In 2008, the world was introduced to the Ting Tings. Though the duo of Katie White and Jules De Martino formed in 2007, it wasn't until the following year "That's Not My Name" became a radio hit. Shortly after, "Shut Up And Let Me Go" solidified them as a night-out staple. They're responsible for songs you can't get out of your head. We caught up with White at this year's FLOODfest at SXSW presented by Lyve. Ahead, how the duo's sound has changed over time, how their dynamic works, and what it's like to hear yourself on the radio.
How has your sound changed over time?
"I think our sound changes hugely across all three albums! I almost feel like that's our identity now, to keep changing things up. We would hate to repeat ourselves. We made our first album ourselves in Manchester, the second we moved to Berlin, and the third, Ibiza in Spain. We move countries to make an album because we know something new is gonna happen. We never know what, but something always does." You got rid of a collection of songs once you learned they would probably do well on the radio. Why?
"It wasn't because they may have been played on the radio. That would be ridiculous! We found ourselves in a position where we couldn't judge our songs we had written. We had so many peeps with opinion[s] around us that we couldn't listen to the songs honestly and feel like this is what we would have naturally done. For anyone creative, that's not a great place to be when you don't know how you feel about your work. So, we isolated ourselves and started again."
How do you feel about the songs that have done well on the radio (like "That's Not My Name"?)
"For a song that we made in our bedroom, with no idea where it could go, it was amazing to see it go around the world. Mind-blowing. I distinctly remember hearing it for the first time on the radio (a station called XFM in our hometown of Manchester). We jumped for joy around the room."
What's the most important thing to remember when working as a duo, rather than as solo artists?
"I think it's finding the energy and tension between us whilst performing live. When there are two people on stage, and you get that right, it's really powerful. I love watching duos that get that right on stage."
"I think our sound changes hugely across all three albums! I almost feel like that's our identity now, to keep changing things up. We would hate to repeat ourselves. We made our first album ourselves in Manchester, the second we moved to Berlin, and the third, Ibiza in Spain. We move countries to make an album because we know something new is gonna happen. We never know what, but something always does." You got rid of a collection of songs once you learned they would probably do well on the radio. Why?
"It wasn't because they may have been played on the radio. That would be ridiculous! We found ourselves in a position where we couldn't judge our songs we had written. We had so many peeps with opinion[s] around us that we couldn't listen to the songs honestly and feel like this is what we would have naturally done. For anyone creative, that's not a great place to be when you don't know how you feel about your work. So, we isolated ourselves and started again."
How do you feel about the songs that have done well on the radio (like "That's Not My Name"?)
"For a song that we made in our bedroom, with no idea where it could go, it was amazing to see it go around the world. Mind-blowing. I distinctly remember hearing it for the first time on the radio (a station called XFM in our hometown of Manchester). We jumped for joy around the room."
What's the most important thing to remember when working as a duo, rather than as solo artists?
"I think it's finding the energy and tension between us whilst performing live. When there are two people on stage, and you get that right, it's really powerful. I love watching duos that get that right on stage."
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