7 Questions With Atlanta's @Teaacup
A leader from Atlanta whose always been ahead of the curve.
How’s it going everyone, my name is Michael Stover. Most of you know me as the “get a website” guy or the one who’s dropping all the keys. This whole time though and for the last 15 years, I’ve been a journalist, who writes reviews, feature pieces & more. One of my favorite parts of doing this is talking to people from all over the world and hearing their perspectives. Originally started by Noah the Producer, my interview series ‘7 Questions’. For the first edition of 2022, I sat down with Atlanta’s Teaacup, a veteran curator in the Atlanta scene, the founder of Spill The Tea TV where she’s been introducing the world to Atlanta artists for years now. Take this interview for a spin and let me know what you think!
Sto: For those who don’t know, who is Teaacup?
Teaacup: Teaacup is a human, first. A child of God. Eastside of Atlanta native. A “free-spirited” muse to some. A tomboy and a baddie. A Gemini who loves to travel and explore, who knows so many fire people, especially out of Atlanta. A sleep enthusiast. A Podcast + audiobook lover. A gamer and skater at times. I’m really 10 people in one lol
Sto: In this modern era of clout chasing, Spill The Tea TV is a breath of fresh air with what seems to be what we grew up on as kids. It has that BET, MySpace feel to it. How did it come about?
Teaacup: I started out doing online radio and while people are interviewing popular artists and things at the time, I decided to feature my peers at West Georgia who were making a name for themselves. I partnered with Urban365radio at the time and had just a segment called spilltheTEA. Then I started doing events in Atlanta and having content with them, then it just came about. I wanted to show what it’s like everyday in Atlanta and give a platform for upcoming artists and creatives. Mass media seems to miss the mark sometimes on what the experience is like in Atlanta and some of the influential people. Nationally strip clubs, wings, and Yung Joc are the forefront, but there’s so many businesses and creatives that go under the radar.
Sto: Can you give maybe like 5 tips to artists that are looking to come up let alone get covered by yourself and Spill the Tea TV?
Teaacup: -Have your target audience already discovered, as Sto always says before getting an interview. So it can make more sense.
-Be consistent with your branding.
-Have a Twitter account. As a media platform we get the most engagement from twitter. And there’s a direct link included in the post which makes it easier to share your content.
-Stay down with your team. Networking across is real because sometimes it’s best to build those direct relationships and come up together. Rather than trying to reach up and being treated like a stepchild, if that makes sense. Keep some solid people around you.
-Work with your head down. I had to learn this. Social media makes everything look like an overnight success and because something has worked for the next does not mean it may work for you. Put in your 10,000 hours, forever be a student, study your market and trends, stay consistent and learn the business. Those are pretty much the keys to success.
Sto: Now obviously the Atlanta scene is popping and has always been legendary but you take it a step further and cover artists who haven’t necessarily become staple names yet. Can you speak on the motivation to cover these artists and why it’s important?
Teaacup: It’s important because as aforementioned, it’s not glorified by mass media but when you come here most underground artists are packing out 500 ppl capacity venues. And there’s so many different scenes and subcultures. You can go to an artist showcase and there’s either a wrestling ring or a game system set up on a projector. We move without the mainstream, which hopefully that changes and we make the mainstream come here. Also, the celebrities here are everyday people. You could go to Atlantic Station and see TI. So many people move here each year to pursue their dreams because they’ll get the support. There’s truly no place that has the speed of Atlanta.
Sto: Now you’re a professional at throwing fire events that provide more than just the average, food, drink & music. But I know for a fact that it’s no easy task can you take me through the process of putting an event together, from a thought all the way through to execution?
Teaacup: Whew I actually took a break for 2 years because it was a lot lol but basically I wanted to create an all inclusive music space. I had this specific event called the Show + Cypher. I feel like most events are either all trap, all male/masc, all hipster, not lgbt or R&B inclusive, so I wanted a showcase where you’d see all sorts of talent. I used to have artists subscribe to my YouTube and leave their info for me to research. I’d choose about 8-10 to perform and then have an open “cypher” for anyone that wanted to be heard to win a chance to perform on the next event or get an interview. Basically wanted to find a resolution to the politics when it came to showcases in Atlanta.
Sto: Gimme 5 artists that I need to be listening to right now?
Teaacup: As of right now. I’d have to say Yoski & Letter M coming out of the eastside of Atlanta. Che Ecru & India Shawn are a couple of my favorite R&B singers. Z6 Saint got something to say as well.
Bonus Question: What can we expect from you in 2022?
Content, content, content, I have so many new series to come. Definitely check out my YouTube. We have cyphers, vlogs, animated content, & more
https://youtube.com/channel/UCQ-LLuMvGeijYLp82wOdkwQ
Make sure to follow Teaacup!
Twitter: @teaacup_
IG: @teaacupp_
Thank you so much for reading this Newsletter, hope you’ll continue to join me as I pen more interviews & reviews!