Singer/songwriter Nicky Youre opens up about the new sound and direction he’s found with his latest single “Tease Me,” a cinematic, soul-stirring fever dream of hot sweat and raw passion that’s ready to be the soundtrack to the summer.
Stream: “Tease Me” – Nicky Youre
“I definitely lost my voice after recording this song, but it was worth it,” Nicky Youre grins.
The 24-year-old singer/songwriter’s new single is a big one – for him, and for his career – and he knows it. For well over a year and a half, Youre had been searching for a “new sound” – digging deep in (and out of) songwriting and production sessions to figure out who he was and where to take his music in the aftermath of his 2023 debut EP Good Times Go and his global smash hit, “Sunroof.”
As many musical “success stories” know all too well, debut singles can loom large over careers in ways both good and bad. From The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” and Lorde’s “Royals” to Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” and beyond, musical reinvention, creativity, and innovation often prove vital to longevity – ensuring an artist is not defined solely by their day-one triumphs.
And Youre is lucky enough to have one such triumph; “Sunroof,” his second-ever single (featuring musician and producer Dazy), has amassed over 1 billion streams to-date since its December 2021 release. The song’s summery, laid-back, and sun-soaked vibe set the tone for successive songs like “Eyes on You,” “Shut Me Up,” and “Never Go Wrong,” his collaboration with fellow Californian pop artist David Hugo.
Youre could have continued churning out “Sunroof” soundalikes – radiant, relaxed, smile-inducing songs with uplifting beats and feel-good melodies – but he wanted more.
And to his credit, “Tease Me” is a whole lot more.
I’m such a sucker for honey
Can’t get enough of the taste
She keeps me up till the morning
I’m just a dog at her waist
And when she tells me to come over
I grab my keys and I run
You got me begging on my
knees, please me
I know you love to tease, tease me
Come gimme some more of that sugar
Sweet drenched in bitter
No Mama didn’t raise no quitter, c’mon
Please! Don’t leave me on my –
Youre’s fourth single of the year, “Tease Me” is a cinematic, soul-stirring fever dream of sweat and raw passion, heat and hunger. Bluesy, hearty, and as catchy and dynamic as anything and everything that came before, it’s the evolution Youre’s been looking for – and it’s ready to be the soundtrack to our summer.
“‘Tease Me’ is the start of a new sound that I’ve been working towards for the last year and a half,” Youre tells Atwood Magazine. “For so long I’ve felt like I was one song away from discovering the new direction I wanted to go towards, and when I made this song, I knew this was it. It’s a combination of all the skills I’ve picked up over the last two years from writing with some of the most talented people, to learning my voice, and playing live so many times that I’ve lost count.”
“I wanted to make a song that you can absolutely scream in your car that would also be super fun to see live. This song is about anyone in your life that you can’t live without – for better or for worse. I’m very confident in this one, and I hope people love it.”
She only calls me when the
party’s over and she’s feeling lonely
And I know I shouldn’t but I do it
’cause I’d hate to leave her lonely, so lonely
I call her on her telephone
She lets it ring like no one’s home
Then sends me pics with nothing on, oh god
You got me begging on my
knees, please me
I know you love to tease, tease me
Come gimme some more of that sugar
Sweet drenched in bitter
No mama didn’t raise no quitter, c’mon
Please! Don’t leave me on my
Don’t leave me on…
Released June 7 via Thirty Knots / Virgin Music, “Tease Me” arrives on the heels of “S.A.D.,” “Part Time Lover,” and “Mile Away” – tracks that have seen Youre avidly expanding his range in the wake of Good Times Go‘s release last summer.
“This year has been a journey of discovery for me,” he explains. “I’ve tried making songs in a bunch of different genres and styles. I feel like each new song has made it clearer and clearer what I want to be going for. Right now I’m focused on creating high energy songs that translate really well live. More organic instruments, trying to be less “perfect,” and also trying to be more authentic to myself is really important to me right now.”
“Tease Me” is all that and more: A fiery guitar riff and an especially intense, bouncy rhythm section lay the foundations for what can only be described as euphoric emotional upheaval: Youre sings about being led on by a love interest he can’t help but want more of, even though he knows she’s bad for him. “She only calls me when the party’s over and she’s feeling lonely,” he sings, “And I know I shouldn’t but I do it ’cause I’d hate to leave her lonely, so lonely.”
“I call her on her telephone, she lets it ring like no one’s home, then sends me pics with nothing on, oh god.” She’s got him hooked, and he knows it – coming to a fever pitch in the song’s searing, emotionally charged chorus: “You got me begging on my knees, please me,” he screams into the mic, a man on a mission. “I know you love to tease, tease me, come gimme some more of that sugar.”
She’s “sweet drenched in bitter,” but “mama didn’t raise no quitter“; he won’t be the one to call things off.
As Youre shares, this song was inspired by real-life events. “One of my first relationships was a very sneaky and secretive one – not by my choice,” he laughs. “I’ve thought about that moment in time a lot and how it made me feel. For the longest time, it was like I was begging her to choose me. Sometimes she would, but never for the long run. It wasn’t all good or all bad, it was kinda just a lesson for me. This song is about the fun side of that relationship.”
“Tease Me” is exciting, fresh, and something altogether new from Nicky Youre. It’s unlike anything he’s made to date, and it sticks the landing in every way as a cathartic, irresistible rush of both spirited sound and intense feeling. Catch up with Nicky Youre in our interview below as he talks all things “Tease Me” and more.
