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Tei Shi
Tei Shi
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Key Information

Valerie Teicher Barbosa (born 4 October 1989), best known by her stage name Tei Shi, is a Colombian and Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer based in New York City. She released her first singles and music videos in 2013, also performing live for the first time at CMJ. Tei Shi released her debut extended play, Saudade, in November 2013,[1] which Noisey described as a "layered masterpiece of melodies... expertly entwined vocal loops, and shivery sonics."[2]

In 2014, she released two singles: "Adder(f)all" and a cover of Beyoncé's "No Angel". She was also a guest artist on the track "Holiest" by Glass Animals, an English indie rock band.[3] Her second extended play, Verde, was released in 2015. Her debut album, Crawl Space, was released on March 31, 2017, and her sophomore LP La Linda on November 17, 2019. On July 17, 2020, Tei Shi released the EP "Die 4 Ur Love", with a deluxe version following on December 11, 2020. On June 16, 2022, Tei Shi released the single "GRIP", her first release as a fully independent artist.

Early life

[edit]

Teicher was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina to Colombian parents.[4] After spending her childhood in Bogotá, her family later moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She is the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and was raised Jewish. She attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts,[5] and afterwards moved to New York City.[4]

Music career

[edit]

2013–2014: First singles and Saudade

[edit]

In the summer of 2013 Tei Shi released her first single, which she announced would later appear on her upcoming debut EP. Titled "M&Ms", Dummy Magazine called the single "transportive and exceedingly gorgeous," stating "minimal background instrumentation is limited to an echoing drum track, mouth organs and a few lonely guitar bits, but they provide a solid framework for her soft, cooing a cappella."[6] A video was released along with the song,[1] and directed by singer-songwriter Grimes' brother Mac Boucher.

She performed her first shows in the fall of 2013, playing at CMJ. According to Noisey, she loops live vocals during her set to create a layered effect.[7]

External videos
video icon Tei Shi - "Even If it Hurts" featuring Blood Orange (Official Video) (September 27, 2019)
video icon Tei Shi - "Nevermind The End" (Official Video) on Noisey (March 6, 2014)

On November 1, 2013, she released the second promo song for the EP, titled "Nevermind the End".[1] The Fader called the track "slinky" and "more traditionally structured" than her first song.[1] Kim Taylor Bennett of Noisey described the track as one of the "best seven songs" of 2013, and praised her lyrics, harmonies, and tonal buildup.[7] Hypetrak wrote that Tei Shi's "airy" vocals "contrastingly bump well with the heavy production and hints of charming synth pop."[8]

A third promo single, "Nature Vs. Nurture", was released on November 5, 2013. Stereogum wrote that the track is a "cascading bedroom-R&B and future pop track that evolves from quiet, but dizzying layers of harmonies into fleshed out vocal rounds with a Tropcalía-tinged backbone."[9]

"Saudade tips the scales to the sad side, but is all the more soul-crushingly beautiful for it... Tei Shi range is tonally akin to Feist and Lianne La Havas, and what's so goosebump-inducingly awesome about this EP is its range... Elegant, elegiac, and sensual, Saudade, is both excellently titled and the best thing we've heard all fall."
Noisey[10]

Tei Shi released her six-track debut EP Saudade, on November 12, 2013.[1] Among her collaborators was her friend producer/writer Gianluca Buccellati, who she had met while a student at Berklee.[5] The word "saudade" is Portuguese, describing a sentimental yearning for someone or for the happiness of a former place or time. Her previous singles were included on the EP, as well as several new tracks. According to Noisey, it is a "layered masterpiece of melodies that duck and dive, expertly entwined vocal loops, and shivery sonics."[2] Saudade later received a physical release in 2015 through the indie label Turntable Kitchen.[11]

In January 2014, Tei Shi released her first single from Saudade, Adder(f)all", as a free mp3. She told Rolling Stone that the song resulted from three different song ideas joined. "Instead of making a really structured song I just looped these three sections/melody lines over one another, building them up and layering with harmonies. It was originally a capella and when the instrumentals were added it really came into its own."[12] In the same month a remix of "Closer (Heart Shaped Birthmark Remix)" by Spirals hit the blogosphere with the prominent blog Kick Kick Snare stating, "SPIRALs has found a way to make something already so smooth into a beautifully jagged juxtaposition of a mixture. A robotic end to a beautiful romance."[13]

"We originally wanted to work with Tei Shi because she has an amazing voice and this modern New York R&B thing. We sent her a couple beats... and she sent back the great vocal you hear in the song, about both loving and hating something all at the same time."[14]
— Dave Bayley of Glass Animals (2014)[14]

She released her second music video in March 2014 for the track "Nevermind the End".[2] Also in March 2014 she was a featured guest on the track "Holiest" by Glass Animals, an English indie rock band. She sings a duet with Glass Animals' Dave Bayley, with both voices representing the perspectives of different characters.[3] Under the Radar called her vocal performance "delicate",[3] with Vogue describing them as "airy and minimalist [and] R&B-inflected."[14]

