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An interview with Teddy Geiger

Sara Bohan,
Grand Central Magazine

New York singer, songwriter and occasional actor Teddy Geiger appears in the new movie "The Rocker," which stars Rainn Wilson of NBC's "The Office." Geiger is currently working on his new album, titled "The March." Photograph by Courtesy photo
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Grand Central: What gets you in the mood to make music?

Teddy Geiger: Oh, it’s everything. I’ll usually wake up and I’ll make music every day. As long as I have free time. Free time, that’s my answer.

GC: You were a finalist on the VH1 show “In Search of the Partridge Family.” How did you come to be involved in something like that?

TG: Well, my mom actually kinda pushed me into doing it; I didn’t really want to do it. She seemed to think it was a good idea and I didn’t, and it ended up being a good idea. I met a record producer on the show and he introduced me to Columbia Records, and the whole thing just kind of took off from there.

GC: Do you feel like that was the moment when you knew you'd made it?

TG: Even then, it’s like there’s so much that can go wrong at that point. I don’t know if there ever was an exact moment.

GC: So for musicians that are looking to be discovered, what advice would you give them? How did you get to where you are today?

TG: Just continue to write and play your music, and just keep doing it.

GC: At the age of 19, do you ever wonder what it would be like to go down the path of college and all that, or have you always known music was it?

TG: I’ve thought about it a little bit; I guess I’m pretty happy with what I’m doing. I think I’d rather be doing everything at the moment, and I think I’m gonna stick with it for a little while.

GC: You co-star in the upcoming movie “The Rocker” with Rainn Wilson, best known for his character Dwight Schrute on the TV show “The Office.” What was it like working with him? Is he anything like Dwight in real life?

TG: Well, you know, the character on “The Office” is definitely a character. He’s not exactly that weird. He is a little weird, pretty funny. He’s a nice guy though.

GC: A trend that’s been popping up recently for musicians is this look of “guy liner.” Is that a fashion trend you would ever try? What do you think of the fad?

TG: Well, I’m not quite sure what it is. I don’t even know if I could do it. But I think it’s fine.

GC: You’ve toured with big artists like Hilary Duff, and you’ve been touring quite a bit. What is your favorite part about touring?

TG: My favorite part is getting a female to play the DJ.

GC: You’re currently on tour with a female musician, Hilary McRae. How do you end up with the people you tour with? Do you get to pick?

TG: You kind of get a little bit of a take here and there, but we’ve lucked out with the people that go out on tour with us.

GC: You recorded 33 songs and are letting fans pick which ones make it to the album. How did you decide to do that?

TG: Well, we had a bunch recorded. Some were different or more similar to the “Underage Thinking” album. I just wanted the fans to be able to see both sides of that stuff and come to a conclusion of what they liked the best. I didn’t want to give them an album that was super different than the last one, or give them one that was the same. I kind of wanted them to come in with me on that side and help me decide, and give them something that they are going to enjoy.

GC: Will you be disappointed if certain songs don’t make the cut? What will you do with the other songs?

TG: I don’t know what we’re going to do with them. I guess, put them on an extra tacks album or something.

GC: What are some artists you’ve been listening to lately?

TG: I’ve been listening to a lot of The Band, MIA. We just got the new My Morning Jacket album. It’s pretty good. The Jealous Girlfriends – they’re pretty cool.

GC: Do you listen to a lot of your parents' music?

TG: My cousin, who is older than me, when he was in high school he had all the cool high school music. So like Weezer and Ben Folds and stuff like that; I just got into all that from him.