When Teddy Swims learned he was nominated for a Grammy for Best New Artist, he felt victorious even before the ceremony on February 2. In the eyes of his father, who is his biggest inspiration, he had already achieved success.

“The announcement for best new artist came, and there I was right at the end. With the last name Swims, I was the last to be mentioned. For a moment, I didn’t think I would win,” said the 32-year-old to YSL News. “Once they called my name, we all jumped up, and I immediately called my dad.”

Originally from Georgia, Jaten Dimsdale was in Spain attending the Los40 Music Awards when the Grammy nominations were unveiled in November. He hired a conference room at a hotel to turn the event into a memorable occasion.

“My dad is my hero. I share everything with him first, and we discuss everything,” he shares, his voice choked with emotion. “Just thinking about it makes me tear up again. It’s emotional every time I talk about it.

That was the defining moment for me. I essentially already won, you know?”

Swims clarifies that doesn’t mean he’s not intent on winning the award: “We still want that trophy ‒ don’t get me wrong,” he says with a chuckle. “But I feel like I’ve already achieved something, that’s all I’m trying to say.”

How did Teddy Swims gain fame?

Swims’ soulful hit “Lose Control” surged through the Billboard Hot 100 in 2024, reaching No. 1 and remaining on the charts for over 70 weeks.

Before this breakthrough, he attracted a massive following by performing cover songs on YouTube, amassing nearly half a billion views.

His renditions of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and Mario’s “Let Me Love You” won hearts, but it was his powerful yet gentle voice in Shania Twain’s “You’re Still The One” that really captured attention.

In July 2019, Swims independently released a track called “Night Off” and by year’s end, he secured a deal with Warner Records. That’s when his songwriting began to flourish. In January 2020, he launched his first single under a major label, “Picky,” and a year later his debut EP, “Unlearning,” followed.

Swims reflects, “Transitioning from singing these incredible songs by others to creating my own music was incredibly challenging.”

“There’s always a fear that people would say, ‘Just go ahead and sing Shania Twain, sweetheart.’ And honestly, I’d be thrilled to do that anytime. I still perform that song,” he explains. “I’ve seen many talented artists get stuck in the YouTube cover cycle without progressing. I would have been happy to stay there, but I also felt I had my own message to share.”

Teddy Swims acknowledges he initially struggled with songwriting

As he started creating original music, Swims admits, “I wasn’t very good at writing songs at first.” He believed that if he wanted to succeed in the mainstream music scene, he needed to craft songs comparable to those he covered on YouTube.

With his debut album “I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1)” and a chart-topping single now under his belt, Swims is confident that “we’ve achieved that goal.”

He gives credit to “great friends” who he feels have “transformed my life,” mentioning names like Julian Bunetta (known for his work with One Direction and Sabrina Carpenter), John Ryan (associated with Maroon 5 and Katy Perry), Mikky Ekko (who has worked with Rihanna), Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman (H.E.R. and Jennifer Lopez), and Rocky Block (known for his association with Morgan Wallen and Post Malone).

“I truly feel cherished and supported. We’ve carved our space, and we’ve been working hard on it for about five years,” Swims says. “And I think we’ve struck a bit of gold.”

His new music can be found in Swims’ second album, “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2),” now available. He expresses excitement over his collaborations with Givēon (“Are You Even Real”) and Muni Long (“Black and White”). He also highlights CoCo Jones and GloRilla for their contributions to Track 11, “She Got It.”

However, the song “Northern Lights,” which fondly reflects on a past relationship, resonates with him on a deep level. “That song embodies closure and peace, you know?” he says.

“I feel that with this album, I’ve progressed so much further in my journey. I’m in love and overall, mentally, spiritually, and physically, I’m in a better place,” Swims shares. “Consequently, this album feels less filled with turmoil and heartbreak. It brings more acceptance and love.”

Transforming ‘trauma’ through songwriting has been life-changing

Like the best music, Swims has discovered a method to express his inner feelings through relatable songs.

“My friends and I have figured out a way for me to have a safe outlet for expressing my trauma to strangers constantly,” he illustrates. “I can share, ‘Someone hurt me,’ and then vent and cry, and people relate to it.”

Highlighting songs like “The Door” and “Lose Control,” Swims explains how creating “an upbeat song about some trauma” assisted him in “regaining control over it and turning it into a celebration with others who share similar experiences.”

“This process has been a lifesaver for me,” Swims states.

Teddy Swims battles ‘self-comparison’ and keeps his platinum records tucked away

More than a year after his debut studio album was released, Swims is now unveiling its follow-up. For many artists, continuing the momentum after previous successes can be exceptionally daunting.

Swims experiences this pressure as well. Although he “always dreamed of having platinum records displayed in my studio,” now that he has earned those accolades, he prefers to keep them out of sight. “I store them in a closet because I don’t want to focus on them while creating,” he admits.

“Instead of merely comparing myself to other cover artists, I now also face self-comparison, which can be quite challenging for me,” he acknowledges.

“Yet, I still crave more accolades,” he adds about industry recognition. “I certainly aim to surpass those achievements. And if I don’t, I suppose I need to come to terms with that. But I will definitely try.”