# Teddy Swims

Jaten Collin Dimsdale (born September 25, 1992), also known by his stage name Teddy Swims, is an American singer-songwriter and rapper. Known for his genre-blending music, including soul, country, and pop, he originally attracted fans through song covers on his YouTube channel in 2019 and 2020. His third extended play, Tough Love (2022), became his first entry on the Billboard 200.
Swims rose to prominence in 2023 with the single "Lose Control", which peaked within the top ten on the charts in several countries and topped the Billboard Hot 100 the next year. The song preceded the release of his debut studio album, I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1) (2023), which was released by Warner Records and entered the top ten of music charts in Australia and the Netherlands. In 2024, MTV named Swims its "Push Artist of February".

## Early life

Swims grew up in Conyers, Georgia. His father introduced him to soul music at an early age by way of artists like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Al Green. Swims's family were American football enthusiasts; he had been playing football for ten years when, during his second year at Salem High School, one of his teachers suggested he and a few of his teammates sign up for a musical theater class. The teacher also said he should join the chorus.
Swims discovered his passion for performance through his experience in high-school theater, where he performed in musicals such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Rent, as well as Shakespeare plays. He began playing instruments including piano and ukulele, and watched YouTube videos of singers to help develop his vocal technique.

## Career
### 2011–2018: Early career

Swims began his music career joining a variety of Atlanta area bands, including alternative rock band WildHeart and post-hardcore band Eris, as well as soul and hair metal cover bands. He was also the lead singer of progressive rock/R&B/soul band Elefvnts.

### 2019: Tyler Carter tour and cover performances

In 2019, Swims's friend Addy Maxwell invited him to rap over some beats he had made, which earned the pair an opening slot on a U.S. tour with Tyler Carter. He adopted the stage name "Swims" from internet forum-speak—an acronym for "Someone Who Isn't Me Sometimes"—as a way to perform in character.
In June, Swims posted his first cover performance on YouTube, Michael Jackson's "Rock with You", and continued posting additional covers of artists from a mix of genres, including Lewis Capaldi, Chris Stapleton, Amy Winehouse, and H.E.R. His cover of Shania Twain's "You're Still the One" posted in October became his most viewed video, with 167 million views as of January 2024. His videos accumulated millions of views quickly and after releasing one single "Night Off" independently in July, he signed a record deal with Warner Records in December.

### 2020–2021: Unlearning EP

Swims released his debut major-label single, "Picky", in January 2020 and embarked on his first headline tour that month. He released several covers in the following months, including "Blinding Lights" in May, "What's Going On" in June (the royalties from which he donated to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund), and "You're Still The One" (which he had previously posted on YouTube) in July. Swims released his next single, "Broke", in August, and an additional version with Thomas Rhett in October.
In February 2021, Swims released his single "My Bad", which he performed on The Kelly Clarkson Show, and was named an "Artist You Need to Know" by Rolling Stone magazine. In March he released his single "Till I Change Your Mind", followed by "Bed On Fire" in April, which he performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and later re-released as a collaboration with Ingrid Andress. In May, Swims released his debut seven-track EP Unlearning, followed by a tour supporting Zac Brown Band that summer.

### 2021–2022: Tough Love EP

In August 2021, Swims released his single "Simple Things", which he performed on The Late Late Show with James Corden in September and Today in November.
After releasing his single "911", Swims released his six-track EP Tough Love in January 2022. He performed "Love for a Minute" on Late Night with Seth Meyers in January and "911" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in February. Swims supported the EP with a three-month headline tour of Europe and North America beginning in February, followed by a United Kingdom and mainland Europe tour in May and June. He collaborated with Meghan Trainor on "Bad for Me", released on June 24 as the lead single for her album Takin' It Back. Swims and Trainor performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in June and The Late Late Show with James Corden in August. Swims also collaborated on singles with Mitchell Tenpenny, Illenium, MK and BURNS, and Telykast.
After releasing a short performance clip in May, Swims released a cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" in August. He performed the song on America's Got Talent alongside season 14 winner Kodi Lee and Journey guitarist Neal Schon. In September Swims embarked on a seven-week US headline tour.

