Welcome to the electric world of NO TV, where punk-rock energy meets the pulsating beats of the dance floor. Since their debut live show in 2023 at Justine’s in Margate, NO TV has been making waves across the Kent music scene and beyond, supporting notable acts and captivating audiences with their dynamic performances. Their mission is clear: "Modern Life & Dancing." This ethos is vividly expressed in their music, which resides in the thrilling intersection where dance and rock music collide.
Their debut single "Surrey Mum" offers a tongue-in-cheek commentary on Middle-Class Britain, drawing from the quirky experiences of frontman David Maitland. As they gear up for the release of a remix EP, which promises to infuse their original tracks with an edgy, techno-driven twist, anticipation is building. NO TV continues to challenge the boundaries of genre, inviting listeners to experience the full force of their musical vision—energetic, unapologetic, and relentlessly fun.
Today, we delve deeper into their creative process, the upcoming remix EP, and what fuels their fiery performances. Join us as we catch up with the band ahead of their electrifying performance on August 24th, and discover what makes NO TV a beacon for those who crave music you can rage-dance to.
With the upcoming release of your remix EP, how do you feel the new versions enhances or transforms the original track?
David: My main interest for almost 25 years has been where electronic music meets rock music. For me, this obsession started with the experimental sounds of Pink Floyd right through to the electroclash sounds of the 2000’s. So the mixing of DJ culture with punk rock is super important to me, and that’s why I am so excited to have four new versions of our debut single “Surrey Mum” - and most of them go pretty hard! Scotland (where I am from) is kind of obsessed with techno, so there is definitely a hard synth element to each remix!
Your sound is a unique blend of punk-rock and dance music. How do you balance these genres in your production process to maintain that energy?
Claire: In terms of my guitar playing when it comes to the production process, I try to incorporate a lot of funky, staccato playing to encapsulate the upbeat, dancey element to our music. I also rely heavily on effects pedals to create quirky sounds, which I like to think help our sound have that interesting quality to it.
David: For me, when helping write the music and helping produce, this blend of dance and rock music is always in the back of my mind. It’s even in the mission statement of our band: “Modern Life + Dancing”! - which is a slogan our drummer Liam even turned into a full blown song. Personally, I want to cover a whole range of sounds, tempos and emotions in our music, but that blend of dance and punk rock will always be the DNA somewhere.
As a band known for electrifying live shows, what can fans expect from your performance with us on the 24th of August?
Claire: I cannot wait for our gig on the 24th August! Expect sweat, swear words.. synth solos?
Richard: Expect high energy with plenty of crowd interaction. Who knows, Dave might even treat the crowd to a particular Scottish garment!
David: Well, the lineup for that gig is particularly strong! So it’s going to make us want to play our very best. For people that don’t know our tunes, expect a mix of disco drums, slicing guitars, shouty vocals and danceable bass lines. With some layers of abrasive synth thrown in for good measure. And lots of cowbell of course! We firmly believe that “you play to the people in the room, not to those that aren’t”. And it’s that gratitude & respect for the audience no matter how large or small that drives me. If they have given up their time and money to come see us play, we are going to give them our very best, every single time. For me as well, NO TV is a bit of a reaction to a whole bunch of post-COVID music… I was actually sick to the back teeth of going out to gigs on a Saturday night and coming home more depressed than I was in the first place!! With NO TV, we aren’t going to shy away from big topics, but we are going to have a good time at the same time.
Could you share how the band's chemistry contributes to both your songwriting process and live performances?
Claire: Personally, I'm incredibly driven when it comes to musical projects. NO TV, for me, has been the first band I've been in where I've felt pure excitement and determination. Our genre is quite unusual which I like to think makes us stand out!
David: Chemistry is everything. There is a reason Pete and Carl from the Libertines still work together despite their well-documented and quite extreme troubles. It cannot be taken for granted. I feel so lucky to have met Claire, Richard, and Liam. That chemistry isn’t just to be taken for granted however. Yes, I could feel it when we first met, but chemistry needs to be nurtured with respect, understanding, and listening to each other. That builds trust and it leads to the place we are at the moment which is exciting! Also, that chemistry without rehearsal wouldn’t mean much, so in regards to the live show, it is more the many hours of rehearsal, evaluation, creating new ideas to make it better, and implementing those ideas is what makes the show special. That combined with spontaneity on the night itself. Never under-estimate how important practice is, and if anyone reading this wants to be in a band, learn to enjoy the actual whole process of rehearsing - not just the fleeting moments on stage.
