R&B singer-songwriter TE.O made his solo debut with his EP PARADISE, in 2018, after performing as one-half of the duos 2MUCH (with Im Jungho) and 8LOOP (with his BIXIZ XOUND labelmate, kursor). Not only does TE.O sing, but TE.O produces, writes, and composes music; he has worked with various artists before launching his own singing career, showcasing his vast musical capabilities and versatility as an artist. Last year, TE.O performed at the 2022 World Cup Stage cheering event, which he calls one of his most memorable performances (alongside his performance in Turkey as part of 2MUCH.) From a young age, TE.O has always loved music, but “[I] never thought of it as a profession,” he revealed to HALSUG. “As time went by, I came to a point where I started to wonder, 'what should I be doing with my life?' and I decided to pursue music, which I really enjoy.” Fast-forward to 2023, and TE.O continues to prove his craft of being a talented and skillful musician with his latest single, “Payphone,” further highlighting his musical abilities and unique style of blending modern and rhythmical jazz with R&B and hip-hop. 

Released on February 17, “Payphone” immediately delivers retro vibes through the visuals of its music video and the song’s composition of jazz and R&B, a suggestion made by TE.O’s longtime collaborator Siu. “With Siu, I discuss what style of music we want to try and start creating it. Sometimes we prepare a concept or lyrics in advance and make music, while other times we complete the melody and then choose a theme and write lyrics,” explained TE.O about his typical song-creating process. TE.O describes “Payphone” as being about a lover who calls to win his ex-girlfriend back over a payphone after she rejects him, but this is not TE.O’s story. “Please don’t think like that,” [he laughs]. Instead, the idea for “Payphone” came from a different unfortunate incident that happened in TE.O’s life recently: “I had to use a payphone several times due to my phone breaking down. This brought back memories, and I found myself recalling those moments. The nostalgia inspired me, and I ended up creating a new song using those memories as material.” 

“Payphone” draws the listener in from the get-go, making them groove along to the beat, with TE.O’s distinctive and refreshing vocals playing nicely against the modern jazz tones. TE.O says listeners can think of his music as having “a medium tempo with a rhythmic and groovy R&B vocal incorporated into it,” which is perfectly reflected through the deliverance of “Payphone.” The combination of brass and percussion creates the song's jazz elements, along with TE.O’s vocals, allowing the song to enter a modern and retro territory that listeners of all ages can enjoy.

A lot of effort went into the music video for “Payphone,” with it playing around with this ‘retro idea,’ expressing different modes of retro-ness and nostalgia through TE.O’s outfits, props, and surroundings. In some scenes, TE.O appears in a black suit with a black and white filter placed over the shots, whereas in other scenes, TE.O appears in color, wearing a nineties-inspired outfit, interacting with a retro dial-up phone in both scenarios. About the music video, TE.O said, “[we] were very meticulous in selecting the shooting location and wardrobe to capture a retro feel,” working alongside a video director to find an antique outfit and filming location. “I put in a lot of effort, […] and I had a lot of fun during the shoot, experimenting with different ideas with the director.”

When discussing his music, TE.O says he hopes that people will accept his music as they feel it saying, “if they enjoy my music, connect with the lyrics, and make it their favorite, [then] that would be my ultimate goal. It’s about creating music that people can appreciate and enjoy, and that’s what I aspire to.” TE.O’s appreciation and dedication to his music are evident within each of his releases, and he clearly has a bright future ahead of him.

While not directly influenced by any artist in particular, TE.O says he enjoys the music of Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, and Aminė and welcomes the idea of collaborating with any artist who performs music of the R&B and hip-hop genres if given the opportunity to. As seen with these artists, in “Payphone,” and the other tracks within his discography, R&B tends to be the genre TE.O gravitates towards. However, he is constantly experimenting with new approaches and styles when it comes to his music. “I want to showcase various styles by infusing my own unique color while also incorporating them into new genres,” he expressed. Whether it be his own tracks or songs from and for others, TE.O’s never afraid to step outside his comfort zone and push himself to try and perform songs outside of R&B and the Korean language. He even has a YouTube channel that has songs sung in French, Thai, Spanish, and Vietnamese. When asked what song has been his favorite to cover, TE.O responded with Shakira and Rauw Alejandro’s “Te Felicito.” “I practiced [Spanish] for a few days, and I really liked it. But, I’m not sure if my pronunciation was accurate.” While not currently on his radar, with so much passion for music and interest in songs from other countries, there is hope for a multilingual release from TE.O one day in the future. 

Aside from music, TE.O also finds interest in fashion and snowboarding, with the latter evident through photos on his Instagram account, and he also says he wants to learn how to dance. “I’ve always thought about it, but I've never tried learning how to dance properly. I want to learn [to dance] at least once,” he revealed. Alongside his future multilingual release, let’s also keep an eye out for a dance performance video!

Whether it be new original material or more cover songs, we hope you stay tuned for TE.O’s next release. “There is no fixed schedule. This year, I plan to continue preparing for the next album and covering [more] music,” he revealed. Check out the K-R&B rising star’s music on Spotify and Apple Music, and be sure to subscribe to his YouTube channel, where he just unveiled another new R&B single, “Dawn Moon,” on March 16.

A message from TE.O to his fans and listeners - “Thank you for your interest and love for my music. I will continue to prepare new and exciting music, so please look forward to it.”

Have you listened to TE.O yet? Let us know your thoughts on “Payphone” and any other songs or covers by TE.O in the comments below or by messaging us on Twitter or Instagram.

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Artist Facts

Name/Stage Name: Kim Tae Ho/ TE.O

Birthday: January 9, 1988

Nationality: Korean

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

MBTI: INFJ

Fave Foods: Meat, seafood, spaghetti, etc.

Fave Drink: Chocolate milk

Fave Movie: Titanic

Day or Night?: Night

Song you’re most proud of: ‘BOMB’