London-based singer-songwriter THEO recently unveiled her latest single, “Infected,” a precursor to her eagerly anticipated EP with Grammy-winning producer Naughty Boy. As her first solo release of the year, the record navigates themes of self-destruction and empowerment, wrapped in the gritty textures of electronic R&B.
Explaining the inspiration behind “Infected,” THEO reflects on a period of intense responsibility and the subsequent need for release. “‘Infected’ is about the idea of leaning into recklessness and that not being a bad thing,” she says. “I wanted to flip the idea of letting go and embracing the idea of mistakes —whether drunken or sober—not always being a bad thing.”
Growing up in the UK with Irish parents, THEO was deeply influenced by soul icons like Van Morrison and The Commitments. Her musical foundation was further solidified by her experiences in church, where she was drawn to the harmonies and the gospel choir sounds that filled the space. Now residing in London, she finds inspiration among leading female voices in the UK R&B scene, such as Joy Crookes and Jorja Smith, and credits producers like KAYTRANADA for influencing her sound.
Looking ahead, THEO is poised for a significant year with more releases and her forthcoming EP. On the heels of “Infected,” we spoke with the artist about creating new music and what to expect from her in the coming months.
For those just getting introduced to you, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your upbringing?
So I grew up in the UK with Irish parents and, as a child, spent a lot of time alone as I didn’t have any sisters or brothers. I was always pretty happy occupying myself with silly little games and talking to myself, consumed in my own world, which I think is what ultimately brought me to singing.
I used to love long car journeys because we would have the music up really loud, and I would belt out whatever was playing; my earliest memory is screaming Mustang Sally from the Irish soul band The Commitments album at the top of my voice. I think it’s the same elated and liberating feeling that I get today when I sing on stage that began my love affair with singing, performing, and self-expression.
What ultimately led you to become a musician?
I have a distinctive memory of someone asking me at my first holy communion when I was 7 or 8 what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I announced I wanted to be a singer. No one in my family knew ANYTHING about the music industry, and I think everyone thought it was a phase I’d grow out of. But I’ve been hell-bent on it since that age and would beg Mammy to bring me to any music or stage workshops I could find on the internet.
Singing, both when I write and perform, has always felt like the best form of escapism, and I think it was as a teenager that I really learned about songwriting and what it meant to put your feelings to pen. When I was 15, some musician told Mammy that if I wanted to be a singer, I had to learn to be a good songwriter, and I kind of ran with the idea and never stopped. I think this is what has also built into me getting into production in the past year, as although I LOVE collaborating with other musicians, I adore the idea of being able to write and produce my songs for myself independently.
You’ve cited artists like Jorja Smith and Joy Crookes as inspirations. How have they shaped your sound, and how do you bring your own unique perspective to music?
I think I’m endlessly influenced by all the music I listen to and the music I love. I remember their early singles really grabbing me and being so taken with their effortless and emotive vocal delivery that inspired me to write music that evokes strong feelings in people, as they did and do for me.
I would say I’ve drawn inspiration from a variety of genres since I was tiny, whether it’s the pop classics I loved as a child, like Westlife and Spice Girls that make you want to move, or when I discovered the stunning harmonies in Lauryn Hill and D’Angelo’s songs or the old Irish songs that were sung to me to help me fall asleep as a child.
I think Ireland has a rich history of storytelling, which is definitely something I’ve inherited from the songs sung at home. I also feel really lucky that in recent years, I’ve worked with some amazing, experienced writers and producers who have worked with artists like Jojo, Beyonce, and Demi Lovato, so I’ve tried to just be a sponge to as much wisdom and songwriting gems as I can absorb.
Talk to us about “Infected!”! What particular experience(s) inspired you to create the song?
For me, this song is about the idea of sometimes being reckless and it not being a bad thing. It followed a period in my life where I had held a lot together and been responsible for a lot of spinning plates so I was craving a release. I happened to get in the studio with an Irish producer, Alex O’Keefe, and we started messing around with this dancy bass and voice memo from my phone, and honestly, the song just flowed out of us in about an hour.
We were so excited after we wrote it that we got straight on the tube into Soho and went to some horrendous club that I’ve never been back to and had the best night ever with some tourists. It’s a core memory.
Do you find making music therapeutic? In comparison to some of last year’s releases, was your new music cathartic to make?
Music is my therapy. Most of my songs start in my journal, and then before I realize I’m using them in my next session as a song. I feel like the older I get, the more honest I’m able to be because I’m more confident, both as a person trying to vocalize my feelings in life and as a songwriter. It’s cathartic to make and release music you’re confident in, and it’s a really good way of tapping back into feelings you’ve had previously or that you might relate to in a different way now.
What do you hope audiences take away from this song?
I want them to take away the importance of letting go and not giving an F sometimes. I feel like our generation is put under so much pressure to get everything right and be on track to progress, and the news is understandably worrying all the time. When I sing this song, it reminds me to take a moment for myself, have a break and breather, and that it’s okay to go out, stay out, not come back til way too late, and prioritize making a silly memory because it’s moments of spontaneous joy that elevate me when I’m feeling overwhelmed by the world.
Your forthcoming EP is set to come out later this year. What’s exciting you about releasing a body of work in 2024?
I’m so excited and proud to collate a body of songs that represent my sound and who I am as a person and artist. It has a slow ballad and upbeat, happy songs, and each track evokes a different emotion. I’m going to go IN on the visuals, too, because I feel like the messaging is strong, and there’s a lot to play with visually, which I’m really excited about.
I’m also just proud to be able to have gotten to this point, where I’m releasing consistently and building my team as an independent artist because it really didn’t feel possible before. I’d had a lot of conflicting opinions over the years, which felt overwhelming at the time, but I’m prouder and more confident than I’ve ever been (even on my insecure down days) that I love the music I make and know exactly how I want to execute my vision into the world.
Published by Malcolm Trapp