What artists or bands have influenced your musical style the most, and are there any you particularly aspire to collaborate with in the future?
Claire: I was brought up on a lot of 70s/80s music, especially bands like Blondie and The Stranglers. I think these two bands have helped me help shape the band's sound.
Richard: Ever since a teenager I have been inspired by predominantly Indie Rock and Punk so a lot of Arctic Monkeys and The Cribs! Most recently bands like Yard Act and Crystal Castles.
David: Irvine Welsh (author) - this guy wrote Trainspotting - a book, film and play that is: gross, disgusting, funny as fuck, tragic, weird, hopeful, violent, estatic, morbid, transcendent and more. It is like all of life’s big lessons, themes and emotions in one story. The whole lot. That is why it is such a masterpiece. I feel like this has inspired me to think of our songs not just in isolation… But building a story or world that covers as many aspects of life that matter (or don’t!) as possible. The mundane has a place in everyone’s story too. I feel St Vincent is also one of those artists who just creates masterpieces like this… the entire rollercoaster of life in one album or show. Just incredible. Vocalists from bands like Idles, Sleaford Mods, Viagra Boys, Talking Heads, Amyl and the Sniffers, and LCD Soundsystem inspired me to think “well, even though I am not a perfect singer… I could still be a vocalist”. It took years of trying to finally get the confidence but these people helped. I’d dream to collaborate with any of these people!
David, you draw a lot from personal experiences and observations, like in 'Surrey Mum'. Can you share more about your lyric-writing process?
David: Here are some things I learnt about lyric writing:
I used to think you used to have to be very poetic & clever. And that is cool if that is your style. But it is not mine. So I used to feel inadequate. But, I’ve come to learn that it is also equally valid to be very direct and clear with your lyrics. And looking at my favourite vocalists, most of them are like this!
Imagine inspiration like an imaginary friend bringing gifts. When inspiration brings that gift, and you accept it straight away, they are more likely to bring you more gifts… and if you are a bit blaise, like “oh I’ll pick that up later” - you will get less gifts. So whenever you get an idea - write it down or audio record it ASAP!! Keep on the good side of inspiration and it’ll visit you more and more and more often….
John Cooper Clark said - when asked where he gets all his ideas - “I just walk around with me eyes open”
So, once I learnt these three things, I write scraps of ideas as soon as I get the idea… and often it is inspired by either an emotion inside me or a character or situation I observe. Inspiration is everywhere. Let it flow through you. Just blast it out - you can always edit and fine tune the idea later.
Where do you see NO TV in the next five years, especially in terms of musical evolution and your place in the industry?
Claire: NO TV in 5 years = world domination.
Liam: Hopefully some bigger support slots, some festival gigs would also be amazing! We want to keep surprising and exciting people at every show or every new song, perhaps an album or a few EP's too!
David: NO TV will definitely still be making music and doing shows. But, I honestly can’t predict the audience's reaction to our stuff. I actually hope not everyone likes it… apparently if everyone loves your work, then you’ve maybe not pushed it hard enough, and it’s just bland. My desire is to innovate musically, stay at the cutting edge of music tech, and also entertain and move people at the same time. A big aspiration of mine is to make a tune that people cry-dance hard to. Like, it’s so moving tears will be pouring down your cheeks, but you can’t stop moving in a sea of people, and looking to your left, you see your mate is topless, crowd surfing, bawling his eyes out as he whips his white t-shirt around his head, as the sweat rises in the room as fast as the level of emotion does. Oh yeah, I’ve actually experienced exactly that as a punter. But I aspire to write something that powerful!
Can you tell us about any artists featured on your remix EP and what they brought to the table?
