Described as the Antichrist of Drill, East Londoner TeeZandos is ripping up the rule book of being a rapper and doing things her way, with a pen way beyond her years. Get to know her on a deeper level with this VIPER interview…
What five words define your sound?
I think the five words that define my sound are: Awesome, distinctive, fun, outlandish annnnnnnd i don’t know, maybe … inspiring??
Tell me something unique about your creative process,
Something unique about my creative process is that … I can think of about three different flows within the time a beat starts and ends. And I can make a song in about 15-30 minutes with bad intentions.
Which song of yours would you like people to hear first?
If I had to say a song I’d want people to hear first I’d say it would be ‘Highlander’ it shows me in my wild days [laughs].
What inspired you to make that song?
I was inspired to write ‘Highlander’ because I was angry… literally how I am when I write or how I’ve written most of my music
What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music?
When I made my ‘VOTS’ (Voice of the Streets) part 2… it was an open up second half. I don’t really talk about my feelings other than frustration or whatever so that was heartwarming to show people I’m human too.
What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage?
The best experience I had on stage was when I did virtual Wireless, probably [laughs] – less people to worry about looking at me! And the worst experience I’ve had probably doesn’t exist! But if there was one – I try to stay positive so I wouldn’t recall.
What is your favourite song to perform?
Gotta be my ‘Plugged In’ with Cristalè.
Which artist/song/album made you want to make music?
No one really made me WANT to make music , I run free with the wind, I enjoy NWA, Mostack and Chipmunk though; their personalities and stuff.
What’s the meaning behind your name?
My friends call me Tee, Zandos is a place you can make money and also a currency name for money.
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?
If I wasn’t making music, I’d be somewhere on the seaside or in jail. I won’t lie, it’s not cool but I didn’t really have a plan for myself after 18 so I’m really just going as I come. Who knows though.
What’s success to you?
Success to me is when you are your own catalogue, your own brand and your own being in a world full of beings and you can only answer to yourself!
Success is knowing help isn’t even a word you or your family or friends should know exists anymore.
Success is power but more so for yourself in my opinion, it’s for your insides not your outside
What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction?
When I got arrested for some really bad things, my manager was the first one to help me out, not as his artist but as his family. He wanted to know every in and out and was ready to do things in all directions to get me out of the situation I was in. My autism is an emotion blocker so he might have never known I’m grateful for it, but I think back to that day all the time and just realise my team are the greatest ever. We aren’t a label any more we’re just one big family and it’s taken me a while to jump back into motion but my whole direction of motivation changed after that day. I wanted to do good and be good and see good even if it didn’t happen right away. I’m still working on it and I’m on tunnel vision for my version of success.
Where can people keep in touch with you?
My Instagram is @TEEZANDOS
Tiktok is @ZANDOWAY