In summer of 2014 she collaborated with Gianluca Buccellati, and together they arranged and recorded a cover of "No Angel" by Beyoncé.[5] Wrote Stereogum, "In her cover, Tei Shi keeps the song's lovesick drift intact but adds all these trickly little bloop-pop flourishes."[15] The Fader described the cover as an "'80s-leaning take", stating that "breezy vocals and glowing synths were made for this role."[16]

2015: Verde EP

[edit]

Tei Shi's second EP, Verde, was released digitally on April 14, 2015.[17] Verde later received a physical release on May 5, 2015, through Mermaid Avenue[18][19] and internationally via Double Denim Records and Caroline Australia.[20] The EP's first single, "Bassically", was released on February 11, 2015. "Bassically" was extremely well-received, accumulating over seven million streams on Spotify[21] and spawning remixes from Body Language and Honne.[22][23] Canadian singer Grimes called "Bassically" "one of the best pop songs of 2050".[24] The music video for "Bassically" was directed by Nicolas Pesce and released on February 11, 2015.[25] The video features Tei Shi and a gang of female rebels engaging in firefights around NYC. Tei Shi explained "I wanted the video to look like what the song sounds like – fun and empowering without taking itself too seriously. So we created a fun fictional comic world with a troop of bad ass girls".[26]

The second single from Verde, "See Me", received a music video on August 20, 2015, directed by Dreamtiger and Jonathan Wing.[27] The video was shot in Bogotá, where Tei Shi spent much of her childhood. Speaking about shooting the video, the artist explained "It was a combination of the familiar and the new for me. More than just being a music video, it was an experience that tied in really fittingly with the song for me personally."[28]

"Get It", the third and final single from Verde, had its own music video released on December 8, 2015.[29] Directed by Dreamtiger, the music video serves up footage of Saturn from NASA's 2004 Cassini mission as a background for Tei Shi herself.[30]

2017: Crawl Space

[edit]

Tei Shi spent much of 2015 and 2016 playing major festivals like Electric Forest and Coachella, as well as opening for fellow musicians Years & Years, Jungle, and Grimes. During this time, she also began work on her first full-fledged album, Crawl Space, and signed a new record deal with Downtown Records.[31][32]

Tei Shi's debut album, Crawl Space, was officially released on March 31, 2017, through Downtown Records.[33] The title of the album is derived from a "crawl space" she used as a child to confront a fear of the dark.[34][35]

On January 27, 2017, the first single from Crawl Space, "Keep Running", was released digitally with an accompanying music video directed by Agostina Gálvez.[32][36] The songs "How Far" and "Justify" were also released before the album as the second and third singles. "Say You Do" was released as the album's fourth single, it was accompanied by remixes and an official music video.

2019: La Linda

[edit]

On June 5, 2019, Tei Shi previewed a new song, "A Kiss Goodbye", on an Instagram live stream.[37] The next day, the full song was released digitally, accompanied by a lyric video, as the lead single from her sophomore album.[38] Pitchfork described the song as Bossa nova-inspired, and noted that '[Tei Shi] seems to have fully stepped into her own'.[39] On July 16, Tei Shi announced the release of the second single from the album, "Red Light", and teased the song in a couple of Instagram posts.[40][41] The single was released on July 18.

On September 24, Tei Shi announced the release of the third single from the album, "Even If It Hurts", featuring Blood Orange.[42] The single marked the second time the pair had collaborated, following the single "Hope" from Blood Orange's fourth studio album. The single was released on September 27. On the same day, a music video, shot at Untermyer Park in New York and directed by Cara Stricker, premiered via Tei Shi's YouTube channel.[43] On the same day, Tei Shi officially announced the title and tracklist of her sophomore album, "La Linda".[44] She described the album as being inspired by her move from New York to Los Angeles.[38]

The fourth single from the album, "Alone in the Universe", was released on October 25. The song was accompanied by a homemade music video, which featured Tei Shi dancing against a starry backdrop.[45]

Tei Shi's second studio album, La Linda, was released on November 15, 2019, through Downtown Records.

2020: Die 4 Ur Love

[edit]

In December 2019, Tei Shi was announced as the opening act for Blood Orange's 2020 North American tour.[46] However, the tour was cancelled after two dates due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[47]

On May 7, Tei Shi released the first single from her upcoming EP of the same name, "Die 4 Ur Love".[48] The song was her first release after leaving her previous music label, Downtown Records.[47][49] Paper described the song as synthpop-inspired.[50] Tei Shi noted the song has a more dark and direct sound, similar to her debut album, Crawl Space.[50] The second single from the EP, "Goodbye", was released on June 26, along details of the EP's title and release date.[51] Goodbye was in part written about Tei Shi's departure from her previous record label.[52]

The full EP, entitled Die 4 Ur Love was released on July 17, 2020, by Diktator Records.[52] The EP was written by Tei Shi in six days while on a writer's retreat in El Paso, Texas in January 2020.[50]

On August 28, 2020, a Spanish language version of "Johnny", the first track on the EP, was released.[53] A music video for the song, directed by Jonatan Lopez, was released in December 2020. This was the first music video for any of Tei Shi's Spanish-language songs.[54] On December 11, 2020, a deluxe version of the EP was released, featuring this track alongside remixes of other tracks from the EP by Empress Of, Buscabulla, and Still Andy.

