Introducing The Charismatic Virtual Artist… Teflon Sega

Entering our reality through a mysterious portal door is virtual artist Teflon Sega. Blurring the lines between science fiction and reality, Teflon Sega’s entirely virtual presence has given him the tool to express his true self, without the fears or judgements attached to his human self. 

Teflon Sega has seen huge success over the years and released a single every single week in 2019 – consistently pushing boundaries within his artistry, he is set to release his debut album, Welcome To The Mourning Show, on 28th April. With his new 80’s inspired single, ‘Too Young To Be This Old,’ currently making the rounds, and we caught up with Teflon to chat about the single, living in a virtual world, and plans for the future.

Hey Teflon! Hope you’re having a great day so far?

Going great considering I have no idea what day it actually is haha. Days and nights are a linear concept to me nowadays, considering I live between a malleable virtual world and my garage studio. 

Tell us a little about yourself.

My first love is producing / singing, but with this project, I have unearthed an entire new passion which is world-building and storytelling. Making songs and getting them to people’s ears and hearts will always be my life’s mission, but these days I’m having as much fun bringing characters and worlds to life. The music and the multiverse can and should exist in the same space.

You’ve been releasing music so consistently over the last few years with a single almost weekly in 2019 — why a debut album now after all this time?

I feel like it can be too much to ask of an audience to discover you through a full body of work in the process of your origins. There needs to be trust and a demand for such a wholesome expression. I also needed to uncover my voice before being able to fully manifest my creativity. I love that my audience were able to grow and join me on this journey of discovery that has now given form to the version of myself that is ready to deliver a complete oeuvre. 

What made you decide to release a single weekly, and what was the biggest thing you took away from that?

After releasing my viral single “Beretta Lake,” I instinctively recognized that in order to continue building off of its momentum, I would have to build on the current audience’s awareness which could wane at any given moment. I had their attention and now I had to reel them in without letting go of the gas. The first biggest takeaway was vindicating the importance of consistency in content creation in today’s rapid paced world. The second was how applying pressure to the creative process can conceive remarkable works. Many of us artists fall victim to the curse of overthinking and having to consistently deliver a song a week forces you to shed those deterrents.  

A lot of your fans on Earth have highly related to Teflon, and have inspired them to express their true selves, without fear or judgement. How does it feel to have this influence on your fans?

There is nothing more sacred than self-regard. To love yourself is to unlock the endless possibilities of loving others in ways that effectuate change and impact. To even marginally have any influence in actualizing this prospect is an honor beyond anything I can imagine. I hope my fans know that they also do this for me on a daily basis and I am forever grateful for them. 

What’s your favourite song from Welcome To The Mourning Show, and why?

I would say Too Young To Be This Old. Aesthetically the song is what I imagined myself doing when picturing the prospects of being on the largest possible stages in terms of sonics and musicianship. Narratively it’s a reminder for me to persistently maintain an inspirational drive. The song is about rediscovering the magic in a relationship that has gotten dull and routine. This is a sentiment that is universal even outside of the constructs of intimacy. We have to constantly remind ourselves of the importance of opening up to the beautiful possibilities that life offers us especially in the darkest moments. 

Although you’re predominantly an R&B artist, your music is very genre-bending. What music did you grow up with before you started making music? 

Although I do realize a lot of people are very loyal to one specific genre or niche, I have always been an oddity in that regard. I would spend as much time listening to alternative stuff as I would rap or R&B. For me, it was never about genre and always about the song. There’s no genres in my mind, only good music.

What’s your favourite part about being an artist that purely exists in the metaverse?

The freedom and endless possibilities that it offers. As an artist in the metaverse I am not limited by physical space or material constraints, and can create anything my imagination expresses. It allows me to experiment with new forms, styles, and mediums that might not be possible in the physical world. Additionally it provides a global audience that can easily access and appreciate an artist’s work, without the restraints of geography or time forging a larger reach and impact. Finally, and most importantly, as an introvert, my perceived anonymity allows me to create, communicate and perform in ways my physical shell would deny. 

What do you hope your fans take away from the album? 

I hope fans are able to appreciate the genre agnostic approach of the project. I have always been inspired by a multitude of pallets, shapes and sounds and through my ability to limitlessly articulate this in a visual sense, it has inspired me to break free of the chains of genre expression. My creativity both visually and sonically has to be conveyed boundlessly in order for me to authentically communicate. 

What’s next for Teflon after the album? 

Setting up a tour that simultaneously lives on a virtual stage as well as a physical one using hologram technology. When we think of holograms and live music we harken back to moments like 2Pac, Eazy E, and Amy Winehouse on the biggest stages and festivals. I want to give my audience this experience in smaller and intimate settings. 

Make sure to listen to Teflon Sega’s new track ‘Too Young To Be This Old’ here or below.