Tep No is a Canadian producer, DJ, and electronic artist.

Tep No arr… Read Full Bio ↴Tep No is a Canadian producer, DJ, and electronic artist.

Tep No arrived in the mid-2010s with an air of mystery and anonymity, offering up a healthy flow of catchy low-key singles like 2014's "The Last Ones Standing" and 2017's "Eighteen" in a restrained club style that followed in the footsteps of tropical house artists such as Kygo.

Without revealing anything about his background or identity, Tep No began releasing a series of singles in 2014 that were often marked by electric guitar and breathy male vocals in addition to electronics. After featuring singer Jessica Hart on his 2015 track "A Different You," he producing her track "Soul Phazed" and continued to branch out, remixing tracks for other artists while growing his own catalog. Tep No signed with Ultra Records in 2016 and hit the Billboard streaming charts with "The Best Crew," later notching two more streaming breakout tracks in "Swear Like a Sailor" and "Is It Too Much That I'm Asking For."

Sharing the stage with acts like San Holo, Steve Aoki, and the Chainsmokers helped keep his profile high, while subsequent tracks like 2017's "Eighteen" and "Toluca Lake" continued to earn millions of streams. Tep No's producing career continued to pick up in 2018 with remixes of songs by Jesse McCartney and Freya Ridings, while his own tracks "Who We Are" and "Fighting" also put up big numbers.

Eighteen
Tep No Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was only eighteen
Chasing dreams
And my mother screamed
"Don't be thinking things"
I wanted fame
But who's to blame?
That life felt good enough
For me to chase away, away

But now that I have it all
I won't let you down, down, down, down, down
I give it all away, 'way, 'way, 'way, 'way
For another day with you
'Cause when the mirror starts to fall
I won't be around, 'round, 'round, 'round, 'round
You think of all the pain, pain, pain, pain, pain
That I've put you through

And maybe one day I'll be forgiven
And we'll go back to the place again
When I was only eighteen
Only eighteen

I had a picture
A great disaster in my mind
And the world would look at me
And love me through all disguise
But now that I'm older
I think of what I lost chasing time
I found disorder,
Comes in pain in this life, this life

But now that I have it all
I won't let you down, down, down, down, down
I give it all away, 'way, 'way, 'way, 'way
For another day with you
'Cause when the mirror starts to fall
I won't be around, 'round, 'round, 'round, 'round
You think of all the pain, pain, pain, pain, pain
That I've put you through

And maybe one day I'll be forgiven
And we'll go back to the place again
When I was only eighteen
Only eighteen

And maybe one day I'll be forgiven
For the pain I put you in
When I was only eighteen
Only eighteen

I was only eighteen

Overall Meaning

Tep No's song "Eighteen" tells the story of a young person chasing after their dreams, specifically fame, at the age of eighteen. Despite their mother warning them against thinking too much and making decisions without considering the consequences, they went ahead with their pursuit. As the song progresses, the singer admits they've achieved success, but now find themselves reflecting on the cost of their journey: the relationship with their loved ones. They acknowledge the pain they have caused, but also express a desire for forgiveness and a return to a time before everything got complicated.

Line by Line Meaning

I was only eighteen
At the time, I was young and inexperienced, with much to learn about life and the world.

Chasing dreams
I was pursuing my aspirations and desires, hoping to achieve success and fulfillment.

And my mother screamed "Don't be thinking things"
My mother expressed concern and caution about my decisions and actions, warning me not to make reckless choices.

I wanted fame
My desire was to become well-known and respected, to achieve a high level of recognition and admiration from others.

But who's to blame?
Perhaps nobody is really responsible for my ambitions and actions, and sometimes life events can simply unfold in unexpected ways.

That life felt good enough For me to chase away, away
At the time, I believed that the direction I was heading in was the right choice for me, and that it would lead to a happy and fulfilling life.

But now that I have it all
Having achieved my goals and desires, I now have everything that I once sought after and desired.

I won't let you down, down, down, down, down
I am determined to not disappoint or fail those who have believed in and supported me throughout my journey.

I give it all away, 'way, 'way, 'way, 'way For another day with you
Despite my success and ambition, I now realize that my relationships and time spent with loved ones are most valuable, and I would readily give up my achievements for more time with them.

'Cause when the mirror starts to fall I won't be around, 'round, 'round, 'round, 'round
When my reputation and achievements begin to crumble, I fear that those who supported and trusted me may distance themselves from me, leaving me alone and isolated.

You think of all the pain, pain, pain, pain, pain That I've put you through
I deeply regret the negative impact that my pursuit of success has had on those who supported me, and I fear they may hold resentment against me.

And maybe one day I'll be forgiven And we'll go back to the place again
I hope that those I have hurt or disappointed may eventually forgive me, allowing us to reconcile and return to a state of positive mutual support.

When I was only eighteen
Reflecting back, I recognize that my youthful naivety and ambition caused me to make certain mistakes and oversights, but they have led me to this point in my life where I can learn from them and grow as a person.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Christopher Lagogiannis

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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