2025: Make Believe I Make Believe

[edit]

In the fall of 2024, she recorded her fourth studio album, Make Believe I Make Believe, during a one-week retreat on Vancouver Island with collaborators Noah Beresin and Tommy English.[55] She released the album's lead single, "Best Be Leaving", on March 5, 2025.[56] The album's second single, "Drop Dead", was released on April 30, 2025.[55] On June 26, 2025, she released the third single, "222", which features Loyal Lobos.[57]

Musical style

[edit]

The Fader stated that she is "known for making whisper-y, slow and sensual bedroom pop."[16] Tei Shi jokingly describes her work as its own genre, "mermaid music". In an interview with NY Mag, she stated "personally it's always hard for me to label it as a genre because it shifts and I try to make music that isn't one thing or the other."[58] Her vocal range has been described as soprano.[59][60][61]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Details
Crawl Space
  • Release date: March 31, 2017
  • Label: Downtown
  • Format: Digital download, LP
La Linda
  • Release date: November 15, 2019
  • Label: Downtown
  • Format: Digital download, CD
Valerie
  • Release date: April 19, 2024
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Make Believe I Make Believe
  • Release date: August 29, 2025
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download

EPs

[edit]
Title Details
Saudade
  • Released: November 12, 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Verde
  • Released: April 13, 2015
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download, CD, Vinyl
Die 4 Ur Love
  • Released: July 17, 2020
  • Label: Diktator
  • Formats: Digital download
Bad Premonition
  • Released: March 17, 2023
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download

Singles

[edit]
Title Year Album
"M&Ms" 2013 Saudade
"Nevermind the End"
"Nature vs. Nurture"
"Adder(f)all" 2014
"Bassically" 2015 Verde
"See Me"
"Get It"
"Keep Running" 2017 Crawl Space
"How Far"
"Justify"
"Say You Do"
"A Kiss Goodbye" 2019 La Linda
"Red Light"
"Even If It Hurts"
(featuring Blood Orange)
"Alone In The Universe"
"Die 4 Ur Love" 2020 Die 4 Ur Love
"Goodbye"
"Johnny (Español)" Die 4 Ur Love (Deluxe)
"Grip" 2022 Bad Premonition

and Valerie

"Bad Premonition"
"¿Quién Te Manda?" 2023
"Mona Lisa"
"QQ (Quédate Queriéndome)" 2024 Valerie
"No Falta"
"Best Be Leaving"[56] 2025 Make Believe I Make Believe
"Drop Dead"[55]
"222"[57]
(featuring Loyal Lobos)

Guest appearances

[edit]
Year Title Primary artist(s) Album Release details
2014 "Holiest" (featuring Tei Shi) Glass Animals Glass Animals EP Harvest (March 2014)
2015 "Arrest Me" (featuring Tei Shi) Shy Girls 4WZ EP Self-released (February 2015)
"Best On" (featuring Tei Shi) Luca Singles Only: Vol 1 EP Downtown (June 2016)
2018 "Hope" (featuring Puff Daddy and Tei Shi) Blood Orange Negro Swan Domino (August 2018)
2020 "Tessellate" BAYNK & Tei Shi A Study In Movement - EP AllPoints/Believe (June 2020)
2023 "I Know You're Happy" John Cale Mercy Double Six Records (January 2023)[62]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Tei Shi is the stage name of Valerie Teicher Barbosa, a Colombian-Canadian , , and DJ known for her sultry indie electronic music that fuses , R&B, , and Latin influences. Born in , , to Colombian parents, she was raised between , , and , , which shaped her cross-cultural identity and sound. A alumna, Tei Shi has built a career marked by artistic autonomy, self-releasing her recent works after experiences with major labels, and advocating for independence in the music industry. Tei Shi's musical journey began with her debut EP Saudade in 2013, followed by Verde in 2015, which experimented with genre-blending . Her first full-length album, (2017), marked her major-label debut on Records and Interscope, earning praise for its transformative exploring personal growth. This was followed by La Linda (2019), a reflective R&B-infused work recorded after her move to , featuring collaborations like Devonté Hynes () on tracks such as "Even If It Hurts" and bilingual songs like "Matando." She continued with EPs Die 4 Ur Love (2020), delving into themes of heartache, and Bad Premonition (2023), refining her stylish, introspective pop. In recent years, Tei Shi has embraced self-production and release, dropping the album Valerie in 2024, which channeled years of emotional depth, and her fourth studio album Make Believe I Make Believe on August 29, 2025, a 10-track self-released project created in with producers Tommy English and Noah Beresin. The latter emphasizes joy, liberation, and local textures, with standout tracks like "Best Be Leaving," "," and "Montón," and supports a 12-city tour starting in in September 2025. Now based in , she draws from diverse influences including classic rock (), pop icons (, ), indie rock, electronic, hip-hop, and her Latin heritage, evolving her whispery vocals and precise songwriting over a decade of touring and recording. Her collaborations, such as on Blood Orange's "Hope" from (2018), highlight her versatile contributions to .

