Toure Show Episode Summary: Tedra Moses - I Am Music

Podcast Information:

• Title: Toure Show
• Host: DCP Entertainment
• Episode: Tedra Moses - I Am Music
• Release Date: April 20, 2025
• Description: Touré engages in deep conversations with successful individuals to uncover their paths to success and glean insights beneficial to listeners' personal journeys.

1. Introduction

In this engaging episode of the Toure Show, Touré sits down with the talented singer-songwriter Tedra Moses to delve into her illustrious career, personal struggles, and the cultural influences that shape her music. The conversation spans over two decades of Tedra's journey in the music industry, highlighting her resilience, artistic integrity, and deep-rooted connection to Black culture.

2. Early Life and Musical Influences

Tedra begins by discussing her formative years in New Orleans, a city renowned for its rich musical heritage. She recounts attending Saint Joan of Arc, an all-Black Catholic school, where music was omnipresent both at home and in school.

• Musical Environment:
  "[...] every day of my life, home and school was full of music." [06:07]

• Influential Artists:
  Tedra mentions growing up listening to artists like Shirley Murdoch, Anita Baker, Tina Marie, and early Janet Jackson. She credits her music teacher, Ms. Shatters, for helping her find her voice and fostering her passion for singing.

  "Ms. Shatters would make every class a choir and make us sing our parts. She helped me find my voice." [08:03]

3. Musical Journey and Career Challenges

Tedra discusses her debut album, Complex Simplicity, released 20 years prior, and the challenges she faced with her label, TVT Records, which eventually went bankrupt in 2008.

• Album Title Significance:
  "The sound of my project was far more sophisticated than I was at the time. That was the complex simplicity in the sound." [21:42]

• Label Bankruptcy Impact:
  The dissolution of TVT Records significantly impacted her career, forcing her to pivot towards touring and writing for other artists to sustain herself and her family.

  "The label going defunct put me back into artist development. Now I'm on the road, perfecting how to rock these shows." [28:59]

• Legal and Financial Struggles:
  Tedra reveals being sued over a song, which despite owning 100% of her publishing, strained her finances.

  "I made like $5 million on one song. Not even the little ones. That's dip it low because I own 100%." [01:22]

4. Artistic Philosophy and Identity

A significant portion of the conversation centers around Tedra's commitment to artistic integrity and her refusal to conform to industry pressures.

• Refusal to Sell Publishing Rights:
  Tedra emphasizes the importance of retaining ownership of her music, a decision that safeguarded her financial interests.

  "I own my writing, I own my publishing too. My sister learned how to administer publishing, so we just made good money." [01:22]

• Independence in Music Creation:
  She chooses to focus on her core fan base rather than chasing mass appeal, believing in nurturing existing relationships to organically grow her audience.

  "Instead of me spending all my effort trying to gain the world, I'm going to concentrate on who loves me already." [44:14]

5. Publishing and Industry Insights

Tedra shares valuable insights into the music industry's workings, particularly around publishing and the challenges independent artists face.

• Importance of Publishing Ownership:
  Retaining control over her publishing has been a lifeline, providing financial stability even when other aspects of her career faltered.

  "Don't sell your publishing. Don't let them tell you this is how it goes. I never let them tell me this is how it goes." [34:31]

• Challenges with Major Labels:
  Tedra criticizes the industry's tendency to prioritize profit over artistic quality, leading her to seek alternative paths within the music business.

  "I have a core fan base. I'm super serving the current fans and they'll trickle new ones." [44:14]

6. Personal Life and Relationships

Tedra opens up about her personal life, including her relationship with rapper Raz Kaz, and how it influenced her musical development.

• Influence of Raz Kaz:
  Raz introduced Tedra to various hip-hop genres and artists, broadening her musical horizons and enriching her artistry.

  "He taught me about the Pesh mode and introduced me to artists like Nas and Snoop Dogg." [20:57]

• Balancing Motherhood and Career:
  Navigating single motherhood while sustaining her career posed significant challenges, yet Tedra remains steadfast in her commitment to her children and music.

  "I raised kids in between all that by myself." [29:48]

7. Reflections on Being Black and Cultural Influence

A profound segment of the interview delves into Tedra's identity as a Black woman and how it fuels her artistry.

• Blackness as a Superpower:
  Tedra passionately asserts that her Black identity is the cornerstone of her creativity and resilience.

  "That's my superpower, being black. Soul is innately in me." [54:24]

• Community and Mutual Support:
  She highlights the strong sense of community and mutual upliftment within the Black community, refuting misconceptions of divisiveness.

  "We champion each other. We light each other up because we can see the superpower in each other." [57:21]

8. Conclusion

Tedra Moses's journey is a testament to unwavering dedication, self-ownership, and the profound impact of cultural roots on artistic expression. Despite facing industry setbacks and personal challenges, her commitment to authenticity and community support has sustained her career and enriched her music. This episode of the Toure Show not only celebrates Tedra's enduring legacy but also offers invaluable lessons on navigating the complexities of the music industry with integrity and resilience.

Notable Quotes:

• "I know who I am. I'm gonna listen when it makes sense, but when it doesn't, I'm not gonna listen." [33:57]
• "Life is simple, but we complicate it. I'm trying to figure out how to simplify it in here." [22:03]
• "When you don't have anything, you lean on what you do have. I had talent, so I just started going into that." [30:01]
• "Don't attach to people easily. I was very mad about some things, but I thank Raz for teaching me not to sell my publishing." [35:30]

Key Takeaways

• Ownership Matters: Retaining control over publishing rights is crucial for long-term financial stability.
• Authenticity Over Conformity: Staying true to one's artistic vision fosters genuine connections with a core audience.
• Community Support: Building and nurturing a supportive community is essential for sustained success.
• Cultural Roots: Embracing and celebrating one's cultural identity can enhance creativity and resilience.

For more insights and inspiring conversations, visit Toure Show's website.