One thing we know for sure: With this song, Nicky Youre has all but ensured that “Sunroof” will not be his only legacy.
Don’t leave me on my knees
Please babe
You got me begging on my
knees, please me
I know you love to tease, tease me
Come gimme some more sugar
Sweet drenched in bitter
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:: stream/purchase Tease Me here ::
:: connect with Nicky Youre here ::
Stream: “Tease Me” – Nicky Youre
A CONVERSATION WITH NICKY YOURE
Atwood Magazine: Great to catch up, Nicky! Firstly, what's the story behind “Tease Me” for you? What excites you most about it?
Nicky Youre: This record feels like the song that I’ve been trying to find within myself for the past year and a half. I’ve really been pushing myself creatively with my music and figuring out how to do so has been challenging but super fun! This song is the start of a new sound for me that I’m still dialing in, but I’m very proud and confident in it. I think it’s still fun and exciting like my other songs, but it really shows my vocal range and the direction I’m trying to take things with the lyrical content. I’m excited because it feels like the start of something new and special to me.
This is the fourth song you’ve released this year, following “Mile Away,” “Part Time Lover” and “SAD.” Can you share a bit about your new songs, and what you’ve been going for this year?
Nicky Youre: This year has been a journey of discovery for me. I’ve tried making songs in a bunch of different genres and styles. I feel like each new song has made it clearer and clearer what I want to be going for. Right now I’m focused on creating high energy songs that translate really well live. More organic instruments, trying to be less “perfect,” and also trying to be more authentic to myself is really important to me right now.
“Tease Me” is about being led on by a romantic interest - there’s some cheeky teenage shenanigans going on in this song… Where, for you, did those emotions stem from? Were these real life, lived experiences, and how did you navigate them?
Nicky Youre: One of my first relationships was a very sneaky and secretive one – not by my choice. [laughs] I’ve thought about that moment in time a lot and how it made me feel. For the longest time, it was like I was begging her to choose me. Sometimes she would, but never for the long run. It wasn’t all good or all bad, it was kinda just a lesson for me. This song is about the fun side of that relationship.
Sonically, this song feels so spirited, fiery and unleashed. What were you going for when recording it? What was your vision for it, if any? Did you have any musical North Stars?
Nicky Youre: I love to belt and sing big songs for fun (songs from artists like Adele and Teddy Swims), and I guess I’ve always wanted one like that myself. The day we wrote this song, we were supposed to write a song for a commercial. When I got to the studio, my producer Josh Murty told me we weren’t doing that anymore and that we were going to make me a song. I went into that session with zero pressure because I thought I wasn’t writing for myself. That really helped this song bloom because I wasn’t overthinking anything. We just had fun creating and messing around. It flowed out of all of us pretty easily that day, and those days usually lead to the best type of songs. When I got to the mic and started singing, I really didn’t know I could sound like that. I’ve tried powerful choruses before, but it’s never landed that way. I really just tried buying into the song, and it helped me get there with this one.
=The lyrics are such a fine mix of emotionally charged and tongue-in-cheek (“when she tells me to come…over” - come on, ha!). Do you have any favorite lyrics or lines from this track?
Nicky Youre: That line is probably my favorite in the song. We were having so much fun writing this one and when that line came to life, we just laughed and questioned if it was really good or really bad. We decided on really good, obviously, and hope you think so too. I also like “I’m just a dog at her waist” because the person this song is about really could’ve told me to do anything, and I would’ve done it. I definitely learned a lot from this relationship. [laughs]
It’s been nearly a full year since the release of your EP, Good Times Go. How has your relationship with the record and its songs changed? Do any tracks continue to resonate with you deeply?
Nicky Youre: I’m very proud of all those songs. I definitely enjoy some more than others on the record, but I can think back on all of them very fondly. It was truly the start of my career, I’m still learning so much everyday about what I do and don’t like. I’d been writing for a pretty long time before that EP, but actually releasing songs, promoting and doing all the things I do now is so different than it was then. My taste has changed dramatically since that EP, but I still am able to enjoy and love all those songs for different reasons. The title track “Good Times Go” is still one of my favorites to date!
How do you feel your newer songs compare to those first EP tracks? Are there any notable differences for you already that set your current work, especially “Tease Me,” apart?
Nicky Youre: I don’t think that the newer songs are wildly different, but I do hope it comes off like I’m evolving my sound. They’re still upbeat, high energy and fun, but I think the actual production is starting to sound different. I have been working on changing up the actual lyrical content a bit as well, and I think that’s going to start showing more and more with these new songs. Starting with “Tease Me.”
In the spirit of “teasing” listeners, what else can fans look forward to as this year continues? Anything we can share to start getting folks excited?
Nicky Youre: More and more music! I’m really trying to be consistent with new songs and get better everyday at my craft!
Lastly, what do you love most about this new song, and what do you hope listeners take away from it?
Nicky Youre: I hope that when people listen to the song, they’re surprised to find out that I’m the one singing it. I went in super hard on the vocals with my engineer (I definitely lost my voice after recording this song but it was worth it). I wanted to show a vocal side of me that I haven’t yet before. I also like that it’s a mix of chill and high energy throughout the song. I feel like I’m really trying to just be myself in these newer songs and not put on a persona and I’m proud of that. Also just trying to let whatever ideas I have flow out of me without pressure. I hope that people give it a chance and really like this one!
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:: stream/purchase Tease Me here ::
:: connect with Nicky Youre here ::
Stream: “Tease Me” – Nicky Youre
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