Teddy Swims Shares 'Perfect Man' Single And Announces 'Ugly' Album

09-18-2026

(WR) Teddy Swims announces his highly anticipated second album, UGLY, out January 22 on Warner Records. Swims wrote UGLY over the last 15 months since his son was born and it serves as an outlet for self reflection and growth as both a man and father.

Setting the stage for what's ahead, Swims releases his new single, "Perfect Man," a soul-baring anthem about the impossible standards we set for ourselves and learning to find strength in our imperfections. Relatable and refreshingly honest, the song builds musically while exploring the pressure to be everything to everyone, while learning to extend himself the same grace he gives to others.

"Perfect Man" manages to be both playful and poignant, sincere and self-aware, as Swims navigates a complex series of emotions and moments. The music begins with the depth of an orchestral piano-ballad before growing into a warm full-band sound with soulful backing vocals.

The meaning of the hook evolves too - "There's no such thing as a perfect man" - as Swims reckons with self-loathing, all-or-nothing thinking, and the excuses we make for falling short. He arrives at a sobering conclusion: She never wanted perfection, just for someone to try harder.

"'Perfect Man' is a song about self forgiveness. In my life, I've held myself to a standard that is completely unrealistic, I've been too hard on myself as a partner, as a father, and in feeling the responsibility that comes with knowing there are people who rely and look up to me. I truly believe our insecurities and our quirks are signs of strength rather than weakness. My hope with this song, and with the work and conversations around it, is that people can find some relief and try to lean into our shortcomings and have an open dialogue about them rather than trying to hide them."

"The beauty of chasing perfection is knowing we will never reach it" says Swims.

"Perfect Man" unites Swims with frequent collaborators Julian Bunetta, Afterhrs, Matt Zara, Mikky Ekko, Kendrick Nicholls, and Alex Izquierdo, plus Edgar Barrera. The orchestration is unmissable in the song's accompanying performance video, where Swims is backed by his own band and backup singers, plus a four-piece string section and four-piece horns section. He appears in an artfully tattered classic pinstriped white suit, underscoring the song's theme of accepting imperfection.

The new track follows Swims' most vulnerable single yet, "Break Up in Reverse," the song came with a music video that brought its devastating concept to life: Swims sings while a bulldozer moving in reverse puts back together the vision of domestic bliss that had fallen to pieces around him.