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There’s no one like music artist Teezo Touchdown. This is apparent in everything he does, starting with the music he produces, which is a beautiful blend of genres like alternative and hip-hop (listen to songs “Strong Friend” and “Familiarity” for a small, delicious taste). After releasing singles like “Rock Paper Strippers” and features on both Tyler The Creator’s “RUNITUP” and Travis Scott’s “MODERN JAM,” Touchdown is releasing his debut album, How do you sleep at night? on September 8th.
“I really wanted to show my range and penmanship,” the Beaumont, Texas-born artist explains to Vogue about the project that includes songs like “Familiarity” and “Mood Swings.” We’re in a Home Depot aisle in Manhattan and Touchdown is clad in shoulder pads and platform boots. He’s searching for the signature nails to adorn his next hair look. The current one? An awe-inspiring nail-infused mohawk.
Touchdown came up with the idea to put nails in his hair in 2018. “I always knew I wanted to look different,” he says. “When I came back to Texas, I really took the time to reflect and go within,” Touchdown says. “I was looking around my childhood home and there were a lot of nails lying around because my dad’s a handyman. And then I had the idea to put the nails on the brim of my hats and on my boots.” After he got signed, he went to see a hairstylist and asked about putting nails in his braids. His signature look made its debut in the video for his single “Strong Friend.” “I probably had about 10 nails in my hair for that. And from there, it just kept getting heavier and heavier,” Touchdown says.
To maintain this sharp hairstyle, Touchdown is a big proponent for wrapping up his hair every night. “This is my main responsibility when it comes to caring for my hair, because otherwise, my routine consists of running to get it done,” he says, adding that his hairstylist is Monique Avant. “It’s honestly something I dread, because I don’t want to sit there for a long time. Also, taking it down is painful… I’ve been tender-headed my whole life,” he says. Otherwise, he ensures to use his aloe vera plant, Mane and Tail shampoo and conditioner, As I Am Smoothing Gel and “a boatload of nails,” to ensure the health and preferred look of his hair.
When it comes to both hair and music, Touchdown is heavily inspired by the likes of Prince, Rick James, Little Richard, OutKast and Ian Isaiah. “I love their showmanship and also that they weren’t afraid to be wild and crazy,” he says. “Ian Isaiah has definitely given me the confidence to want to add hair,” Touchdown continues. “I also credit all the women in my life for inspiring me to experiment too. I really got into wigs because of them. I’m just inspired by how they change up their hair every week.” And speaking of confidence, he credits much of his musical certainty to growing up in a rhythmic household–his father not only inspired his use of nails, but is also a DJ. “I had the privilege of having music and creativity around me ever since I can remember,” he says. “My earliest memories are him playing music and buying new albums every Tuesday.” Additionally, the loss of his girlfriend in 2016 really catapulted him into having a fearless approach to everything he does. “I learned you can either go crazy or you can let the pain remind you that life is short and let it motivate you to really chase your dreams.”
And if there’s anything else that Touchdown has learned along the way–be it personally, with his musical career, or experimenting with hair and fashion–it’s that you can’t be afraid to fail. “I practice extreme trial and error. And I’m not scared anymore of what comes out of this,” he says. “I think my biggest hurdle now, has just been battling myself and reminding myself that I deserve the blessings that are coming my way.”