Teddy Swims was nominated for a Grammy, has played arenas and has appeared on several late-night shows — but the “Lose Control” singer only felt like he finally made it when he met Spy Kids star Daryl Sabara.
“Growing up, I saw Spy Kids 2 in the theater with my mom multiple times, so I felt like I ‘made it’ when I went to Daryl Sabara’s 30th birthday at the Soho House in L.A., [where] they rented out the [screening room] and we watched Spy Kids 2,” Teddy Swims, 32, reveals in his 25 Things You Don’t Know About Me feature in the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now. “I called my mom and I was like, ‘Mom, you’ll never believe it. I watched Spy Kids with the Spy Kids.”
As luck would have it, Sabara, also 32, is married to Meghan Trainor, whom Teddy Swims collaborated with on her song “Bad For Me.”
Keep scrolling for more fun anecdotes from Teddy Swims, whose Story of My Song video with American Express, in which he gives fans a deeper look into the lyrics from his hit song, “Bad Dreams,” is out now:
Teddy Swims at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for MTV
1. My guesstimation would be that I have 85% of my body tattooed. I still have my butt cheeks, some of my back and a little bit of my leg [left].
2. I recently bought a tattoo machine on this last tour, and had the whole crew tattoo [me]. One of my favorites is from my guitarist Addy Maxwell, who did a cool llama on my leg.
3. Growing up, I saw Spy Kids 2 in the theater with my mom multiple times, so I felt like I “made it” when I went to Daryl Sabara’s 30th birthday at the Soho House in L.A., [where] they rented out the [screening room] and we watched Spy Kids 2. I called my mom and I was like, “Mom, you’ll never believe it. I watched Spy Kids with the Spy Kids.”
4. My favorite song right now off my new album is “Northern Lights.” Writing that song really filled a hole in my heart that I had for closure on certain relationships that ended.
5. My girlfriend, Raiche [Wright], and I started doing therapy together as we began getting ready to have our child, and that’s tough but the biggest thing I’ve learned is how to figure out what kind of love people want and need and give them that.
6. I’m on the road so much, so to be honest, my favorite way to spend time with Raiche is sitting on the couch, scrolling through our phones together and just being present with her.
Teddy Swims and Raiche Wright Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
7. The one thing I’m looking forward to the most about becoming a dad is learning the balance of how to be more present.
8. My Billboard Award is at my mom’s house. I always thought that I’d be excited to put [awards] in my studio and see them, but [I realized] I could rob myself from writing something really beautiful if I’m always looking at accolades.
9. I’ve always wanted to sing with Adele. I would love to just pick her brain.
10. My favorite thing that I own is a signed Dominique Wilkins jersey that I have shadowboxed.
11. The only time I’ve gotten starstruck was [meeting] Kirby Smart, the head football coach at the University of Georgia. I couldn’t say anything besides “yes sir.”
12. My mom used to make me spaghetti once a week when I was a kid, so I’d say that’s my comfort meal.
13. My first car was a Nissan Sentra that my mom got me. On the way to school one day, I rear-ended my brother’s Saturn ION and destroyed both the cars.
14. My most used emojis are the poop emoji and heart eye emoji.
15. John Mayer is the most famous person in my phonebook.
16. Billy Madison or Happy Gilmore are two movies I could watch for the rest of my life.
17. Growing up, I had a huge thing for Gabrielle Union in Bring It On.
18. I wanted to be a stand-up comedian when I was younger.
Teddy Swims Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images for Paramount
19. Any of the songs on Juturna by Circa Survive always puts me in the best mood. That album brings me back to middle school and high school.
20. My favorite place in the world to eat is Moe’s Southwest Grill. Sometimes I get a bowl but a lot of times I get the Stack.
21. My dad is the coolest guy in the world and still the person I look up to the most.
22. I once worked as a taxi driver at night, which was an awful job. From 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., I’d go back and forth to the airport or sit outside of bars waiting to take home drunk people.
23. My favorite place in the whole world is Australia. The people are wonderful, and it has the most beautiful culture.
24. I love The Righteous Gemstones. I’m going back through the whole series again with my girlfriend because she hasn’t watched it. It’s hilarious.
25. My most embarrassing moment onstage was during a Christmas tree lighting ceremony with Journey. I went down to do a split and ripped my pants completely open. I had no idea, and bent over in front of 10,000 men, women and children. I was fully hanging out.
