New York-based indie band Stargroves just finished recording their debut album which comes out this Spring, the band was thrown into the spotlight after collaborating with teen actress (and singer) Abigail Breslin! We caught up with singer-songwriter Teddy Watson, find out more in his Kidzworld Q&A!
Teddy Watson is a singer-songwriter
KW: When did you first become interested in making music?
- Teddy: I’m not totally sure what made me decide to start, but I’ve been writing songs for as long as I can remember. When I was younger my dad would pick me up from school and drive me to bars and pubs in Virginia where I’d play Dylan songs. As I grew up I learned pretty much any instrument I could get my hands on.
KW: How did you come up with the name Stargroves?
- Teddy: Honestly I just liked the ring of it. It’s the name of this estate in England that’s been around since the 1600s and various rock bands including the Rolling Stones have used it as a recording studio.
KW: How would you describe your sound?
- Teddy: We can be really poppy, but we can also get very dreamy and experimental. I think our best songs are the ones that dabble in both spheres. My main focus in songwriting is making sure the tracks are melody-driven.
KW: What has been the best advice you've received since starting out?
- Teddy: One piece of advice that has really resonated with me wasn’t actually intended for musicians, but rather entrepreneurs looking to start their own businesses. I was watching a television interview with Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk and he said something about how anyone attempting to start a business should be aware that the most probable outcome is failure, and what you need to decide is whether the venture is worth pursuing anyways. The same is true for anyone interested in pursuing a career in music, or any enterprise really. Once you decide that something is worth pursuing regardless of it’s probable outcome, your priorities shift to the product and you can end up with something really great.
KW: Actress Abigail Breslin is featured on two of your singles, how did that happen?
- Teddy: I met Abigail a couple years ago through our common vocal coach. At the time, I hadn’t yet formed Stargroves but I was very impressed with her talent as a singer and songwriter. After I had written the songs for the album, I asked Abigail if she would consider singing on two of them, which she accepted.
Abigail Breslin is featured on 2 Stargroves songs
KW: What is the single "Within Me a Lunatic Sings" about?
- Teddy: Within Me a Lunatic Sings is a response song to "Inní Mér Syngur Vitleysingur" by the Icelandic group Sigur Rós. I spent three months in Reykjavík, Iceland writing the songs for this record, and Sigur Rós was a huge inspiration. "Inní Mér Syngur Vitleysingur" has an atypical progression with huge build-ups. Within Me a Lunatic Sings seeks to mimic this structure with a more accessible, melody-driven sound. The lyrics, like those of their Icelandic counterpart, are poetic nonsense.
Stargroves have just finished recording their debut album
KW: Who are some of your musical influences?
- Teddy: Sigur Rós, Stars, Freelance Whales, and Múm are definitely my biggest influences, and I could spend all day talking about them. We were fortunate enough to work with Freelance Whales producer Jeremy Sklarsky for this record.
KW: What are hopes for Stargroves in the future
Check out "Within Me A Lunatic Sings" by Stargroves (featuring Abigail Breslin)
Your Fave...
Color: Blue, because for some odd reason my wardrobe is full of it
Food: Soup Dumplings
Band: Stars
Movie: Man on Wire
