Interview: The Ting Tings
The Ting Tings’ Jules de Martino and Katie White have burst onto the music scene in 2008 scoring a number one single with That’s Not My Name and then topping the album chart with their debut release We Started Nothing.
Jules took some time out from the Tings’ World tour to answer a few questions put to him by M Online:
1. You have already accomplished much since the start of 2008, what are your plans for the rest of the year?
We're looking forward to more headline shows with more visuals on stage and releasing more singles. Having tunes on radio is the best feeling in the world.
2. What first inspired you to take up music?
For me it was stealing my folks’ Elvis records and wanting to be him. Katie found Madonna’s Greatest Hits and made dance routines up to it.
3. Who are your heroes, music-related or otherwise?
We're both David Byrne and Tina Weymouth fans for giving us Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club.
4. You appeared on Bebo web soap Sofia’s Diary and also popped up in virtual form on the Habbo Hotel website – how greatly do you think your success has benefitted from the use of social networking sites?
We have no idea what effects Bebo or Habbo have had but our MySpace was so important for us. To get instant reactions on new demos and gigs felt so honest and gave us confidence to do more each time.
5. Both of you were members of groups before the formation of The Ting Tings – do you find that two is the optimal creative number?
For us two is optimal. Being in bands with more members we had an experience of having too many cooks and that for us compromised our music. Now we know what we want and together have the same musical direction. Plus live we have to find the energy to make a lot of sound for just two. That makes it challenging and drives us at gigs.
6. How did it come about that Shut Up And Let Me Go was featured in an Apple iPod advert?
We played SxSW in Texas and Katie fainted at one of the shows. We were doing 3 shows a day in intense heat and suffering from extreme jet lag. After Katie fainted, we cancelled the next show as it was only an hour between each set and she had no time to recover. At the last minute though, Katie decided she could manage three songs so we did the next gig and some Apple reps were there. They approached us afterwards and seemed bowled over by the band. A week later we met up with them and rode bucking broncos in a New York bar where I damaged my fingers and had to drum the following night covered in plasters. I think they felt they owed us something.
7. Who or what was the inspiration behind your hit That’s Not My Name?
When our last band was dropped by a label we felt very rejected and unwanted. No one would pick up the phone and even friends we thought we had made forgot about us overnight. We both felt invisible. Unknowingly our emotions were coming out in our new songs and TNMName was just one of many we wrote.
8. Do you still host parties like the celebrated flat parties-cum-gigs that you held in Salford?
We haven't been there for a while because of touring, but we're planning a summer show there with our friends.
9. What are your most prized possessions, music-related or otherwise?
My '79 Strat is mine along with a gold disc for album sales. Katie's has become her mobile phone so she can stay in touch with her mum and friends.
10. What’s the best bit of advice you’d give to other musicians hoping to make it big on the music scene?
Never take any advice. Just be influenced!