Since releasing his first song, "Chinatown" in 2018, Teardrop's sound has constantly evolved. In 2019, he released his first EP, 1000 Backyard Pools, 'a five-song collection of youthful, exuberant guitar rock' which earned him looks from The FADER and Apple Music's New Music Friday. His most recent release in 2020, a grittier double-sided single titled, '$2 Bill', got picked up again by The FADER as well as Lyrical Lemonade, NPR, and KEXP. As a frontrunner in the NYC underground, he's already creating something special with the limited resources he has, all while staying entirely independent.
Working alongside photographer/director and older brother, Drake Li, he's carved out a distinct visual identity that reads like a supercut of past iconic musical movements and scenes. Visual trends forged by New York hip-hop, CBGB hardcore, socal pop-punk, and 90's britpop are all recontextualized into a unique world that Teardrop seems to slink through so effortlessly. He's already got two exhilarating music videos under his belt, "Strawberry" (2019) and "Ryley" (2020), in which Harry wears both his heart on his sleeve and a chip on his shoulder.
Harry, born Harrison Li in NYC's Upper West Side, is a first-generation American citizen whose parents immigrated from China and Vietnam. Growing up, Harry moved from New York to Portland, overseas to Shanghai, and back again to southern California. "I had all this time to kill, so I'd take the tools I had on my laptop, whether it was Garageband, iMovie, or Photoshop, and turn whatever emotion I was feeling into something tangible. Growing up, I either felt too Asian or too American, so I'm used to never fitting in."
Teardrop's upbringing taught him how to make friendships over the internet and his fanbase is a natural byproduct of it. Over the years, Harry's built an organic community from all over the world with key markets in NYC, LA, London, and Tokyo. Whenever he's not working on music, skating, or spray painting, he's talking directly to his audience on his Discord server -- 'The Droplets,' they've called themselves. "I've probably responded to over a thousand DMs from kids who listen to my music. I try to get to know my audience on a personal level, let them know who I am not only as an artist, but as a person. I see them all as my friends, scattered across the globe."
This summer sees Harry finishing his debut album and releasing a new song + video on July 15 called "My Funny Girl", that gives a slice of a post-covid summer in Downtown NYC. He's playing a show with LA's Junior Varsity & Jean Dawson on July 10 and headlining his first show at Mercury Lounge on August 24.
"I can't recall... the wind that soaks it all."
chinatown
Harry Teardrop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cherry, your body, I'll cherish every word that chokes up in your
Throat Baby, you look like diamond skies Your collarbone's Orion's
Belt I'll think of this night when
I'm missing California down in Chinatown
I wonder if you still think of me at all But you were never one to
Think much You're swimming in his
T-shirt And I'm still swimming in your touch
Keep this prom night in my mind so we dance when I close my eyes
Can you feel it inside your bones?
Can you hear mine break through the phone?
You stroll the streets like a ghost,
Hiding in that overcoat I should
Have never told you it's cold in New York
And I wonder if you still think of me at all But you were never one
To think much You're swimming in his
T-shirt And I'm still swimming in your touch
I know I need to let go,
I'm holding onto the west coast Baby,
I'm cursed by the sea And California's haunting me
The lyrics of Harry Teardrop's song Chinatown are about longing and regret as the singer, who seems to be separated from someone he deeply loves, reminisces about their time together. He starts with a reference to the cold weather in New York, possibly where his lover has moved to, and tells her to bring her coat. Then, he goes on to describe her beauty, comparing her to diamond skies and Orion's Belt, and expresses his fondness for the things she says that "choke up in her throat."
The singer admits to missing California and wonders if the person still thinks of him, but berates himself by saying she was "never one to think much." As he sees her with someone else, he holds onto the memories of their prom night and how they danced, even though they're not physically together. He asks if she can feel his longing through the phone, and in the last verse, he acknowledges that he needs to let go of his attachment to the West Coast as it haunts him.
The overall message conveyed in Chinatown is relatable to anyone who has felt the pangs of unrequited love or separation from someone they care about deeply. The imagery of diamonds and stars in the lyrics brings a poetic touch, conveying the sense of transcendence the character gets from his love interest.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard it's cold in New York, so bring your coat
I'm concerned about your comfort and well-being, even though we're in separate parts of the country.
Cherry, your body, I'll cherish every word that chokes up in your Throat
I value every emotion and thought you express, even if they're difficult for you to verbalize.
Baby, you look like diamond skies Your collarbone's Orion's Belt
You're stunningly beautiful, with delicate features that rival even the most awe-inspiring celestial bodies.
I'll think of this night when I'm missing California down in Chinatown
When I feel homesick and out of place, I'll remember this moment of connection we shared in Chinatown.
I wonder if you still think of me at all But you were never one to Think much
I'm not sure if you have any lingering feelings for me, but I know that you tend to keep your thoughts and emotions close to the vest.
You're swimming in his T-shirt And I'm still swimming in your touch
Although you're with someone else now, I still find myself craving the physical intimacy we once shared.
Though you're with another guy having the time of your life I'll Keep this prom night in my mind so we dance when I close my eyes
Even though I know you're happy with someone new, I'll always treasure the happy memories we shared together and hold onto the hope that we might reconnect someday.
Can you feel it inside your bones? Can you hear mine break through the phone?
Do you sense the deep emotions I'm expressing, even when we're not in the same physical space?
You stroll the streets like a ghost, Hiding in that overcoat
You seem to be trying to disappear from the world around you, wrapped up in your own thoughts and feelings.
I should Have never told you it's cold in New York
I regret drawing attention to the harshness and discomfort of your new surroundings.
And I wonder if you still think of me at all But you were never one To think much
I can't help but wonder if you still remember our time together, even though you have a tendency to keep your thoughts to yourself.
You're swimming in his T-shirt And I'm still swimming in your touch
Your new partner has replaced me in many ways, but I still crave the intimacy and connection we shared in the past.
I know I need to let go, I'm holding onto the west coast Baby, I'm cursed by the sea And California's haunting me
I realize that I need to move on from our past relationship, but the allure of the familiar and comfortable California coast holds a powerful grip on me.
Writer(s): Harrison Li
Contributed by Bella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.