Early life and background

Childhood and family heritage

Valerie Teicher Barbosa, known professionally as Tei Shi, was born on October 4, 1989, in , , to Colombian parents. Her family relocated to , —her parents' homeland—when she was two years old, where she spent her early childhood immersed in Latin American culture. Within the household, Spanish was the primary language spoken, and traditions such as listening to , dancing, and preparing reinforced a strong sense of Latinx heritage despite the family's international moves. Tei Shi's family also maintains a Jewish background, which contributed to her multicultural identity. At the age of eight, her family emigrated to , , , marking a significant shift in her upbringing. This relocation exposed her to a predominantly non-Latinx environment, where she often felt like the "odd one out" due to her combined Colombian and Jewish heritage, contrasting sharply with the vibrant cultural continuity she experienced at home. During this period in , she began writing songs as early as six or seven years old, drawing from her nomadic experiences. At fifteen, Tei Shi briefly returned to Colombia for a year, reconnecting with her extended family and roots in before moving back to . This cross-continental childhood, spanning , , and , profoundly shaped her perspective, blending influences from her Colombian-Jewish lineage with the diverse settings of her youth.

Relocation and early musical interests

At fifteen, Teicher briefly returned to for a short stint before moving back to to complete high school, further highlighting the back-and-forth nature of her upbringing between and . These relocations fostered a sense of adaptability and bilingual fluency in English and Spanish, influences that would later permeate her music. Despite the instability, provided a stable base during her formative teenage years, where she began exploring her artistic inclinations more seriously. From a young age, Teicher exhibited strong artistic interests, beginning lessons at age two and continuing until fifteen, which cultivated her appreciation for performance and movement. By six or seven, she was privately writing songs and poems in diaries, often drawing from personal emotions and observations. Her family's love for music played a pivotal role; with all her sisters singing and their home filled with diverse sounds from her parents' record collection, Teicher and her siblings frequently put on impromptu shows. This environment nurtured her innate connection to music, which she has called a constant presence throughout childhood. At around ten years old, she began making cassette recordings that captured her youthful introspections and doubts, marking her early experimentation with songwriting and recording.

Music career

2013–2016: Debut releases and early recognition

In 2013, Tei Shi, the stage name of Valerie Teicher, emerged on the with her debut single "M&Ms," an R&B-inflected track featuring layered vocal loops that she uploaded to music-sharing platforms. The song quickly gained traction in the , earning her an initial fanbase and marking her transition from anonymous online uploads—where she described her early work as "mermaid music"—to a more public presence. Later that year, on November 12, she self-released her debut EP , a six-track collection that explored themes of longing and emotional intimacy through ethereal, looped vocals and minimalist production. Critics praised the EP for its innovative sound; premiered it in full, highlighting its "soul-crushingly beautiful" melancholy, while noted its range from "sticky sweet to bitingly tart," signaling the arrival of a promising talent. Building on this momentum, Tei Shi made her live performance debut at the 2013 CMJ Music Marathon in New York, where she showcased material from to industry audiences, further solidifying her footing in the city's vibrant indie circuit. By 2015, she released her follow-up EP Verde on April 14 through , a five-track project that refined her signature style with tracks like the "Bassically," a sultry, bass-driven anthem that amassed over 12 million streams and became her breakout hit. lauded Verde for its atmospheric depth, describing its opening track "Can't Be Sure" as emerging from "low light" with a haunting vocal presence, and the EP's overall production as a step forward in blending alt-R&B with electro-pop elements. Other singles from the EP, such as "Get It," continued to build buzz, with the release accompanied by a limited-edition cream marble vinyl pressing that underscored her growing . From 2015 to 2016, Tei Shi's early recognition expanded through high-profile festival appearances and collaborations, positioning her as an indie darling. She performed at events like Electric Forest in 2015 and made her Coachella debut in 2016 at the Gobi Tent, where her set drew attention for its intimate, vocal-forward energy. That year, she also opened for Grimes during festival dates, earning endorsements from peers in the alt-pop scene and amplifying her profile ahead of a full-length album. These milestones, coupled with features in outlets like W Magazine—which dubbed her an "indie darling"—highlighted her rapid ascent, driven by a DIY ethos that transitioned into broader industry validation.

