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Teddy Swims Finally Gives ‘Therapy’ a Chance On Sophomore Album

The first-time Grammy-nominee and soon-to-be father chats with BET.com about his second album, ‘I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2).’

Nearly two years ago, a seminal debut was made for multigenre vocalist Teddy Swims. The singer, whose sound transcends R&B, country-rock, and pop, released his captivating introductory album, “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1),” representing his innermost emotions through powerhouse tonality. The Georgia-born artist would come to check off collaborations with Lucky Daye and country musician Thomas Rhett. But amid his tour run, which has since been expanded, Swims’ trajectory was changed when he was named amongst the 2025 Grammy nominees for Best New Artist. Swims’ life has only gotten sweeter, as he’s now expecting a baby with his girlfriend, singer-songwriter Raiche.

“I'm just so excited to plant the seeds of love and watch it grow into something that is its own being with its own personality and its own life. My daddy is the best daddy in the world, so I hope I can just do half the job he did,” Swims tells BET.com. 

Raiche Is ‘Making Room’ for Self-Love

Swims, who spoke via Zoom while in Pennsylvania, is already thinking about his family’s future, as the devastating Los Angeles wildfires have made him desire to return to his origins. “I want my baby to be growing up in the South. It's not that there's anything wrong with growing up in L.A., but I want them to have an accent like mine,” the singer admits.

As Swims’ journey has gotten more fulfilling, it was timely for him to release his sophomore album, I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2), picking up where the inaugural LP left off–albeit on a happier note. Swims commands on bluesy album opener “Not Your Man,” longs for reprieve across the vintage sonics of “Bad Dreams” and has a seamless duet with Grammy-winner Muni Long on “Black and White.” Joining Swims on his second trek through Therapy are featured guests Coco Jones, GloRilla, and Giveon.

“I thought that I was in such turmoil and heartbreak on the first one and it was nothing but questions and there was no real closure,” Swims explains. “So I thought that was important, especially with the title, I wanted to go into finding love again, learning how to move on, going to therapy and showing the healing process. Like, Here's me on the other side of all that mess. I'm so happy to be here on the other side of that mess, because it’s lovely.”

As for Giveon, who flawlessly melded vocals with Swims on the single “Are You Even Real,” met Swims at last year’s MTV Video Music Awards, making it a no-brainer for him to be on the 13-track album. Now, Swims wishes the collaborators to turn their strong rapport into a joint EP.

“We had met briefly, and weirdly enough, I had this song. Our lawyer just came and he heard it and he was like, 'I'm gonna send this to Giveon,’” Swims recalls. “So then Giveon was like, ‘Man, I can't stop listening to the song.’ And I was like, ‘Well, bro, here's an open verse! Please, please, please do this with me.’ He's been slowly becoming one of the greatest friends. I love that guy.”

The message of “Are You Even Real” crosses over into Swims’ reality, where being with Raiche has grown stronger through their support of each other, career-wise and in terms of personal growth. The couple’s connection has even allowed Swims to evolve from his past relationship traumas. 

“I've been finding out that love isn't what I know it as or what I've always known it to be, and the things that come along with it,” he says. “So, ‘Are You Even Real?’ It's like, This is too good to be true. Is this all lies? There's always a piece of you that feels so on edge about when things are too good.”

“There's so much that I'm trying to do to learn that good things are possible, and I’m lovable and you can have a good, sweet love and life,” he continues. “It takes a lot of training, your brain and unlearning some habits. It’s hard to be damaged going into a good thing.”

As soon-to-be first-time parents, Swims and Raiche have attended couple’s therapy and separate sessions, bringing Swims’ cathartic albums full circle. “I think it was important for us, as we're coming into parenthood, that we're doing therapy together and we're learning  how to communicate perfectly, how to make sure we're doing all the unlearning from our past trauma,” Swims says.

He continues, “I just think that that's important [to do it now] instead of it down the line when we're together for five years, and our baby’s born, and it's really tough on her body and mental, and we're both doing this transition so quickly, and I'm touring. I wanted to make sure that we're setting it up right before these hard things happen and we're completely clueless.”

However, with his child due in June, Swims’ focus is on achieving Best New Artist status, although he acknowledges artists like Shaboozey and Raye as other nominees worthy of mention. “I think I’m really grateful and I truly think this year might be the greatest rookie class ever. It's got such absolutely real legacy artists, too,” Swims says. “I'm so honored to be a part of this crew. Of course, I want to take that thing home, but I'm grateful just to even speak about the Grammys.”

With the second Therapy installment’s release, Swims eyes heading to Nashville to work on a country EP, in addition to EPs dedicated to R&B and rock ‘n’ roll, further proving that he can master any genre he graces. Beginning in February, he’ll continue his I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy Tour with new dates in Europe and North America, promising shows that complement his eminence and maturity.

“I like a good bit of tequila, but I've been slowing down on my drinking a little bit. Having a baby, I can't be too crazy nowadays,” he admits. “We're already rehearsing and we got background singers this year, too coming in and a big old set being built.  I think it's gonna be such an elevation and so, so powerful.”

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