Tei Shi: It's all New York City vibes from the 'Mona Lisa' music video

Could you use a splash of Tei Shi in your life right about now? Look no further than how she’s serving up with the new ‘Mona Lisa (Spanglish Version)’ music video.

From the Big Apple subways to seeing signature New York City spots from a roof top, it’s all Empire State of Mind glowing here. Tap in.

Continuing to express her identity and independence, Tei Shi returns with the release of her new bilingual single “Mona Lisa (Spanglish)”. The new track is reimagined and features lyrics in both English and Spanish, as she expresses the pain and rage of being mistreated and used. Accompanying the track is a follow-up to Tei Shi’s video for the original “Mona Lisa” which was shot while on tour with Kimbra this past Spring. The gritty new visual finds Tei Shi trekking and performing throughout New York City while donning her signature platinum blonde tresses. Captured by frequent collaborator, friend, and director Vogue Giambri, the raw visual showcases Tei Shi’s DIY aesthetic through a nostalgic lens.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the new version, Tei Shi shares, “When I was writing "Mona Lisa" for my EP 'BAD PREMONITION', I had the lyrics already written in English, but there were certain lines that kept coming to me in Spanish. I knew I wanted to integrate them somehow down the road, and I kind of just kept building off of these initial Spanish lyrics in my head until I had a concept for a mixed Spanglish version. I always felt like there were certain lines in the song that felt really strong in Spanish, and that was kind of the starting point.”

She adds, “I really liked the idea of doing this alt version for “Mona Lisa” because it's a song I'm really really proud of, and I feel like it could take on many different versions and contexts. It's a fun challenge for me too, trying to keep the same feelings and build the same storyline but find ways to do that in another language in a way that feels natural. I know a lot of my fans are also Latinx and bilingual, and I just loved the idea of them being able to scream out the words in both Spanish and English at my shows - especially the 'tu estás lleno de mierda y lo sabes!' (you're full of shit, and you know it!).” 

Tei Shi courageously shares her personal story and showcases her resilience and determination to rise above adversity on her EP BAD PREMONITION. The combination of songs and visuals brings to life Tei Shi's musical journey, rebirth, and diversity as both an artist and performer, navigating both heartbreak and the toxic aspects of the music industry. The EP resonates with listeners and has garnered press praise from Pitchfork, CLASH, The FADER, STEREOGUM, REMEZCLA, PAPER, FLOOD Magazine, i-D, NYLON, Exclaim, and more.

The past year has kicked off Tei Shi's new era as a fully independent artist and has seen her embark on an empowering musical journey while making her mark on the live scene. She toured across North America this past Spring, supported Kimbra throughout the country, and performed intimate, sold-out shows in New York and Los Angeles last fall. Additionally, Tei Shi collaborated with John Cale on his highly lauded album Mercy, where she was featured on the track "I Know You're Happy". She also made her runway debut at New York Fashion Week, walking for the Elena Velez show. Tei Shi continues to straddle the line between creativity, independence, artistry, genre, and worlds as she pushes forth her empowering message to a global audience and fearless fans that embrace her ingenuity. Stream/watch “Mona Lisa (Spanglish)” and stay tuned for more news to follow.

Tei Shi: The spicy vibes are fully embraced in the new '¿QUIÉN TE MANDA?' music video

Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to explore something so unique and fun you can’t get enough. That’s the case with Tei Shi finally delivering the visual treatment to the recently released Bad Premonition standout song ‘¿QUIÉN TE MANDA?.’

The music video clocks in at just over four minutes in length and features Tei’s signature style from start to finish. Peep the details and keep scrolling to get into the spicy zone.

Following the release of her new indpedent EP BAD PREMONITION, Canadian-Colombian singer-songwriter and artist Tei Shi shares her official video for her single "¿QUIÉN TE MANDA?", a fan favorite taken from the 6-track EP. Co-produced alongside Chairlift’s Patrick Wimberly and Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s Jake Portrait (Lil Yachty),  the bilingual track delves into themes of deception, self-empowerment, and independence all while drawing inspiration from her cultural roots. It’s a reflection of  the frustration, manipulation, and deceit Tei Shi endured while navigating the music industry. The single and its accompanying visual which premiered earlier today on REMEZCLA are a powerful testament to Tei Shi's artistic expression and serve as an anthem of strength and liberation.

While the visual is both captivating and intentional – it also holds an interesting story. After shooting, there was a major mishap which resulted in none of the footage being usable. Despite this, Tei Shi and her all-Latine team refused to give up and instead reshot the video, resulting in an exceptional piece of art. The visual features an incredible dance performance crafted with renowned choreographer Teresa "Toogie" Barcelo, who has worked with notable acts such as Dua Lipa, Xtina Aguilera, Miguel, and Kali Uchis. Directed by friend and frequent collaborator Jonatán López (Flying Lotus, A$AP Ferg, Alaina Castillo, and more), the video showcases an intricately designed outfit by fashion designer Elena Velez. This project exemplifies the team's unwavering dedication and serves as a labor of love and creativity. The empowering message of the single, juxtaposed with the challenges faced during its creation, amplifies the impact of the visual, creating a truly memorable experience.