2017–2018: Crawl Space

In 2017, Tei Shi released her debut studio album, Crawl Space, on March 31 through Downtown Records and . The album's title draws from Tei Shi's childhood practice of entering a to confront her , a that underscores themes of personal vulnerability, love's complexities, and self-discovery throughout the record. Recorded across studios in , New York, , and , the 15-track album blends , , and synth elements, featuring interludes of Tei Shi's childhood voice recordings that add an intimate, reflective layer. Production was primarily handled by Gianluca Buccellati, who co-wrote and engineered most tracks, with additional contributions from Tei Shi herself on select songs, alongside collaborators like Noah Breakfast, Steve Nalepa, and John Hill. Leading up to the release, Tei Shi issued two singles from the album: "Keep Running" on January 27, described as a mind-blowing opener with slinky R&B grooves and layered vocals, and "How Far" on , a track exploring emotional distance in relationships. Standout tracks like "Creep," featuring and accents, and the Spanish-language "Como Si" highlight her multicultural influences and breathy, seductive delivery, evoking comparisons to artists such as and . In July 2018, she released "Crawl" as a single, accompanied by a that emphasized the album's themes of intimacy and unease. Crawl Space received generally favorable critical reception, earning a Metascore of 80/100 based on seven reviews, praised for its innovative blend of R&B-infused pop, sultry atmospheres, and emotional depth. Publications highlighted its contemplative nature and vocal hooks, with The Guardian calling it a "seductive debut" marked by glacial sultriness and subtle surprises like horn sections, while Exclaim! noted its dreamy R&B opener and hefty bass lines. User scores averaged 8.0/10, reflecting appreciation for its diverse, well-produced sound. To promote the album, Tei Shi embarked on an extensive North American tour in fall 2017, performing at venues including U Street Music Hall in , on September 8 and Larimer Lounge in on October 24, alongside festival appearances like in Raleigh. She also announced Canadian dates starting September 26, 2017, via Arts & Crafts, extending her live support into early 2018 with select shows. In 2018, amid ongoing promotion, Tei Shi contributed vocals to "" on Blood Orange's album , featuring Puff Daddy, further elevating her profile in indie and R&B circles.

2019–2020: La Linda and Die 4 Ur Love

In 2019, Tei Shi released her second studio album, La Linda, on November 15 via Downtown Records. The 10-track project marked a sonic evolution from her debut, blending with spacious production and lush instrumentation that highlighted the nuances of her vocal delivery. Drawing from personal experiences of emotional turmoil and recovery, the album delves into themes of toxic relationships, obsession, and the pleasures and pains of love, often luxuriating in the comedown of excess. Standout tracks include the "Even If It Hurts," featuring a collaboration with , which explores vulnerability in intimacy, and "Addict," an opener that sets a tone of sensual with trap-influenced beats. Critics praised its elegant, airy production and Tei Shi's self-assured performance, with awarding it a 7.3 out of 10 for its immersive emotional depth. The album's release was preceded by singles like "" and promotional efforts that emphasized Tei Shi's growing confidence in her artistry, including a sense of closing negative chapters from her past. However, La Linda faced challenges post-release; in July 2021, it was removed from streaming platforms due to disputes with her label, Downtown Records, which Tei Shi cited as stemming from contractual issues and a desire to reclaim control over her work. Despite its temporary unavailability, the project solidified her reputation for introspective, genre-blending R&B. Following the label fallout, Tei Shi transitioned to independent releases with the Die 4 Ur Love EP, issued on July 17, 2020, comprising five tracks of upbeat electro-pop crafted during the early . The EP represents a deliberate shift toward chaotic yet fun , contrasting the mellower tones of La Linda, as Tei Shi sought to channel personal loss and apocalyptic feelings into escapist energy. Themes of devotion amid ruin permeate the project, with the title track portraying obsessive love in a crumbling world through slick synths and retro-infused hooks. Other highlights include "OK Crazy," blending playfulness with abandonment, and "," which oscillates between lighthearted beats and darker introspection. Produced with collaborators like Daniel Ledinsky, the EP's breezy, intense vibe was designed as a soundtrack for uncertainty, earning acclaim for its resilience and pop accessibility— rated it 7.2 out of 10, noting how it shakes off prior resentments with vibrant, forward-moving tracks. This period underscored Tei Shi's adaptability, as she self-directed the title track's video from her home and embraced indie autonomy amid global isolation.

