The Alt Black

I have always enjoyed the organic process of finding music. How often do we find ourselves in a coffee shop, a club, or riding in the car with a friend when a song catches our attention? We may ask ourselves, “What song is this ?” Immediately we pull out our phones to Shazaam the song. This is how I discovered Teezo Touchdown and his debut album How Do You Sleep At Night?

During a weekend trip to Baltimore, I found myself engulfed by the sound emitting from my friend’s speakers. With each new song, my interest visibly grew. What began as a perched ear turned into a full concert between the two of us. I knew that he had orchestrated this when I looked over and saw the look of glee on his face. “I knew you would like this.” He was without a doubt correct!

The first song that I recall hearing was Too Easy. This song combines rock, call/response, and a refreshing transition into an easy-listening ending. As you all know I have an intense love and appreciation for alternative music.

From my introduction to the scene, I recall loving groups like The All-American Rejects, Paramore, The Swellers, and Twenty One Pilots. I loved the driving intensity of the music and messaging this artist put into developing their unique sound.

One group in particular stood out though, Twenty One Pilots. A quirky duo from Ohio who found their way into my heart with their ability to combine several genres in one song. When I first discovered them I was watching Fuse TV’s music countdown. The song was Holding Onto You. A song whose message of regaining control of your mind was as striking as the haunting music video. Immediately, I recorded the video and downloaded the song, playing it every day as if it were a sermon being preached specifically to my ears. I was enamored with their use of techno, rap, rock, and other genres in one song!

Being exposed to Teezo’s music reminded me of that feeling. I knew that once our car concert concluded I’d be at the mercy of this album.

How Do You Sleep At Night is a genre-bending album that is more like an experience than an album. The 14-track album starts off with OK. A hard-hitting guitar sound accompanied by the familiar feedback sound in rock music.

Teezo begins the song rapping in a delightful cadence that is choppy but still flows well. It was here when I heard his lisp clearly. (Trust me, it enhances the sound.) He starts the song by telling us that someone asked him if he had seen the new Spiderman film yet. He responds that he hasn’t but will when he’s not busy. To me, this displayed that he had been locked in creating the album.

As the verses continue we hear the chorus. Uh Huh, Ok, I’m going to do it anyway. As a first-time listener, you may hear a testament that he will make the kind of music that feels good to him. In a world where music can feel repetitive, uninspired, and boring this was a great way to start the album.

As the album persists, Teezo taps into the themes of relationships (You Thought), trusting in yourself (Impossible), the reality of moving out of your childhood home (Neighborhood), and one of my favorites UUHH.

UUHH is the third track on the album that is one of my absolute favorites. The song begins with this effortless swagger of a sound. It is the best way that I can describe it. Have you ever seen someone walking and just thought? “That person has it all figured it out!” That is how it feels! The song has an infectious guitar and consistent drumming that sets the stage for Teezo’s vocal delivery.

The song tells the story of two people who in my opinion are experiencing sex for the first time.

They lyrics:

You know what’s on my mind
I know what’s on your mind
I see it in your eyes
I read between the lines
But the lines are not enough
I need to hear you read
I need to hear you say
Exactly what you mean
I know that you’re nervous
I’m kinda nervous too
But, baby, I got a plan
I know what I’m gonna do
Now that I got your permission
Baby, take my hand
Teezo brilliantly uses his voice in different ways to simulate different sounds that people make while they’re having sex. What I love most about this song is the storytelling. In a world where sex is often depicted as a rough exchange where the receiver is viciously “taking it”.

This song offers an alternative picture of sex where consent is being asked, consent is being given, and both partners are enjoying themselves through consensual pleasure.

I’ve only described a couple of songs for you because I encourage you to have your take on this album. In my opinion, it is one of the best albums of 2023. I am thrilled to keep following Teezo’s career witnessing his creativity.