Want to know more about Tei Shi? Gotta find out what she thinks about her must-see video? Say less.

Speaking on the video, Tei Shi shares, “The video for ‘QUIEN TE MANDA' was a huge labor of love and creativity on behalf of everyone involved. We actually had to shoot it twice – so the whole experience was very crazy. I’ve worked with Jonatan Lopez many times throughout my career. He’s one of my closest friends, and we’ve made multiple videos of mine and visual projects through the years. Working with him again now feels like such a natural extension of where I am — returning to my roots, to being independent, to taking back creative freedom, to that DIY and authentic spirit that Tei Shi was born of”. 

She adds, “Toogie is someone I’ve been wanting to work with for years. I’m so glad she was brought into my life! She brings a really free, mindful, spiritual and wellness oriented approach which has been really necessary for me, because I had a lot of physical recovery to do after some really bad chapters with chronic pain”

Touching on the choreography and inspiration, “I grew up dancing — my mom put me in ballet classes when I was two years old and I quit when I was 15. Ballet was my main thing but I did all types of dance. Dancing is something I’ve always loved to do, something that came really naturally to me my whole life. It got kind of buried for a long time, and I didn’t explore it at all within my music until now really. I came back to it gradually over the last three years, just for fun. I’m still very sloppy but that’s part of the process…it brings me a lot of joy. I also worked with my go-to stylist Kat Typaldos and we combined some incredible pieces by Elena Velez with some of my nostalgic dance elements like the dance sneaker and the tutu. 

Tei Shi courageously shares her personal story and showcases her resilience and determination to rise above adversity on her EP BAD PREMONITION. The combination of songs and visuals bring to life Tei Shi's musical journey, rebirth, and diversity as both an artist and performer, navigating both heartbreak and the toxic aspects of the music industry. The EP continues to resonate with listeners and has garnered press praise from Pitchfork, CLASH, The FADER, STEREOGUM, PAPER, FLOOD Magazine, i-D, NYLON, Exclaim, and more.

The past year has kicked off Tei Shi's new era and has seen her embark on an empowering musical journey while making her mark on the live scene. She toured across North America this past Spring, provided support to Kimbra throughout the country, and performed intimate, sold-out shows in New York and Los Angeles last fall. Additionally, Tei Shi collaborated with John Cale on his highly lauded album Mercy, where she was featured on the track "I Know You're Happy". She also made her runway debut at New York Fashion Week, walking for the Elena Velez show. 

Tei Shi: It's all about the 'Mona Lisa' vibes for the Canadian-Colombian crooner

Need some new tunes in your life? Look no further than what singer Tei Shi is delivering for the culture. While the focus of this post is of course on her new ‘Mona Lisa’ music video, it’s absolutely worth noting her new Bad Premonition EP is officially streaming.

The project hits hard and the music video goes all-out with the artistic flex. Peep the details and keep scrolling for the entire album.

The confessional new single is a powerful ballad that amplifies Tei Shi’s graceful, heart-wrenching vocals as she expresses the pain of being mistreated and used. The gritty visual depicts Tei Shi fearlessly trekking around town while on tour throughout the US, as she sets herself free from the pain she’s harbored over the past few years. “MONA LISA” touches on the pain, false hope, and deceit Tei Shi underwent as an artist and ushers in her EP, BAD PREMONITION.

The new EP expands on and signals Tei Shi’s artistic and personal rebirth. BAD PREMONITION showcases Tei Shi’s expert storytelling, resulting in an arresting and deeply personal body of work underpinned by a powerful message of resilience comprised of heartfelt and emotional songs. The combination of songs and visuals bring to life Tei Shi's musical journey, rebirth, and diversity as both an artist and performer navigating both heartbreak and the toxic aspects of the music industry. The EP follows the release of the empowering bilingual offering “¿QUIÉN TE MANDA?” which loosely translates to “who sent you” and was hailed by STEREOGUM as “a sharp, spiky new song that's rich in rhythmic and melodic layers”.

Tei Shi shares, “My EP ‘BAD PREMONITION’ is a collection of 6 songs that reflect my personal journey of rediscovering my power and purpose as an artist. I went through another difficult time where I lost control of my work and life, but eventually found my confidence and focus again. It took me 2.5 years to get through it, but the songs I wrote during that time helped me remember who I am as an artist. Now,  I can finally share these songs with you as a fully independent artist.”

The past year has kicked off Tei Shi's new era with her singles "GRIP" and "BAD PREMONITION", and has seen her embark on an empowering musical journey while making her mark on the live scene. She provided support to Kimbra throughout the country and performed intimate, sold-out shows in New York and Los Angeles last fall. Additionally, Tei Shi collaborated with John Cale on his highly lauded album Mercy, where she was featured on the track "I Know You're Happy". She also made her runway debut at New York Fashion Week, walking for the Elena Velez show.