2021–2023: Transition to independence and BAD PREMONITION

Following the release of her EP Die 4 Ur Love in 2020, Tei Shi encountered significant challenges with her , including unpaid advances dating back to 2019 and a lack of creative control that stalled her output. In July 2021, she pulled her debut album La Linda (2019) from streaming platforms due to these unresolved financial disputes with the label. This period of frustration culminated in her departure from two restrictive label deals, marking a deliberate shift toward full independence as an artist. To regain her footing, Tei Shi took a three-month hiatus in fall 2021, focusing on through practices like , , and time in nature, which helped her overcome creative blocks and rebuild confidence. In summer 2021, while in New York, Tei Shi began channeling her experiences into new music, starting with the single "Grip," written as a direct response to the exploitative dynamics she faced in the industry. Released independently on June 16, 2022, "Grip" served as her first output under full self-direction, featuring gritty pop production and lyrics confronting feelings of being trapped and demanding accountability from labels. The track's raw energy and themes of liberation highlighted her return to the DIY ethos of her early career, allowing her to assemble her own team and trust her instincts without external approvals. Building on this momentum, Tei Shi developed material for her next project during early 2021, emphasizing self-growth and empowerment through a DIY approach with close collaborators. The resulting EP, BAD PREMONITION, was released independently on March 17, 2023, comprising six tracks that blend reflective pop with Spanglish elements and genre fluidity. Self-produced with contributions from Noah Beresin and Alexander Flockhart, the EP explores breaking personal cycles, self-observation, and reclaiming power, as seen in the title track's introspective spark and the assertive "QUIÉN TE MANDA?". Critics noted its punchy, emotive sound but critiqued its somewhat uniform palette, praising Tei Shi's refined style amid her newfound freedom. The EP's release propelled Tei Shi into an active 2023 touring schedule, including a six-week support slot for and her own headline tour concluding in . She also expanded beyond music, debuting at in Elena Velez's show and launching custom merch, signaling a broader embrace of creative . This period solidified her independence, with Tei Shi describing the control as "amazing" after years of constraints.

2024–present: Valerie, Make Believe I Make Believe, and ongoing tours

In 2024, Tei Shi, born Valerie Teicher Barbosa, released her third studio album Valerie on April 19, independently through her own label, marking her first fully self-managed project after parting ways with major label affiliations. The album blends electro-pop, R&B, and Latin influences such as and bachata, featuring collaborations with producers like Noah Breakfast, , , Knox Fortune, , and . It incorporates six new tracks alongside selections from her 2023 Bad Premonition EP, exploring themes of love, betrayal, recovery, and artistic , with bilingual elements in songs like "" and the reggaeton-infused "¿QUIÉN TE MANDA?". Critics praised its cohesive emotional depth and melodic hooks, positioning it as a bold reclamation of creative control. To promote Valerie, Tei Shi embarked on "The Valerie Tour – Part One," a nine-city North American headline run that began on May 1 in at The Sinclair and included stops in , , at Teragram Ballroom on May 11, and concluded in New York. The performances highlighted her live band's dynamic arrangements, blending the album's introspective tracks with earlier hits, and received acclaim for their intimate energy and vocal prowess. A European leg followed later that year, including a show at London's on May 28. Building on this momentum, Tei Shi announced her fourth studio album, Make Believe I Make Believe, on April 30, 2025, via The Orchard, with a release date of August 29. Recorded during a week-long retreat on in fall 2024—supported by a government grant—the album was co-produced with Noah Beresin and Tommy English in a wooded studio setup, allowing for unfiltered creative freedom without external pressures. It delves into subconscious reflections inspired by reconnecting with family and roots in and , featuring singles like "Drop Dead" (released April 30) and "Best Be Leaving." The record's intimate, dream-pop sound expands her artistry, emphasizing vulnerability and familial bonds. Supporting Make Believe I Make Believe, Tei Shi launched a 12-city North American headline tour on September 26, 2025, in , with opening act Marem Ladson for select dates, extending into and . By November 2025, the tour had progressed through stops including Philadelphia's Milkboy on October 20, Cleveland's Beachland Ballroom on October 23, Chicago's Sleeping Village on October 30, and City's Foro Indierocks! on November 8. Ongoing performances continued with Vancouver's on November 18, San Francisco's on November 20, Seattle's Madame Lou's on November 21, and Portland's Mississippi Studios on November 23. The tour showcases the new album's material alongside fan favorites, emphasizing her evolving live presence. Plans for a European extension in early 2026 include dates in , , , , , , , , and from February 18 to March 2.

Musical style and artistry

Core elements and influences

Tei Shi's musical style is defined by a fusion of electronic, R&B, soulful , and pop elements, creating a sound that is both introspective and accessible. Her work often features dreamy, sultry tones with mid-tempo grooves, sultry synths, jazzy guitar chords, and breathy soprano vocals layered with tasteful harmonies, emphasizing thoughtful introspection alongside rhythm-centric production. This blend draws from '00s , '90s trip-hop, and '80s , resulting in tracks that balance vulnerability and empowerment, such as explorations of heartbreak and personal defiance. Central to her artistry is a multicultural identity shaped by her Colombian heritage and Canadian upbringing, which manifests in seamless shifts between English and Spanish lyrics, incorporating Latin genres like bachata while maintaining a pop framework that defies strict categorization. A core element of Tei Shi's music is its thematic depth, often channeling universal emotions like abandonment, loss, and self-discovery through relatable, catchy structures that contrast heavy subjects with danceable energy. She prioritizes minimal, dry pop production with playful synths and grainy basslines, allowing her voice and message to take precedence, as seen in songs that serve as anthems of resilience and emotional release. Her songwriting process typically begins with lyrics or melody ideas, evolving into full instrumentation that reflects observational inspirations from urban environments and personal journals, fostering a chameleon-like adaptability in her sound. This approach underscores a commitment to community and collaboration, evident in partnerships with producers like Mikey Freedom Hart and Rodrigo Amarante, which enhance her independent creative freedom. Tei Shi's influences span a wide array of artists and cultural touchstones, rooted in her childhood exposure to diverse sounds across Bogotá and Vancouver. Early inspirations include Kate Bush, whose innovative style profoundly shaped her artistic vision, alongside Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Björk, Shakira, and bossa nova icons like Astrud Gilberto, blending jazz, pop, and Latin rhythms. She also draws from noughties pop figures like Britney Spears. Nature, meditation, and instrumental works like Beverly Glenn-Copeland's Keyboard Fantasies further inform her evolving palette, while high-fashion and film aesthetics weave into her multifaceted expression of poetry, dance, and global connectivity.

