Quick-fire Questions: 10 minutes with TVOD
Brooklyn-based six-piece TVOD bloomed into existence in 2019. They were drawn into each other’s circle by Tyler Wright, the songwriter who helms the project. He is evidently a svengali of musicians with great haircuts and a penchant for acerbic energy. The post-punk stylings of the manic band fizz with all the effervescent irreverence of a Berocca dropped into a glass of bubbly.
There is no shortage of ‘stuff’ going on in their music. Take, for instance, the single ‘Uniform’, which pairs literary overtures with numerology, dystopian realities, thoughtcrimes, crunchy basslines, and stuck-in-your-head catchiness. In characteristic quirkiness, The band describe the song as “a 1984 work-related injury release form that someone forgot to file”.
After gigging ferociously, their unique outlook has been honed into potent energy. They are DIY to an nth, and no doubt, when they arrive in London in May, they’ll exhibit the raw punk ethos that the Shaklewell Arms became known for. Beneath the bold exuberance of the band, there’s a devilish subversion that adds a pointed punch to their playful riffs. Thanks to this expressive cocktail, they’ve become one of New York’s most buzzed bands.
So, in one of their quieter moments ahead of the release of their debut album, Party Time, in May, we caught up with the group and learnt that Warmduscher are a firm inspiration, Anthony Bourdain is an occasional saviour, and Sugar Ray prompts plenty of mixed thoughts. In true TVOD fashion, they took the quick-fire ‘notion’ rather literally.
Quick-fire Questions with TVOD:
1. What song would you want played at your funeral?
“‘The Empire Strikes Back’ – John Williams”.
2. What was your favourite album of 2024?
“Warmduscher – Too Cold To Hold“.
3. How often do you listen to your own music once it’s released?
“As little as possible”.
4. What song would you recommend as a starting point to get into TVOD?
“‘Poppies'”.
5. Where is the best pub in the world?
“Jones Bar, Queens, NY”.
6. What experience would you say your new record pairs perfectly with?
“The world’s most lit divorce court after-party”.
7. Have you ever cried at a concert?
“I saw The Flaming Lips play in San Francisco on New Year’s Eve in 2016. My best friend and his girlfriend had ditched earlier in the night, so I ended up watching the show alone and taking copious amounts of free illicit substances (supplied by their super fans). When the clock hit midnight, Wayne started singing ‘Do You Realize?’ I broke down, sobbing in a fit of pure joy. Those lyrics break me and combine that with the level of intoxication I was experiencing… Niagara Falls”.
8. What was the last great book you read?
“Norwegian Wood – Haruki Murakami”.
9. What has been your favourite film of the last three years?
“The Zone of Interest“.
10. Which ‘classic album’ would you happily delete from history?
“Sugar Ray – 14:59“.
11. If you could collaborate with anyone on your next record, who would you want it to be?
“Mark McGrath from Sugar Ray”.
12. What’s the best hangover cure?
“The Anthony Bourdain Method: Spicy Sichuan, Coca Cola, weed”.
13. Can you tell us a joke?
“How come dinosaurs don’t talk? Because they’re all dead”.
14. What album have you probably listened to more than any other in your life?
“Vince Guaraldi Trio – A Charlie Brown Christmas“.
15. Are The Beatles overrated?
“No”.
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