The Horror Revolution: What’s your favorite horror movie? What movie scared you the most?
Teddy Martin: My favorite movie would have to be the Scream franchise. I grew up in the 90’s so I love 90’s horror movies. The movie that scared me the most was the first Nightmare on Elm Street.
THR: How did you get involved with the making of the Maniacal Night? I loved the soundtrack, I thought it fit the mood of the scenes perfectly.
TM: Thank you so much, I genuinely appreciate that. The assistant director (shout out to Ashley) contacted me about possibly using my music on the soundtrack. I sat down, and had a meeting with the director (Shreco Bakari)
THR: What inspires you as an artist in general?
TM: My life experiences, the people I encounter, the world. I’ve always been the type of guy that goes to the moon and back for what I do. Music has always been my passion. I’d dance and sing as a kid to the point my mom had to pull up the carpet because I had worn it down.
THR: As a music artist, is it a different experience contributing your music to a film, or did Bakari just choose songs that were already made to go into the soundtrack?
TM: I would say both, I’ve never had my music in a film so it’s a first for me. Shreco did choose the songs that he had heard on my platforms. As you said, the songs fit perfectly with the scenes so I was in awe at the tracks he picked. I cried like a baby when I saw them being apart of the film.
THR: Do you have aspirations to contribute more of your songs to films?
TM: I would say absolutely, I’ve always wanted to have my music in the movies.
THR: I saw that you were from Columbus, Ohio. How did you get connected to the filmmaking community in Georgia?
TM: I met Shreco through Instagram and my fiancée. We have been following each other’s journey for a couple years, so it was pretty awesome when we sat down for that first meeting.
THR: For those who loved the music in the film, where can they go to listen to more of your stuff?
TM: You can go to any musical platform. Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer, YouTube, iTunes.
THR: Is there anything inherently difficult about working on your genre of music in the current climate of the world?
TM: I honestly think it’s the analytics. It feels like if you don’t have 10,000 plus followers people are uninterested. I think that’s why I appreciate an artist like Michael Jackson, because he grew up in a time period where they didn’t have Instagram. I know it was a different time, but he had to get out there and bust his butt. No Instagram, no social media just plain hard work without the internet. Social media is a good way to help, but in the same breath it can highlight some who don’t put in work, and that overshadows the ones who do.
THR: What are you working on now? Anything exciting that you have planned for your next project?
TM: I’m working on some new music coming spring of 2023. I can’t wait to release the title.
THR: Finally, you’ve been given an elephant. You’re not allowed to give it away or sell it. What would you do with it?
TM: I would keep it, and make sure it was comfortable. I would love on it just like I love on my dog.