Thematic evolution

Tei Shi's thematic concerns have evolved from introspective explorations of and in her early work to more outward-facing narratives of , surreal romance, and joyful liberation in her recent releases. Her debut EP (2013) drew heavily on her bicultural Colombian-Canadian heritage, reflecting a sense of longing and displacement shaped by her upbringing between and . This foundational motif of cross-cultural identity carried into singles like "Nevermind The End" (2015), which evoked wistful about self-discovery and emotional vulnerability in an framework. With her debut album Crawl Space (2017), Tei Shi shifted toward confronting internal obstacles and phobias, using the title as a metaphor for overcoming childhood fears of the dark through deliberate exposure. Lyrically, the record delved into resilience in love and personal growth, blending autobiographical elements like self-recorded childhood tapes with themes of relational perseverance amid life's challenges. This marked an evolution from passive longing to active self-excavation, as she later described the album as unearthing former identities to transform her present self. Subsequent works amplified romantic and emotional complexities. On La Linda (2019), themes centered on the intertwined nature of love and pain, portraying relationships as surreal, fantastical realms where sacrifice and obsession lead to emotional excess. Tracks like "Even If It Hurts" and "When He’s Done" highlighted self-worth amid heartbreak, evolving the earlier focus on personal fears into a broader examination of romantic disillusionment and the beauty in letting go. The EP Die 4 Ur Love (2020), written amid pre-pandemic , introduced apocalyptic undertones, blending with through danceable tracks that processed loss, abandonment, and from professional betrayals. This darker phase transitioned into assertions of agency during her move to . The EP BAD PREMONITION (2023) explored deceit, repeated mistakes, and reclaiming control after industry setbacks, with lyrics emphasizing self-worth and liberation from toxic dynamics. Themes of from darker emotional cycles recurred, signaling a pivot toward . Her third album Valerie (2024) furthered this by using love and heartache as lenses for processing betrayal, with songs like "GRIP" and "BAD PREMONITION" asserting against external control, while the title track offered amid personal reinvention. Tei Shi's most recent album, Make Believe I Make Believe (2025), represents a marked turn toward and sensual , manifesting after years of introspection and struggle. Tracks such as "Montón" celebrate surrendering to and without boundaries, evoking playful intimacy and emotional presence, while the overall record closes the chapter on past sadness with confident, genre-blurring exuberance. This evolution underscores a progression from identity-driven vulnerability to empowered, celebratory narratives, reflecting her growth as an independent artist.

Discography

Studio albums

Tei Shi's discography includes four studio albums, each marking distinct phases in her evolution as an independent artist blending , , and Latin influences. Her debut, , established her introspective style, while subsequent releases like La Linda explored themes of emotional turmoil and recovery. Following a label dispute that temporarily removed La Linda from streaming platforms in 2021, Tei Shi transitioned to self-releasing her later works, Valerie and I Make Believe, emphasizing artistic autonomy and personal narrative.
TitleRelease dateLabelTracksRuntimeNotes
Crawl SpaceMarch 31, 2017 / Interscope1546:53Debut full-length album featuring singles like "Keep Running" and "How Far"; received positive reviews for its innovative sound and emotional depth, with critics praising tracks such as "Baby" for their sultry production.
La LindaNovember 15, 20191140:00Second album delving into obsession and heartbreak, highlighted by collaborations and tracks like "Even If It Hurts" featuring ; noted its contrasting takes on emotional ruin, earning acclaim for its alt-pop maturity despite later distribution issues.
ValerieApril 19, 2024Tei Shi (self-released)10~35:00Third album reclaiming her real name, Valerie Teicher, with bilingual tracks like "QQ (Quédate Queriéndome)" and "No Falta"; reviewers lauded its empowerment themes and production, marking her full independence after label conflicts.
Make Believe I Make BelieveAugust 29, 2025Tei Shi LLC (self-released)1032:17Fourth album offering intimate, abstract reflections with songs like "Drop Dead" and "Best Be Leaving"; co-produced with Tommy English and Beresin and released amid ongoing tours, it was celebrated for its raw vulnerability and synth-driven energy in early critiques.

