranta. Teebs - Waldorf, Vancouver, BC, September 15. Exclaim!. September 17, 2012. April 7, 2015.
5. Web site: Teebs = DJ2. Honolulu Weekly. Margot. Seeto. August 4, 2010. April 7, 2015. April 15, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150415064505/http://honoluluweekly.com/entertainment/2010/08/teebs-dj2/. dead.
6. Web site: The birdman of Brainfeeder: Teebs premieres first single off Ardour. Los Angeles Times. Jeff. Weiss. August 30, 2010. April 7, 2015.
7. Web site: Watch Prefuse 73 and Teebs Unite in Sons of the Morning's 'The Way the Winter Passed Us'. Spin. Chris. Martins. August 15, 2013. April 7, 2015.
8. Web site: You Can See, and Even Taste, Teebs' Music. LA Weekly. Jeff. Weiss. L.A. Weekly . April 16, 2014. April 7, 2015.
9. Web site: Teebs: Better Living Through 'Beat Music'. NPR. November 19, 2010. April 7, 2015.
10. Web site: Nate. Patrin. Teebs: Ardour. Pitchfork Media. November 9, 2010. April 7, 2015.
11. Web site: Interview: Teebs on Art, Ardour And The Christmas Records No One Wanted. LA Weekly. Kristina. Benson. November 11, 2010. April 7, 2015.
12. Web site: Andrew. Ryce. Teebs: Collections 01. Pitchfork Media. November 11, 2011. April 7, 2015.
13. Web site: Prefuse 73 and Teebs Announce Sons of the Morning EP, Share "A Dangerous Study of Bird Life". Pitchfork Media. Evan. Minsker. September 9, 2013. April 7, 2015. April 23, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150423201123/http://pitchfork.com/news/52193-prefuse-73-and-teebs-announce-sons-of-the-morning-ep-share-a-dangerous-exploration-of-bird-life/. dead.
14. Web site: Jeff. Weiss. You Can See, and Even Taste, Teebs' Music. LA Weekly . LA Weekly. April 16, 2014. April 7, 2015.
15. Web site: Teebs: Anicca . 2023-03-26 . Pitchfork . en-US.
16. Web site: 2022-09-26 . Panda Bear Joins Teebs on New Song "Did It Again" . 2023-03-26 . Pitchfork . en-US.
17. Web site: Anicca by Teebs. Apple Music. October 21, 2019. October 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191021023646/https://music.apple.com/us/album/anicca/1479612514. dead.