Music Artists You Should Know: Teardux

Emerging from an entrancing, swirling void, the Atlanta-based duo Teardux is here to conjure up the synth-pop soundscapes of your darkest dreams. After unveiling their first single at the end of last year, they’ve been steadily building toward the release of their debut EP, which—based on the tracks shared so far—promises to mesmerize listeners with an irresistible blend of otherworldly vocals, hypnotic kineticism, and sublime electronica.

At the center of Teardux’s obsidian soul are Valerie Andra and Dylan Anderson, two artists who met through mutual friends only to discover in each other the beginnings of a new project. “Instantly we connected on our love for music and we began writing demos,” Andra said in an email. “It happened so quickly and it felt so natural making music together.”

That bond was bolstered by their overlapping preference for the nostalgic, ethereal sounds of previous decades. Their first single, “XCESS,” with its shuddering synths and dually clamorous but shimmering melody, proved they were more than capable of not just resurrecting those sounds but making them entirely their own.

For Andra, who started singing when she was five, an early source of influence on her musical tastes and aspirations was her dad. “My Father was a huge music nerd!” she admitted. “I was raised with music constantly being played around the house, specifically music from the 80s & 90s era.” There are moments—amidst the thrumming rush of their second offering, “MEND”—when her forlorn but gleaming voice resonates with the same intoxicating aura as Madonna.

Anderson also revealed he’s had a longstanding “affinity for the early new romantic synth-pop and italo disco eras of music.” One that’s led him to prefer the nostalgia evoked by the sounds of the past rather than music created with contemporary gear. “The synthesizers and drum machines used during those periods are still some of the most inspiring and captivating, in my opinion,” he elaborated.

Their moniker, Teardux—which Anderson chose out of a Rolodex of names he’d compiled—was picked because they both felt it captured the bittersweet dualities of the music they wanted to make. One that manifests visions of spellbinding melancholy and unabashed vulnerability while also hinting at the mercurial ways their twilight melodies are as luminescent as they are gloomy.

Their two most recent singles, “REINS” and “VIOLETS,” are perhaps Teardux’s most enthralling yet. Bursting with bright synths and propelled by hurriedly pulsing bass, Andra’s riveting cries remain at the forefront of each track, giving voice to her desperate yearning for freedom from tainted love. On “VIOLETS,” they wanted to still tap into that “sexy and darker” sound they love while also creating something “melodic and beautiful.”

“[“VIOLETS”] is about a vivid, hypnagogic fever-dream where it’s difficult to discern reality from fantasy,” Anderson said of the single. “It started sonically as a barebones EBM-esque four to the floor dance track. It was much darker sounding in its infancy and I wanted to give it some levity by adding some melodic bells over the bass. I also wanted to be able to give Val some more space for melodies and an infectious chorus.”

With just four singles to their name now’s the time to fall in love with Teardux’s modest but emotionally immersive music—and keep your ear to the ground for the imminent reveal of their debut EP’s release date! We expect it won’t be long before they’re playing fests like Darker Waves or Cruel World where they’d fit right in with their moody, dance-minded synth-pop.

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Words: Steven Ward

Visit Teardux on their Bandcamp and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.