Introducing: TeeEyeAm
The Durban-based producer and DJ bringing R&B to the growing house of three-step
Image credit: TeeEyeAm
Hoza: TeeEyeAm, so good to connect. Can you start by telling us a bit about where you're from and how you got into music?
TeeEyeAm: I grew up in KwaZulu-Natal, in a rural area, with two very strict parents who were school principals. It was a disciplined upbringing but in a good way—they really pushed me to focus on school. I wasn’t hugely exposed to music early on, but I always heard jazz around the house because my dad loved it. He played people like David Sanborn and Dave Koz. Later on, I’d visit my grandmother in Springs, and that’s where I got hooked on house and deep house. Hearing Black Coffee and similar artists just opened my eyes, and I thought, “Maybe I can do this too.”
Durban, KNZ. Credit: Magda Ehlers
Blending Brent Faiyaz and Thakzin
Hoza: Let’s dive into the mix. The first track has a really interesting sound — how would you describe it and some of the inspirations driving it?
TeeEyeAm: I listen to a lot of Brent Faiyaz — he’s an amazing artist. It's very confusing for people when I tell them that I listen to him a lot, because he’s an R&B songwriter and vocalist but there are these sounds that are just unique to him, so I tried to fuse those into this track.
I feel like there’s something missing in house — not to say it’s not complete, but there’s something missing. And that something is me and the sound I’m trying to adapt.
Hoza: Where does Brent Faiyaz come into this track?
TeeEyeAm: There’s an interlude on his album (Rehab (Winter in Paris)). I took that and stripped out the instrumental. Then I was like ‘How do I juggle this into the house side?’ I sped it up a little and I thought about a three-step vibe (shout out to Thakzin, Oscar Mbo), and then I added my own flavour to it. It’s like a soulful kind of three-step sound.
Hoza: Yeah, it’s unique — it’s got the three-step bass drum and shakers but it’s definitely darker than a lot of three-step tracks. Was that a conscious decision?
TeeEyeAm: Yeah, when people listen to house, they always think about dancing and being happy. What I’m trying to introduce is saying that it doesn’t have to be dance only; there has to be feelings involved beyond just being happy or grooving. It’s not about misery, but it’s just like laying back and thinking ‘What’s happening in life, like what’s going on?’
I want to bring R&B people into house and take house people to R&B and just fuse these communities together — fortunately it worked out.
Hoza: Yeah, the guitars definitely have that sound. What about the vocal samples throughout the track, where are they from?
TeeEyeAm: They’re from a piano song, by Felo le Tee with Scotts Maphuma, called Yebo Lapho. I’m a big fan of Scotts’ vocals so I really wanted to sample his stuff.
Hoza: How do you balance those different emotions in the track and stop it from becoming too sad or melancholic?
TeeEyeAm: It has to be the drums first. The drums need to be proper. I use a lot of bongos, congas, shakers, just a lot of African instruments. So for me, first, the drums need to be on point. And then after the drums, I have to pick the perfect synth sound that has to fit, and then I can add vocals to elevate the sound. But it’s all about the drums and synths for me.
Actually, one artist who influences how I think about emotion in music is Sjava. He’s a traditional man but he makes you think of things more deeply; he brings a mix of emotions to his songs. That’s why I named this track Lost in Emotions.
“One artist who influences how I think about emotion in music is Sjava. He’s a traditional man but he makes you think more deeply.”
Quick fire questions.
On… jazz
TeeEyeAm: Yeah, like I said my dad listened to a lot of jazz and it started from there. I listened to older artists like David Sanborn, Andrea Paulin, Dave Koz It was just background music for me. As I got older, I realised how much that early exposure influenced my taste and style. Now I’m listening to artists like FKJ, Masego and Nduduzo Makhathini.
On… Tekniq
TeeEyeAm: Growing up, I was very drawn to Tekniq — there’s something about that guy’s sound. It’s shaped mine to be where it is now.
On… adapting European sounds
TeeEyeAm: My aim is to create sounds that can help merge Europeans and Africans but I’ve always told myself that I need to keep a balanced percentage of different sounds — European, African, American, even Asian. I’m mostly into an international sound.
One track you’re listening to a lot right now
TeeEyeAm: The Gods of Music! It’s in the mix, around 42:00. That song is magical — I remember making it. I didn’t start with drums on this one, I started with a sample (the piano in the track) and the rest is history.
Hoza: Aha, guess everyone will have to start listening to it too. TeeEyeAm, thank you for your time and the mix. Look forward to catching more of your work.