Teddy Swims, Are You Even Real (Ft. Givēon) | Song Review 🎵

Grammy-nominated pop artist Teddy Swims taps Grammy-nominated R&B artist Givēon for the assist on the soulful duet, “Are You Even Real.”

“Are you even real / Or did I make you up?” Teddy Swims (Jaten Dimsdale) asks in the first verse of “Are You Even Real”, a single from the highly anticipated I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2) (arrives January 24, 2025). He continues singing, “How could someone like you / Wanna give me love?” Word. Dimsdale taps Grammy-nominated R&B artist Giveon (Giveon Evans) for the assist on this soulful ballad.  Set in a lilting, compound duple meter, the aesthetic is old-school which is refreshing in 2025. The drum groove and big bass line are big boosts on this Peter Thomas and Julian Bunetta-produced gem.

Swims delivers marvelous, smooth vocals throughout “Are You Even Real.” He ‘draws first blood’ showing off the magnificence of his instrument.  This includes ripe falsetto and top-notch ad-libs.  Givēon is a force too, contrasting Sims with his deeper voice in the second verse: “I can feel the rush / Even when you slow-dance for me / Lookin’ at you layin’ right there / Are you from this world? I swear.” There is more punch instrumentally during Giveon’s verse, upping the energy level.  Like Swims, his vocal ad-libs are glorious.  The section to beat is the chorus:

“Tell me

Are you? Are you?

…Made up in my head, or are you in my bedroom

Questions that I ask ever since I met you

…Questions that I ask every time that I wake up.”

“Are You Even Real” continues the great start to Teddy Swims’ career. It also marks a great start for pop and R&B music in 2025.

Teddy Swims // I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2) // SWIMS Int. / Warner // 1.24.25

[📷: SWIMS Int. / Warner]