Extended plays

Tei Shi's extended plays represent key milestones in her early career and later independent phase, showcasing her evolution from introspective alt-pop to more experimental electronic sounds. Her debut EP, Saudade, was released on , , and features six tracks including "M&Ms," " the End," "Adder(f)all," "Sickasfuck," "Nature vs Nurture," and "Heart-Shaped Birthmark." Initially self-released digitally, it was later issued on limited-edition vinyl by Turntable in January 2015, limited to 500 hand-numbered copies. The EP draws on themes of longing and emotional vulnerability, produced in collaboration with Gianluca Buccellati. Her second EP, Verde, arrived on April 14, 2015, via Arts & Crafts, comprising five tracks: "Can't Be Sure," "Bassically," "See Me," "Go Slow," and "Get It." Co-produced by Tei Shi and , it blends and R&B elements, with "Bassically" serving as the and earning praise for its '80s-inspired balladry. The release marked her signing with the label and built anticipation for her full-length debut. In 2020, amid the , Tei Shi self-released Die 4 Ur Love on July 17 through her imprint Diktator Records, a five-track EP written over six days that explores heartache and resentment. Tracks include "Johnny," "Die 4 Ur Love," "Disappear," "OK Crazy," and "Goodbye," with the title track highlighting her shift toward edgier electro-pop. A deluxe edition followed on November 12, 2020, adding remixes by , Still Andy, and . Tei Shi's most recent EP, BAD PREMONITION, was issued independently on March 17, 2023, featuring six songs: "FAMILIAR," "Bad Premonition," "¿Quién Te Manda?," "Mona Lisa," "Grip," and "Color" (featuring Donna Missal). The EP refines her reflective pop style with a uniform electronic palette, addressing themes of familiarity and foreboding, and was supported by tour dates.

Singles

Tei Shi's singles have played a pivotal role in introducing her ethereal, bilingual blend of , R&B, and dream-pop, often released as precursors to her albums and EPs or as standalone tracks during transitional periods. Her early singles, such as "Bassically" in 2015, marked her emergence with production and introspective lyrics, gaining traction through platforms like before formal label support. By 2017, tracks like "Keep Running" showcased a more polished sound, aligning with her debut album . In the late and early , singles like "A Kiss Goodbye" (2019) and "Die 4 Ur Love" (2020) highlighted her growing confidence in themes of love and vulnerability, with the latter serving as the title track for her EP and featuring collaborations that expanded her sonic palette. Post-2020, Tei Shi shifted toward self-released material, evident in singles such as "Grip" and "Bad Premonition" (both 2022), which explored darker, premonitory motifs amid her independent phase. Recent releases in 2024 and 2025, including "No Falta," "QQ (Quédate Queriéndome)," "Drop Dead," and "Best Be Leaving," reflect a return to elements and upbeat energy, promoting her albums Valerie and Make Believe I Make Believe. These tracks, often accompanied by remixes like "Montón ()" and "Drop Dead ()," demonstrate her evolving artistry and direct engagement with fans via streaming platforms. The following table summarizes her major singles, focusing on those that achieved notable visibility or promotional significance:
YearTitleNotes/Association
2014BassicallyDebut single; self-released, foundational for her early era.
2017Keep RunningLead single for album ; Records.
2019A GoodbyePre-La Linda release; explores closure themes.
2020Die 4 Ur LoveTitle track for EP; Diktator Records, peaked in indie charts.
2022GripSelf-released; part of independent transition.
2022Bad PremonitionSelf-released; introspective, tied to EP BAD PREMONITION.
2024No FaltaLead from Valerie; self-released, bilingual focus.
2024QQ (Quédate Queriéndome)From Valerie; emphasizes emotional retention.
2025Drop DeadPromoting Make Believe I Make Believe; Tei Shi LLC.
2025Best Be LeavingFrom Make Believe I Make Believe; includes sped-up versions.
2025Standalone single; collaborative with Loyal Lobos.
Additional singles, such as remixes and one-offs like "Goodbye" (2020) and "" (2023), further illustrate her experimentation with genres and languages, often self-released to maintain creative control. Overall, her singles underscore a trajectory from label-backed promotion to artist-driven output, with streaming metrics indicating sustained growth in listener engagement.

Guest appearances

Tei Shi has contributed guest vocals to various tracks by other artists, often blending her ethereal style with electronic, indie, and alternative productions. Her features span from early indie collaborations to more recent pop-infused works, showcasing her versatility as a vocalist. The following table lists her notable guest appearances:
YearArtistSong TitleRelease Details
2014Glass AnimalsHoliestGooey EP
2015lucaBest OnBest On (feat. Tei Shi) - Single
2015Shy GirlsArrest Me4WZ mixtape; Noah Breakfast Remix single
2018Blood OrangeHope (feat. Puff Daddy & Tei Shi)Negro Swan
2020BAYNKTESSELLATEA Study in Movement (No. 4): TESSELLATE - Single
2023Ella VosSaltySUPERGLUE
These collaborations highlight Tei Shi's role in enhancing tracks with her distinctive, emotive delivery, often exploring themes of desire, , and relational tension.

References

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