Written mostly in LA on a single synth, Always With Me is defined by restraint and messaging that hits deeper than ever before. The architecture of the tracks is roomy and uplifting with pure, breezy vocals surf on soft, subtle synths and a gentle electronic pulse. Lyrically, it delves into some of the most emotionally open songwriting of Teed’s career. The first half orbits love, longing and desire. The second half turns more inward with themes of self-awareness and emotional resilience. It is rooted in the bittersweet blur of childhood summer holidays in France - first crushes, freedom, loneliness, adolescent longing and end-of-trip blues. But rather than being nostalgic for those times, is about what these moments leave behind and how they echo into adulthood. This album also marks an official switch to the Teed alias. Rather than a metamorphosis, it's a quiet recalibration that reflects a more grounded and clear-headed approach to artistry. The original moniker was designed to protect against passing trends, but also as a kind of armour that the emerging artist could hide behind. With that now gone, Always With Me stands as Higginbottom's most honest work to date.