David: We have PapaSob, Camshachle and Paul Feral Techno who have all brought fiery, dark, heavy synth sounding remixes to the table… which is exactly my cup of tea! We also have made our own remix… and it may or may not contain an Easter Egg so listen closely!
Having started in Margate and played extensively in Kent, how has the local music scene shaped your band’s identity?
Claire: I was born in Margate and grew up nearby. I've watched it become shabby-chic trendy hotspot, from a deprived ghost town. I think the way the town has evolved has helped create this fast paced, DIY creative scene. I think we came at the right time and since our formation, we've been thriving!
Richard: NO TV is my first originals band but have been playing guitar since the age of 15. I'm now 33! Before meeting David and the rest of the guys, I had absolutely no idea that Margate had such a thriving music scene. Everyone we have met has been so kind and complimentary of the band.
Liam: There's some really great bands in Kent and we want to be up there with the best of them. So having those other great bands around us means we also have to keep improving our music and our live show to keep up!
David: We are really lucky to have a vibrant music scene here in Margate, and it is one reason I wanted to move here. The mix of natural beauty (the sea, sunsets, and cliffs), combined with a large range of music venues and styles is simply irresistible. I don’t want to live anywhere else. So, living life here for 3 years has definitely inspired the lyrics, and being in a town full of other creatives is definitely motivating. I’m not sure the area is what has inspired the music side of things… but in one day you can see a drag show in the old town square, a weird post punk gig early evening, and then watch the sun set to some amazing house DJs at Sun Deck… and it’s that big blend of music that probably finds it’s way into our own music.
What goes into preparing for a NO TV show? Any pre-show rituals or routines?
Claire: Palms Pizza is a pre-band ritual. Always.
Liam: Caffeine, caffeiene, caffeiene!!!
Richard: We always have to eat after soundcheck!
David: Although I firmly believe music is NOT a competition… One way I psyche myself up for a show is to think “If I was to go on stage AFTER my band, I’d wanna be so good that I wouldn’t want to be the next on!”. I always try to remind myself “we are not there just to play the notes in the right order at the right time… But to CONNECT with the audience and COMMUNICATE the story with them - and communication is two-way”. Also, coiling cables neatly and prepping my synths etc in a slow and deliberate way definitely helps me de-stress!
With the current challenges in the music and live event industries, what message do you want to send to your fans and supporters?
Liam: Every time you turn up to a gig, buy a ticket or buy a pint makes all adds up to help local venues and bands keep going. So keep coming out! Don't stay indoors and watch TV again (NO TV!!!)
David: A person’s time is more valuable than their money, because one can never earn back more time… but there are ways to make more money. So, I just really appreciate anyone who does come to a gig that we play, or takes the time to check out our music online. There is no doubt the music industry is in a financial crisis however. But the money is there. Greed is the problem, not the business model. I mean Spotify had a gross profit of over 1 Billion Euros last year. They just need to share the money with the people that make the content (mostly music and podcasts). The content is effectively the foundation of their business. Take that away and all they would have is an empty app no one would want. So they should definitely treat the music makers (and podcasters) better!
If you could design the ultimate gig for NO TV, what would it look like and who would join you on stage?
David: Well the venue would HAVE to be Glasgow’s Barrowlands. If people haven’t heard of it, it is the most famous venue in Scotland, and is often name checked by people like the Strokes and LCD Soundsystem as the best venue in the world. It has a giant disco ball, a sprung floor that bounces with the crowd, and a retro sense of faded glamour! I would definitely want my brother James to join us on stage for a song or two, maybe playing guitar or synth or extra vocals. I’d want my parents side stage too - especially my Dad who has been to almost all the gigs I’ve ever played! The stage set up would definitely include a good few lasers, a HUGE disco ball, and a studio’s worth of synths and other music equipment on stage. I’d also want some huge stacks of huge old TV’s, with VHS style glitch videos. If we played a sold out show there, I am actually not sure what would be the next step… for me, that is top of the world and one of the highest achievements in music!!!
Liam: Definitely a Margate show filled with all our mates and family. Would be great to have some of the awesome local bands we've played with previosuly join us again, like Real Life Goblin, Debdepan, Cool Hot Rockers, and personal favourite Death Star Laser Eye Surgery.
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