TEEKS, Overdose | Song Review

Dashing, talented queer Māori soul singer-songwriter TEEKS delivers an utterly sublime, passionate MLM ballad with “Overdose.”

[nx_pullquote]“I don’t have a god / Got no religion / But baby it’s you that I worship.”[/nx_pullquote]Ooh-wee, he’s got it bad, and it’s incredibly beautiful! Dashing, extremely talented Māori soul artist TEEKS (Te Karehana Toi) does it again. What? He delivers a fabulous, must-hear single: “Overdose.” Typically, an overdose has a negative connotation – it can lead to the loss of life. But in the case of “Overdose,” love is the modus operandi.  TEEKS composed this four-and-a-half-minute ballad with Terrence O’Connor and M Basa.  O’Connor and ChannelVIIN produced it.

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“Overdose” begins with subtle guitar accompaniment. TEEKS sings radiantly.  His performance is expressive, nuanced, and buttery smooth, oozing with an effortless soul.  It never sounds like he forces anything. As the song progresses, the instrumentation fills in, with contemporary R&B cues.  There are more keys and luscious, soaring strings, arranged by Sam Nakamura.  Melodically, “Overdose” catches the ear, with TEEKS emphasizing and leaning into every glorious note. The lyrics match that energy, filled with passion and romance to the nth degree.  “When I’m kissing you,” he sings in the pre-chorus, “The taste of your lips so deadly.” The chorus is the crème de la crème, where TEEKS asserts, “Dying just to / Drink you in / Till I overdose / Till I overdose.” In the outro, he asks this stellar boy, “So pour into me / Pour into me / Pour into me.” Aww! Authentic and chock-full of sincerity, TEEKS delivers a truly special, well-rounded ballad with “Overdose.” He makes me want to fall in love and experience that overdose.