TEI SHI ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM
MAKE BELIEVE I MAKE BELIEVE
SHARES NEW SINGLE AND VISUAL “DROP DEAD”
UNVEILS LIMITED MERCH COLLAB WITH EVERYBODY.WORLD
Photo Credit: Danica Robinson
Today, Canadian-Colombian singer-songwriter and pop auteur Tei Shi returns with her unapologetically honest new single, "Drop Dead," from her forthcoming fourth independent LP, Make believe I make believe, slated for release this summer via The Orchard. The track marks an electrifying continuation of her ever-evolving artistic journey.
Following the introspective single "Best Be Leaving” and an exclusive teardrop tee collab with LA’s Everybody.World, "Drop Dead" dives headfirst into themes of defiant self-celebration and resilience, delivering an anthemic message that empowers listeners to confidently choose themselves first. “Drop Dead” is accompanied by a striking, deconstructed visual featuring fragmented cut-outs of Tei Shi’s own mouth, eyes, and hands, forming a bold, collage-like expression of self. Stylized and intentionally fractured, the imagery mirrors a reclamation of identity and power in the aftermath of betrayal and suppression.
Together, these singles hail a new creative chapter for Tei Shi, one shaped by emotional growth and a transformative creative retreat, ushering the genesis of Make believe I make believe, created with frequent collaborators Noah Beresin and Tommy English.
Tei Shi shares, "Drop Dead is a song to the haters! We all have them, and sometimes the call is coming from inside the house as they say...I channeled some personal betrayals into this one, and it also came from revisiting some of my early relationship dynamics where I felt I had to dim my shine for someone else. I wanted the song to be an unabashed celebration of that shine we all carry, that pride and confidence within us that is at times stronger than others, and kind of poke fun at the idea of jealousy.”
With razor-sharp lyrics layered over a nostalgic, playful pop production led by Tei Shi’s dream-like vocals, “Drop Dead” is as cathartic as it is empowering, inviting listeners to reclaim their light, take up space, and unapologetically embrace their individuality.
“‘Make believe I make believe’ was made during a one-week retreat on Vancouver Island last fall, with collaborators Noah Beresin and Tommy English. With the support of the British Columbia provincial government, I was able to rent out an amazing studio with built-in accommodation in the middle of the stunning BC woods. It gave me the chance to just write and record non-stop as much as I could with Noah and Tommy -- something that's quite hard to do financially as an independent artist. We've been working on the production and helping the album come to life since."
She adds, “Because of the grant support, I was brought home in a way, to where I grew up for a lot of my life, to create this album. As a result, the songs are really a dive into where my mind and my subconscious were during those days, which were surrounded by visiting home and seeing old family and friends. There was a lot boiling up in me, especially in the space since my last album ' Valerie ', that was able to come out as one big stream in the span of a week really. This is the first album I've made that has had no outside voices or pressure whatsoever involved in the making of it. No label, no manager, no one interrupting the process or holding the purse strings. I think you can feel that transition in the music and I'm excited that what came out of it is a collection of songs that captures a really big range of emotions and is very versatile, touching lightly on a multitude of different influences from Canadiana to Neo-perreo.”
Next month, Tei Shi will perform two special headlining shows at Constellation Room in Santa Ana on May 15 and at Pappy & Harriet’s in Joshua Tree on May 16. Bringing her passion for live instrumentation and musicality to the stage, Tei Shi will debut new songs from Make believe I make believe while reimagining selections from her catalog, performing alongside a group of prolific musicians. La Favi, Pen Pin, and special guests will join as support on each respective date. Purchase tickets here.
Tei Shi draws from her expansive creativity to carve out a signature sound entirely her own. Known for weaving vulnerability into lush, genre-bending soundscapes, she seamlessly blends elements of pop, R&B, indie shoegaze, tropicalia, and Latine influences with dynamic storytelling and bilingual lyricism—further solidifying her place as one of today’s most intriguing and compelling artists.
WATCH THE “DROP DEAD” VISUALIZER
STREAM “DROP DEAD”
UPCOMING TEI SHI SHOWS
5/15 - Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room
5/16 - Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet’s
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