TV on the Radio: The Immaculate Reception
A few years back, I was in New York City with some old bandmates of mine. One of my buddies suggested going to this bar in on Ludlow Street. He said that his friend worked there and that he had a heavy hand when it came to pouring mixed drinks. Never one to shy away from a goodtime we all exclaimed, “Agreed!” And we made our way down to the bar. When we arrived at Max Fish, we had strong drinks, grooved on the eclectic tunes being spun and had great conversation with his friend behind the bar. Cool cat, I thought to myself. He casually mentioned that he just started playing drums in this really cool band. I said, “Word?” He replied, “Oh, Yeah” as he smiled and mixed yet another libation.Today, drummer Jaleel Bunton’s “really cool band”, TV on the Radio is in one of the biggest buzz bands in ages. TVOTR (vocalist and loop generator Tunde Adebimpe, David Andrew Sitek- guitars/keyboards/loops, Kyp Malone- guitars/ vocals /loops and bass player Gerard Smith) features rhythmic vocal soundscapes, trippy sampling and a vibe that subtly pays homage to sonic pioneers like Bowie and Peter Gabriel. All the while, TVOTR has chiseled out a special place of their own. Formed in 2001 as a project by Adebimpe and Sitek, the band recorded a few songs, had people taking notice about their refreshing vibe. After honing their sound and solidifying the current line-up, they recorded their debut EP Young Liars with their own cash and then signed to Interscope Records. Usually it’s the other way around but nothing about this group is conventional.
This band also speaks its mind. The song, “Dry Drunk Emperor” came out after Presi-not Bush dropped the ball in his questionable delayed response to Katrina. Preach on brothers. I hear you loud and clear. TVOTR’s timing couldn’t be anymore perfect. Modern music has been without the true “it” band for quite some time now. This music captivates your ears, wraps your mind in sonic ecstasy and has integrity in its lyrical content. It’s about time that music actually made a statement and felt good simultaneously.
Their breakout hit, 2003’s “Staring at the Sun” can be heard everywhere from the ending credits of the HBO show, Entourage to mainstream radio, college radio, and even TV commercials. With their late 2006 release “Return to Cookie Mountain”, TVOTR continued to twist the listener with its hopelessly catchy, psychedelic, futuristic yet tribal sound. The record hit a wider audience this time around all but insuring the bands inevitably chart and financial domination. The also have admirers in high places. David Bowie, a huge TVOTR fan, was a guest vocalist on Return to Cookie Mountain’s single Province. Bowie even acts as a behind the scenes advisor for the band, offering them his wealth of knowledge gained from macking the music “game” for over a quarter of a century. Trent Reznor digs them so much that he took them out on Nine Inch Nails summer concert trek last year. Even Goth legend and Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy has performed with the band. It seems that they can do no wrong. But, will they crack under this enormous pressure? Only time will reveal. For now, though, they are on a righteous path that should lead them to righteous places.
Was it difficult to translate studio recordings to the live show?
“Well, you know. I think we decided pretty early on that we weren’t going to try to be faithful to the recordings. It was more important to translate the energy and the emotions than the actual sounds, necessarily. The way we record its like, whatever goes. Ya know what I mean? So, if we were to duplicate the record, it would take like 25 people and a whole room full of equipment at each show. We’re not trying to do that.”
How much has your life changed since joining the band?
“It’s like my new last name now! (laughs), which is good and bad. It’s like being in the mafia and it’s like you got made, ya know? I’m really proud of the band and what were doing but it’s quickly becoming the most easily recognizable part of my personality which is bizarre because it’s not, but to the outside world, that’s how they know you so.”
How are the songs written?
“Tunde and Kyp will have an idea. A melody, the lyrics or whatever. Actually two ways, Kyp will have an idea or Dave will come up with something on the MPC. And we’ll build it from there. Definitely. Kyp and Tunde will come up with there own lyrics. It just works better that way. Every now and then someone else will throw something in and take things out but that’s the core of it for sure.”
Are you from a musical family?
“Neither one of my parents play but both my brothers do. My older brother and little brother play. They are both musicians. I don’t know what that means.”
What do they play?
“My brother plays bass and sings. My little brother plays French horn, piano, trombone and he produces. He is super talented. He went to school for it.”
What is your favorite country to play in and why?
“It’s really hard to say, you know? It’s probably not the USA. I’ve got to see parts of this country that I’ve been longing to see like the North West. I never would have had a chance to see if it weren’t for the band. I like Germany. Berlin is a super liberal place. Brazil is cool but it’s so dense it makes my brain hurt. When you fly over San Palo it’s like flying over fifteen New York’s. I couldn’t live there. It’s too much.”
You’re from Kentucky, right?
“Yes, man.Yeah.”
Why did you move to NYC?
“Have you ever been to Kentucky? It’s actually not that bad. I just spoke to a bunch of people there today, cause we are playing there soon for the first time and I love Kentucky. I’ve met incredible people there You would think when you move out to New York and you meet the real musicians, the big time guys, whatever, the small time guys are just as good as the guys touring all over the world. It can be a little stifling culturally. In a place like Louisville, There are really opened minded and great people there but the general attitude or demeanor is pretty conservative.”
Do you have any advice to up and coming musicians?
“It’s like The Knight Of Columbus or the Matrix. There is a trick and I figured it out. Anyone who has made it knows. It sounds trivial but it’s the most important thing I’ve learned in five years. Fake it til you make it. If you’re not that good, pretend you are and someone else will think you’re good. Work hard, but fake it til you make it.”
TVOTR will be playing on April 15, 2007 at the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, North Carolina.
www.tvontheradio.com
www.myspace.com/tvotr
Christopher H. Wells
