Q&A: Tai Verdes on Musical Inspiration, TikTok & More

☆ By JAMIE IMPERIAL ☆

 
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LIKE PEEKING INTO THE DIARY OF THE COOLEST GUY YOU KNOW — listening to Tai Verdes sing sounds like finding out that he has a heart of gold. If you’ve been on TikTok at all in the past year, there’s a very high chance you’ve heard Verdes sing at least once. His debut single “Stuck in the Middle” made him a breakout star on the app and beyond. 

With its catchy bass intro and Verdes’s comforting voice, “Stuck in the Middle” explores the gray area between two people who aren’t quite lovers, but aren’t quite friends either. The single has earned over 60 million global streams on Spotify and has been used in over 2.3 million TikTok videos. Verdes himself has received over 1 billion views on his TikTok videos, and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Based in Los Angeles, the 25-year-old singer isn’t afraid to put his heart on his sleeve when it comes to his music. With his newest single “BAD BAD News,” Verdes sings about what it’s like to not be over your ex, soulfully crooning over a mellow guitar and heavy bass. The song has resonated with thousands of fans already, with over 160 thousand views on the lyric video and counting. 

Both songs showcase different parts of Verdes’s vulnerable side, but he manages to make each one a catchy anthem. Before you know it, you’ll be hitting repeat on them over and over again.

His second single “DRUGS” is a fun and lighthearted bop that takes a detour from his situationship anthems. The song’s cheerful chorus, where Verdes proudly sings, “Sometimes I do drugs / not hard ones! / Just ones that change my mind up,” will make you belt it out along with him because it’s just so darn catchy (and relatable). The music video is just as fun, with bright visuals and a surprise guest that will make you laugh and want to start the whole thing over again.

With his debut EP on the horizon, Tai Verdes is about to become a name you won’t be able to ignore soon. Read below to learn more about the talented singer and what’s coming up next for him.

LUNA: How has 2021 been treating you so far?

VERDES: I’m just beautiful right now. I hope everyone else is as well. 

LUNA: The first line of your new single “DRUGS” is “I don't wanna tell my mom I smoked this weed,” but we see her at the end of the music video having fun with you. What was her reaction when she first heard the song?

VERDES: Well to be honest, by this point in my life, my mom knows I smoke weed, and we’ve already had plenty of laughs about it. She likes it though! 

LUNA: Speaking of the music video, there’s a really dreamy, bright quality to it that makes it feel retro and modern at the same time. Where did the inspiration for the music video come from? What was your favorite part about making it?

VERDES: I just wanted to make something that had the same feel good energy that I was trying to convey with my song. I mean, there’s a backflip in the video. That’s awesome.

LUNA: Your first single “Stuck in the Middle,” has now been used in over 2.3 million TikToks. It became an instant classic on the app. When did you first realize you could use TikTok to gain traction for your music? 

VERDES: I saw Curtis Waters killing it with a dance he made up, and I thought, “I can definitely do this shit too.” So I just started telling my story. 

Photo By Amy Le

Photo By Amy Le

LUNA: What was the hardest part of getting “Stuck in the Middle” noticed on TikTok? Bonus question: are you on Alt TikTok?

VERDES: The reaction to my music happened right away. I put up a video of me singing “Stuck In The Middle” in my car and said, “If this song gets one thousand likes, I’ll put it out.” I got 80,000. To be honest, I was going to post that shit even if it got one like. I’m on all of TikTok. Are you on RugTok? People just [make] rugs on TikTok. That’s a vibe. 

LUNA: What advice would you give to young artists who want to use TikTok as a platform to share their music?

VERDES: Don’t ask too much from an audience that doesn’t even know you yet. Tell them about your life and build first. Give give give first. 

LUNA: Who or what are your top influences when it comes to music?

VERDES: I pull influence from all over.  My mom used to get the CD of all of the songs nominated for Grammys compiled into one album and play it in the car. It was so important to get exposure to all of these different genres so early on.

LUNA: For “Stuck in the Middle Part II,” you got to collaborate with Kiana Ledé to make a very sweet duet. Do you have any other dream collabs for future music?

VERDES: Billie Eilish and Tyler the Creator. Easy. 

Photo By Amy Le

Photo By Amy Le

LUNA: Since you’ve created anthems for situationships and soft drugs, here’s a two-part question: What advice would you give anyone struggling in a situationship going nowhere right now? What tips would you give to someone about to smoke weed for the first time?

VERDES: I’d say look [to] within yourself and think about if you are your best self when you’re with that person. If the answer is no, then move on. And for the newbie weed smoker, drink water before you start! That helped me!

LUNA: In your new single “BAD BAD News,” you sing about not quite being over your ex yet. Where’d the inspiration for this song come from? And what’s your advice on handling a 2 a.m. “u up?” text from your ex?

VERDES: I really don’t know. I mean, your phone has Do Not Disturb on it. Try that? I am not a professional over here.

LUNA: What’s next on the horizon for you? When’s your first EP dropping?

VERDES: The project is coming soon! But first we have another single.  It’s one of my favorite things I made last year. We actually went to a scientist and he said at loud volumes the song actually can clear your skin. 

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