GET TO KNOW: Tee Valentine - The Eclectic R&B Artist Doing Things His Own Way
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Some artists walk on stage. Tee Valentine arrives.
At our recent Unsigned Showcase at Soul Mama, he delivered the kind of performance that doesn’t just land - it lingers. By the time he reached the end of his set, the room was electric, the crowd chanting “One more song!” until he gave in and extended his performance. It was a moment that captured exactly who Tee Valentine is: authentic, unpredictable, and deeply connected to the people listening.
But behind that energy is a story shaped by music from birth. “Both my parents are heavy music enthusiasts. I was always surrounded by music of all genres & styles since birth.” Growing up in South-East London, Tee was the kid performing songs for his family at five years old, writing lyrics before most children could spell them. Music wasn’t a hobby - it was a calling. “Being a musician was always on the cards... I always dreamed of having my own song on [Choice FM].”
His journey, however, hasn’t been without its challenges. Tee is honest about the realities of choosing music as a career. “There's always a ‘challenge’ or ‘defining moment’ when you choose music as a career... The whole journey is a ‘challenge’; it's about how much of it you're willing to firm.” It’s this resilience, this willingness to keep going that shapes the artist he is today.
Tee’s sound is as layered as his experiences. “Eclectic,” he says. Raised on a wide spectrum of genres, he’s crafted a style that blends R&B, Alt-R&B and Afro-R&B into something uniquely his. “I've been able to pinch a piece of every genre and add it into my own uniquely crafted calabash of music.” And what sets him apart? Tee doesn’t hesitate: “I feel like I'm the only artist doing what the heck I like. No conforming, no facades, just pure, genuine fun combined with substantial amounts of real life experience.”
His writing process is equally distinctive - poetic, chaotic, and deeply personal. “It's very free flowing. No pressure ever... with all the chaos in my head, the poetic-chaotic combination turns into my own mysterious individual style.” He writes real life, whether his own or those close to him. And while listeners often assume his songs are about relationships, Tee reveals a twist: “Most of the time, I'm using personification to personify the ‘girl’ into something completely different.”
When it comes to milestones, Tee keeps it humble. “Yes for sure, there's loads to celebrate, loads I'm proud of, gotta keep going though!” But one project stands out: VALLY $UMMER. “It's my first FULLY independent project... definitely a project I had fun making.” Reinvention, experimentation, and independence all collide in this body of work - and fans won’t have to
wait long. “YES! ‘VALLY $UMMER’ JULY 24th!!! LETS GO!”
Collaboration is something he values deeply, even if the wider scene doesn’t always align. “I definitely have & it's something I'm extremely keen on. The problem is half the UK scene doesn't agree.” Still, his dream collaborators are clear: “Kehlani or Tory Lanez... the talent of both of them is genuinely incredible.”
Looking ahead, Tee sees evolution - not just in sound, but in identity. “True creatives are always evolving... I see myself evolving & making all types of music, but when the time is right.” He hopes his music resonates with depth: “I hope my music relays a plethora of powerful messages with each & every theme & trope that appears throughout each record.”
And if you’re wondering about quirks or rumours, Tee keeps it real. “I've heard people think I have children. I do not have children yet, but one day I hope too.” As for balancing life and music? “Music is my work thankfully!”
What makes Tee Valentine compelling isn’t just the music - it’s the honesty, the humour, the unpredictability, and the refusal to conform. He’s building a world on his own terms, one eclectic record at a time. And if his Soul Mama performance taught us anything, it’s that audiences aren’t just listening - they’re invested. Tee Valentine is only getting started. And the crowd is already asking for more.
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