Smart Apple
A “one-man-project” conceived in 2000 by Teddie Tapawan.
The genre is Alternative Rock, although the style has intense blends of Funk, Blues, Grunge, Metal, Techno and Rap core mixed within. Teddie performs all vocals, and plays all the instruments, and states that his mix of different genre is not necessarily trying to make “something for everyone”, but mostly because he just really digs all types of music, and an open mind has made his tastes in music as broad as the eye can see.
Smart Apple is the pseudo-name given to the project making the music more marketable. The name’s origin comes from the fact that he has has kids and doesn’t like to curse around them, so if he feels like calling someone a smart ass, he just calls them a “smart apple”. Ground breaking name? Maybe not, but the origin is interesting!
Teddie sent his music to Chris “Big Daddy” Hunter (operations manager of Radio.BeOnAir.com). Chris stated, “The response from our listeners was phenomenal, and people all over the world continually request us to play Smart Apple’s Music”.
Smart Apple is a hit, and Teddie has extraordinary musical talent; most people just don’t know it yet because they haven’t heard it! It’s hard to believe all this great music is coming from just one man, so be sure to check it out!
FSM : Teddie….Congratulations on your success so far! Do you feel you are where you planned on being at this time in your career?
TT: No. Not even close… and I fear it’s too late. I’m old and I smell like Ben-Gay…. and I don’t even use Ben-Gay. What the hell is that smell? 
FSM: When did you first begin playing?
TT: Playing with what? Oh, around 6 years old perhaps? You’re talking music, right? LOL
At 6 years old, I shanghaied my dad’s old acoustic guitar. I didn’t really play it like a kid would normally. I had these things from a dart gun. Instead of the ends having suction cups, they were these big, heavy, red rubber balls. I would grab the dart-ball things by the ends and hit the guitar/strings with the balls like I was playing a drum. I actually made a song recently using that method. Have a listen to my song called, “My Big Red Balls on My Little Guitar”. (not really, i am just kidding!)
FSM: Oh Teddie you have such a silly sense of humor, but its what makes you so real to talk to!
FSM: Who has influenced you the most in your music?
TT: I had a lot of older friends when I was growing up. Many were into playing music in their bands, etc. There were two guitarist friends that I remember most. Guy named Paymon and a guy named Kim-son. To me, these dudes were guitar gods. There was also another older friend who I felt was like a big brother for a while… Mike Cavanaugh. Singer — his passion for music was scary. Seriously. I learned a lot about music from him that I wouldn’t have known otherwise.
In a more general sense, lots of bands and artists really made an impact on my style(s) of playing/singing. Some recently and some from when I was a youngster. Along with my many different genre influences of which i have listed on my myspace, there are two bands that I truly enjoyed the most while growing up (from the young age of about 5 or 6 years old). Those two bands are Parliament and Funkadelic.
FSM: What made you want to become a musician?
TT: The women. Those dirty dancin’ video women.
FSM: What inspires your songs the most?
TT: Things that happen in my life. The joy, the heartbreak, etc. A couple of songs written about my dad. Etc.
FSM: Where do you come up with your song/cd titles?
TT: My brain… sometimes other people’s brains.
FSM: How many albums/cds in total do you have released now and what are the titles?
TT: Three officially. I released a couple of others that I’m not too proud of, so you’ll have to dig those up somewhere. LOL. The CD titles are: Conformity (CD), Valley of the DogZ (CD), The Adventures of One… (CD).
The song lists for each CD you can find at my website: http://www.smartapplerocks.com
FSM: How would YOU describe your genre of music?
TT: When I started writing and recording my music, I was actually bouncing around the genres like I was nuts. Blues, Ska, Rapcore, etc. I’m still like that, but I’m trying to lean more towards Alternative Rock. So I’d describe my stuff as Alternative Rock with a sprinkling of Funk, Blues, Grunge, Metal, Techno, Rapcore, and other toppings (at no extra charge).
FSM: How would you describe yourself to the world?
