Ravishing Raconteur had the pleasure of joining singer-songwriter, Teedra Moses, along with her family, friends, and fans to celebrate the 15th anniversary of her debut album, Complex Simplicity, at The Resident in Downtown Los Angeles’ colorful arts district.

Released in 2004, Complex Simplicity received critical acclaim as one of the recommended must-listen R&B-Soul albums of the year. With all the success of the album, Moses didn’t make a dime on the album, only on publishing. 15 years later, this album still resonates with so many music lovers. During her Live Q&A, she shared highlights and intimate thoughts behind the 14-track album. Here’s what she had to say:

Be Your Girl

Moses said this song “sustained” her and didn’t know it would garner so much fanfare. Many DJs have remixed it all over the world. The  (Kaytranada Edition is a fan fave.)

Fun fact: this song was inspired by a crush she had on rapper Nas. She felt they could relate on two levels:  1. They made great music, and 2: their mothers passed away. The sweet deal out of this is that Nas sampled “Be Your Girl” for his song “One on One”:

You’ll Never Find (A Better Woman)

“He hasn’t found anyone better,” says Moses of ex-boyfriend and father of their twin sons, rapper Ras Kas. Moses continued, “I tried with him and believed in him.”   On the spot, she asked one of her sons, who was in attendance, “Has he found a better one?” Her son responded, “Nope.”

Caution

 “I was looking in the mirror the whole time when I wrote the lyrics,” said Moses. She revealed that she didn’t feel good about herself at the time, so she went into a character that inspired lyrics such as, “To date me must be hot.”

Rescue Me

“Still waiting on God 15 years later,” said Moses referring to the sultry track, an ode to finding her true love. “Being a single parent can be lonely, “ she said.   At that moment in her life, she was busy honing her craft in singing and songwriting and taking care of her twin boys, so she wasn’t in a “position to play.”

Take Me

This track described her romantic relationship at the time. Unfortunately, it fizzled, but one great relationship she has is her friendship with award-winning singer/songwriter/producer Raphael Saadiq who lent his vocals and production to this dreamy track.

She said Saadiq was a significant encouragement in her musical journey by helping her to stay active as an independent artist. He told her that she was “a dope entity on her own.”

For a lifetime

Dedicated to her best friend, who is her stylist. She described her as being beautiful inside and out and wants her to experience the love that she described in the song.

Caught Up

This is the first song that she wrote, arranged, and recorded. After completing that song, she knew that she could continue to craft her songs from start to finish, and own the rights to her work, and make money.

Last Day

This eerily beautiful song was written after her mother’s death. She described this period of her life as “morbid and questioned her morality” and wondered if she were to die today, how she would want to die.

You better tell her/ Outta My Head

She said those are her most aggressive songs on the album. The energy in those songs exudes her personality.

On tell her, it was about telling her cheating lover to put a drama-filled side chick in her place. But Moses reiterated, “That if you need to have that kind of conversation with your man, you don’t need to be in that relationship.”

Complex Simplicity

Written and recorded after her mother passed away, Moses described this track as her “liberation song.”  She said, “Life is not easy. We are all suffering through something; it’s just how you do it.”

I think of you (Shirley song)

This track is special to her because it featured her mom singing a gospel song “Bye and Bye (This Old Soul of Mine) by Marie Knight.” Moses sang this song live but became very emotional. Moses stated, “this why I never sing this song.” It’s so sentimental that it was hard to perform while on tour.

Backstroke

This track is one of her highly requested songs  – internationally, nationally. Second after Be Your Girl.

Moses ended the event by sharing that she is happy, Even without the glitz, glamour, and advertisement. She encouraged the crowd to go for their purpose even if it looks like nothing is happening.  

Complex Simplicity will be re-released on September 27^th.