Jaten Dimsdale, known by his stage name Teddy Swims, was born and grew up in the eastern Atlanta suburb of Conyers.
Dimsdale' grandfather was a Pentecostal preacher whose teachings are at the "core of everything" he does. "He's put like a covering over our entire family of work ethic, of morality, of just how to be a person and how to be who you stand for,"
Dimsdale told Wbur. "He's never been a hypocrite. You know, that man, when he was alive, was the real, real deal."
Dimsdale came from a football family and didn't start taking singing seriously until he discovered musical theater in 10th grade.
The Teddy Swims project was born around 2019 when a producer friend, Addy Maxwell, suggested that Dimsdale come rap over some beats he had been making. "I was like, 'Well, I'm not a rapper, but sure, we could give it a shot,'"
Dimsdale told Rolling Stone. "It was just a silly SoundCloud rap song." The collaboration earned the pair an opening slot on a US tour with Tyler Carter.
"Teddy" refers to a nickname from Dimsdale's childhood, referencing his size. "Swims" is an internet-speak acronym for "someone who isn't me sometimes," referring to the idea of performing in character if needed.
Swims got some recognition when he started posting cover songs on his YouTube channel. His cover of "
You're Still the One" by Shania Twain went viral and helped him to gain a following. He signed a record deal with Warner Records in December 2019.
Swims' third EP, Tough Love, debuted and peaked at #200 on the Billboard 200 in February 2022, marking his first appearance on the chart.
Swims' music is a blend of genres, including R&B, soul, country, and pop.
He has collaborated with several other artists, including Paloma Faith on her "
Only Love Can Hurt Like This" remix, and with Meghan Trainor on her "Bad For Me" single.
Teddy Swims told UK's This Morning show how in his teenage years, he and his best friend Jesse Hampton (now his guitarist) would spend their movie money on snacks and sit outside cinemas singing and playing guitar. He admits they were "terrible" at first but emphasizes that his gift lies in the relentless drive to improve.
Before becoming a celebrated musician, Teddy Swims was deeply immersed in football. Standing at 5'7", he realized his height wasn't ideal for his position as a defensive tackle, prompting a career pivot. Teddy's theatrical debut in Damn Yankees during high school helped convince his initially football-centric family, including his mom, that his talents lay elsewhere. After hearing his two lines in the play, his mother fully supported his decision, declaring, "This is where you belong."
Teddy Swims nearly became a hairstylist before his music career took off. At 19, he enrolled in cosmetology school, then his father gave him a life-changing piece of advice: if he truly wanted to pursue music, he should drop out and never look back. Swims took the advice to heart, leaving school to chase his passion. While he never ended up cutting hair professionally, his signature beard and well-groomed style suggest he might still have a knack for it.
Before becoming a soulful pop-R&B singer, Swims was the frontman of alternative rock band WildHeart and metal outfit Eris. His dad didn't like the music at all, but he still supported his son's dream.
Teddy Swims found out he was going to be a dad in the most unexpected and hilariously fitting way: while wearing a Buc-ee's onesie. After leaving Austin City Limits, he and his partner stopped at the Texas gas station chain Buc-ee's, one of his all-time favorite places, where they bought matching onesies. Later that night, while eating at his former workplace, Chili's, they took a pregnancy test. Three tests later, the results were undeniable: They were having a baby.
Teddy Swims often performs in his socks.
He told The Today Show Australia that taking off his shoes makes him feel grounded, as if he's in his own living room, which helps him connect with his audience. But there's a deeper meaning too: he sees it as a sign of respect for the legendary artists who have stood on those same stages before him, just like taking off your shoes before entering someone's home.