### 2022–present: I've Tried Everything but Therapy

After releasing the singles "Dose", "2 Moods", "Someone Who Loved You", and "Devil in a Dress", Swims released his EP Sleep Is Exhausting on November 4, 2022. He first appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2023 with the release of his single "Lose Control". The single is from his 2023 debut album, I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1).
In 2023, Swims collaborated with Armin van Buuren & Matoma, X Ambassadors, Maren Morris, Meghan Trainor, and Elley Duhé. In March, he announced his I've Tried Everything but Therapy international headline tour, including shows in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, and New Zealand in July and August. He also performed at BottleRock, Bamboozle, Boston Calling, TRNSMT, and Latitude music festivals the same year. Teddy also opened for the rock band Greta Van Fleet on the tour to support their new album Starcatcher.
On December 6, 2023, Swims performed at Avicii Arena for the Together for a Better Day concert. The concert promoted mental health awareness and was sponsored by the Tim Bergling Foundation to honor the memory of the Swedish DJ Avicii. At the concert, Swims performed his song "Lose Control" and Coldplay's "A Sky Full of Stars", which Avicii produced.

## Personal life

On January 8, 2025, Swims and his girlfriend Raiche Wright announced they were expecting their first child.

## Discography
### Studio albums

* I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1) (2023)
* I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 2) (2025)

## Tours
### Headline

* Tough Love World Tour (2022)
* US Fall Tour (2022)
* Summer International Tour (2023)
* I've Tried Everything but Therapy (2023–2025)

### Supporting act

* Zac Brown (2021)
* Greta Van Fleet's Starcatcher Tour (2023)

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2024 | MTV Video Music Awards | Song of the Year | "Lose Control" | Nominated |
| 2024 | MTV Video Music Awards | Best New Artist | Himself | Nominated |
| 2024 | MTV Video Music Awards | Push Performance of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2024 | MTV Video Music Awards | Best Alternative | "Lose Control" (Live) | Nominated |
| 2024 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Best New | Himself | Nominated |
| 2024 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Push | Himself | Nominated |
| 2024 | Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Breakout Artist | Himself | Nominated |
| 2024 | NRJ Music Awards | International Revelation of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2024 | NRJ Music Awards | International Hit of the Year | "Lose Control" | Nominated |
| 2024 | NRJ Music Awards | Most Radio Airplay in France | "Lose Control" | Won |
| 2024 | Los 40 Music Awards | Best International Song | "Lose Control" | Nominated |
| 2024 | Los 40 Music Awards | Best International Album | I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1) | Won |
| 2024 | Los 40 Music Awards | Best International Act | Himself | Won |
| 2024 | Los 40 Music Awards | Best International Live Act | Himself | Nominated |
| 2024 | Billboard Music Awards | Top New Artist | Himself | Nominated |
| 2024 | Billboard Music Awards | Top Song Sales Artist | Himself | Nominated |
| 2024 | Billboard Music Awards | Top Hot 100 Song | "Lose Control" | Won |
| 2024 | Billboard Music Awards | Top Streaming Song | "Lose Control" | Nominated |
| 2024 | Billboard Music Awards | Top Radio Song | "Lose Control" | Won |
| 2024 | Billboard Music Awards | Top Selling Song | "Lose Control" | Nominated |
| 2024 | Billboard Music Awards | Top Billboard Global 200 Song | "Lose Control" | Nominated |
| 2024 | Billboard Music Awards | Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Song | "Lose Control" | Nominated |
| 2025 | Grammy Awards | Best New Artist | Himself | Nominated |
| 2025 | Brit Awards | International Song of the Year | "Lose Control" | Nominated |