Teddy Swims has this way of making everything feel like it's covered in velvet and whiskey. If you’ve heard "Lose Control," you already know that voice—that gritty, soul-drenched powerhouse of a vocal that feels like it belongs in 1965 and 2026 all at the same time. But when he dropped Teddy Swims A Very Teddy Christmas, things got weirdly personal for a lot of fans. Holiday albums are usually such a cash grab, right? You get some pop star phoning in "Jingle Bells" because their label told them they needed a seasonal release to hit their Q4 targets. This wasn't that.
He didn't just sing the songs. He lived them.
Jaten Dimsdale—that’s his real name, by the way—grew up in Georgia, and you can hear the South in every single note of this EP. It’s short. It’s only six tracks. But honestly, it’s heavier than most full-length albums released that year. He took these monolithic classics that we’re all sick of hearing in the grocery store and turned them into something that feels like a late-night conversation by a dying fire.
The Raw Soul Behind the Seasonal Standard
Why does this record work? Most people get wrong the idea that Christmas music has to be happy. It doesn’t. The best holiday music is actually kind of devastating. Think about "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." It’s a song about trying to be okay while things are changing. When Teddy sings it on Teddy Swims A Very Teddy Christmas, he leans into that longing. He isn't just wishing you a good time; he’s acknowledging that sometimes the holidays suck because people are missing or life shifted in a way you didn't ask for.
He’s a genre-blender. Always has been. You can’t pin him to just R&B or just Country or just Soul. On this EP, he uses that ambiguity to his advantage. He isn't trying to be Bing Crosby. He’s being the guy who stayed out too late and still has something to say before the sun comes up.
The production is sparse. That’s the secret sauce. If you overproduce a voice like Teddy’s, you lose the "room." You lose the sound of his breath and the way his voice cracks when he pushes a high note. The instruments here—mostly piano and subtle guitar—just stay out of the way. They know who the star is.
Breaking Down the Tracklist Without the Fluff
"Silent Night" is usually a skip for me. It’s too churchy or too sleepy. But Swims does something with the phrasing that makes it feel like a Motown B-side. It’s gritty. You can hear the Georgia red clay in his throat. Then you’ve got "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)." Look, Darlene Love owns that song. Everyone knows it. But Teddy brings a desperate energy to it that feels less like a celebration and more like a plea.
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It's a vibe.
- Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - This is the opener. It sets the tone immediately. It’s big, it’s loud, and it shows off his range.
- The Christmas Song - "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..." you know the drill. But he slows it down. Way down. It’s syrupy in the best way possible.
- Please Come Home For Christmas - This is where the blues influences really scream. If you don't feel something in your chest during the bridge, you might be a robot.
- Silent Night - Minimalist. Haunting.
- Cant Help Falling In Love - Okay, technically not a "Christmas" song, but it fits the wintery, romantic, slightly sad aesthetic of the project perfectly.
- This Christmas - A nod to Donny Hathaway. You can’t do a soul Christmas album without Donny. It would be illegal.
Why This EP Still Ranks So High Years Later
Consistency is boring, but Teddy isn't. His rise from a YouTube cover artist to a global superstar is the stuff of legend now, but Teddy Swims A Very Teddy Christmas was a pivotal moment. It proved he wasn't just a guy who could do a good cover of a Shania Twain song. It showed he had the emotional intelligence to handle the Great American Songbook.
People are tired of the "perfect" Christmas. We live in a world that’s messy. Our families are messy. Our holidays are often a mix of joy and a weird, lingering sadness. This album captures that duality. It’s the "Everything is Fine" meme but with incredible vocals.
When it first hit the charts, it wasn't just the "Teddy fans" listening. It started popping up on jazz playlists and soul retrospectives. That’s because it doesn't sound dated. You could play this in 1974 or 2044 and it would still make sense. It’s timeless. It’s also short enough that you don't get "holiday fatigue." You can loop it three times during a dinner party and nobody will complain. They’ll just ask, "Who is this guy with the tattoos and the voice of an angel?"
The Impact of the Georgia Sound
You have to understand where he comes from to get why the soul is so thick. Georgia has a specific musical DNA. Otis Redding. James Brown. Ray Charles. You don't grow up there as a singer and not get infected by that. When Teddy tackles these songs, he’s carrying that lineage. It’s not just a performance; it’s an inheritance.
Honestly, the way he handles the lower register in "The Christmas Song" is a masterclass in breath control. Most singers try to go high to show off. Teddy goes low to show you his heart. It’s a subtle flex.
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Navigating the Critics and the "Covers" Label
Some critics initially dismissed him as a "cover artist." That’s a lazy take. Everyone from Sinatra to Aretha Franklin sang covers. The trick is making them yours. On Teddy Swims A Very Teddy Christmas, he doesn't just cover the songs—he repossesses them.
The arrangement of "Please Come Home For Christmas" is a great example. It’s got this dragging, bluesy shuffle that makes it feel much more like a barroom ballad than a holiday jingle. It’s the kind of music that makes you want to pour a double and look out the window at the snow. Or the rain, if you’re in Georgia.
- It’s authentic.
- It’s vocally superior to 90% of holiday releases.
- It doesn't rely on bells and whistles (literally).
Making Your Holiday Playlist Better
If you’re building a holiday rotation, stop putting "All I Want For Christmas Is You" on loop. Everyone is tired. Give people some soul. Mix the Teddy Swims tracks in between some Nat King Cole and maybe some Leon Bridges. It creates this bridge between the old school and the new school that feels sophisticated but still accessible.
What’s interesting is how this album acts as a gateway drug. People find Teddy Swims A Very Teddy Christmas, realize they love his voice, and then spiral down the rabbit hole of his original work like "911" or "The Door." It’s the perfect introduction because the songs are familiar, but the delivery is brand new.
It’s also worth noting the visual aesthetic he brought to this era. The glasses, the hats, the tattoos—it contrasts so sharply with the "clean-cut" Christmas image. It’s a reminder that the holidays belong to the misfits, too. You don't have to wear a Christmas sweater to appreciate a good carol. You can wear a beanie and a vintage oversized tee and still feel the spirit.
Actionable Steps for the Ultimate Listener Experience
To actually appreciate what Teddy did here, you need to change how you listen. Don't just play it through your phone speakers while you're doing dishes. That’s a waste.
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First, get some decent speakers or headphones. This album is all about the mid-tones. You want to hear the rasp. If you’re listening on tinny speakers, you’re missing the vibration of his vocal cords that gives the songs their warmth.
Second, listen to the original versions first. Go back to Donny Hathaway or Charles Brown. Listen to what they did. Then put on Teddy’s version. You’ll see exactly where he stayed faithful and where he decided to take a left turn. It makes you appreciate the craft more.
Third, use it as a mood setter. This isn't "open the presents at 6 AM" music. This is "the kids are finally asleep and the house is quiet" music. It’s for the wind-down.
Finally, check out the live performances. Teddy is one of those rare artists who actually sounds better live than in the studio. There are several live sessions of these Christmas tracks on YouTube that have even more grit and soul than the EP versions.
If you’re looking for a way to make the holidays feel a little less commercial and a little more human, this is the record. It’s honest. It’s raw. It’s very Teddy.
The next move is simple: clear your queue, turn down the lights, and let "The Christmas Song" play. You’ll see why the hype is real. Stick to the high-bitrate versions on Tidal or Apple Music if you can—the vocal texture is worth the extra bandwidth. Once you've finished the EP, jump straight into his "Sleep is Exhausting" project to see how that holiday soul translates into his original songwriting. It’s a seamless transition.