TT: Depends on what part of the world I was talking to and if I could find a translator to bore the people with what I was saying. I’d describe myself like this, “Hi, I’m Smart Apple, also known as Teddie Tapawan. I make music. If you listen, I swear I’ll be your best friend. Can I stay at your place while I’m in your country?”
FSM: Outside of music, what other hobbies/interests do you have?
TT: I used to be big into body-building… then back around 2002, I popped some discs in my back and that whole deal was over. Kids, it’s nice to be big, but it’s not worth the pain when you get older. You’ve been warned. When you get to be my age, the things that are most important are wife, kids, and family… oh, and video games, lol.
FSM: Just like you said about growing old rapidly, its great that you spend so much time with your kids because as parents know the time flys and before you know it they are grown!
TT: Speaking of video games, I worked in the video game industry for a little while. I was contracted by Epic/Atari back in 2003 to work on a game called “Unreal Tournament 2004″. I created the map/levels called CTF-Face-Classic and DM-Deck17. You’ll see my name in the game manual if you have it. Just a tidbit of trivia there. Other info about the other stuff I’ve done with games can be found at: http://funrealtournament.com. I think I put some junk on http://tapawan.com as well. Anyway, family is what I’m into now a days. My wife is extremely supportive of my music and my kids are fun and crazy as they should be. I love ‘em. Oh, I also love NASCAR.
FSM: How does it feel to know your music is being listened to by so many people on the internet?
TT: It feels good. I really appreciate those five or six people. Thank you, I love you!
FSM: What advice would you offer to other musicians?
TT: Don’t wait to long to blow up in your music endeavours. You’ll be freakin’ old before you know it. OMG.
FSM: If you could meet one famous musician, who would it be, and why?
TT: Lenny Kravitz. He reminds me of my oldest son, so we’d get along fabulously.
FSM: Where do you see yourself, possibly five years from now?
TT: Older, and perhaps more or less beautiful. I hope I will be around to grow super old with my wife and watch my kids grow up and get married, play with my grandkids, etc.
FSM: What a cool legacy of music your leaving behind for them!
FSM: What are the websites where people can find and get to know you?
http://www.smartapplerocks.com
http://www.funrealtournament.com
http://www.tapawan.com
http://myspace.com/smartapple
Do me a favor and join up as a fan on my Facebook music page here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Smart-Apple-Teddie-Tapawan/130904666390
FSM: Where can people listen to your music and even purchase it?
They can listen here:
http://myspace.com/smartapple
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Smart-Apple-Teddie-Tapawan/130904666390
They can purchase Smart Apple CD’s from here:
http://www.smartapplerocks.com/buy_cds.asp
Thanks in advance for buying. I’m broke.
FSM: Do you have any other or new projects coming up that you want people to know about?
TT: It’s a secret. I don’t even know yet. Actually, I’m working on some stuff. I was working on a song for the new CD and then I stopped working on it due to some equipment problems. But I’ve layed down the drums, guitars, and bass so far for that song… I’m trying to remember what the hell the name of the song was. I can’t remember and I can’t be arsed to go look downstairs in the studio to find out. I’m confortable right now and my heating pad is sending euphoria up my backside. Anyway, the song I’m talking about is nice and heavy, kind of like Soundgarden, close to the tempo of “Rusty Cage”. So you can expect that on the next CD. Also, I’m thinking about putting a song I did for my wife for our 10th wedding anniversary on the next CD. It’s called “10 Sweet Years”. It’s got a Lenny Kravitz kind of vibe to it. I’ve got a ton of songs written, I just have to get off my as$ and get back in the studio. My wife constantly asks me, “When are you going to do some new music?”. I reply, “When you gonna make me a sandwich?”…. JUST KIDDING!
FSM: Thank you for giving us this interview, are there any parting words you would like to say?
TT: Seriously, you’ll be old before you know it. I warned you. Thanks for your continued support and I hope you continue to listen to my music. I love you so much. More than you love yourself.
Flip Side Music and all our readers and listeners want to wish you much success!
Article and Interview by: Tracy Lewis © 2009
Information and pictures provided by: Teddie Tapawan
