MANILA, Philippines — Up-and-coming constant in radios around the country is Tai Verdes with catchy summer single, ‘A-O-K’, available now to stream. The track is the most recent single from Tai’s debut album, TV, released on May 20 via Arista Records.
Written and produced with friend and frequent collaborator Adam Friedman (Mike Posner, Black Eyed Peas, Sam Feldt) – ‘A-O-K’ is the latest effervescent single from Tai Verdes that’s destined to be added to summer playlists worldwide. Starting with humble electric guitar chords that bursts into a memorable chanting chorus and uplifting production – ‘A-O-K’ is Tai’s feel-good anthem. Verdes recently teased the new music on Instagram and TikTok, and within hours the video garnered 20M+ views and 80K pre-saves of ‘A-O-K’.
“I just want anyone who listens to this song to feel 2% better,” says Tai of the earworm. “Literally as soon as you hit play. It’s instantaneous.”
Tai’s latest releases include ‘we would have some cute kids’, ‘BAD BAD News,’ ‘DRUGS’ and ‘Stuck In The Middle’, all of which are included on Verdes’ upcoming debut album TV, along with more exciting new music. Verdes’ breakout single ‘Stuck In The Middle’ paved the way for Tai’s accelerated ascent, gaining accolades from the likes of The New York Times who hailed it as one of the “Best Songs of 2020” and continues to soar to new heights.
After posting a series of TikTok videos, ‘Stuck In The Middle’ took flight hitting #1 on Spotify’s US viral chart and 22 international charts. It has since amassed more than 80 million streams and over 2.6 million TikTok video creations, which have been viewed over 2.5 billion times since the song’s release in late May 2020. He also collaborated with R&B singer Kiana Ledé on a well-received part two version of the track.
Three months into the COVID-19 pandemic, singer-songwriter Tai Verdes was an essential worker with a nine-to-five job at a Verizon Wireless store. Now he has one of the biggest songs in the U.S., which saw his social following and streaming listeners skyrocket in 2020; gaining a genuine, engaged fanbase despite of the unprecedented global epidemic. It has not gone unnoticed – Tai has received plaudits from Rolling Stone, Billboard, Nylon, Genius, Ladygunn, Lyrical Lemonade, The Independent, EARMILK, NOTION, PAUSE, Noctis Magazine and 1883 Magazine. Tai has gained support from Apple Music’s Zane Lowe and also performed for TikTok’s virtual New Year’s Eve 2020 party, hosted by Lil Yachty and Brittany Broski.
The 25-year-old may have won the TikTok lottery, but he’s playing the long game. And he’s playing for keeps. “I’m gonna be a problem,” says the 6’7 singer with a smile, who carries himself with as much charisma as stature. “I love everything that’s happening. But this is not a one song thing, this is a 10-album thing.”
Jam to ‘A-O-K’ on its official music video below: