About Daytime TV
For many, the idea of paradise is a pipe dream. A palm tree-plotted, neon sunset utopia that always feels just a highway too far away. But paradise is what you make of it, and in this life, you need to grasp any glimmer of it when you can.
For DAYTIME TV, their paradise has made itself more and more clear with every passing day. Since their formation in 2020, Will Irvine, Gareth Thompson, Chris Clark, and John Caddick have been searching for where they slot into the musical spectrum. 2022 saw the release of their debut full-length 'nothing's on but everyone's watching' following a string of vibrant singles. They've played shows with everyone from Kaiser Chiefs and Two Door Cinema Club to Feeder and The Amazons, decimated stages at Kendal Calling, Y Not Festival and TRNSMT and even travelled across Europe with the acclaimed US outfit Blue October. Being able to achieve so much during a period that will go down in history as being categorically tricky for artists to prosper comes down to their commitment to dipping their toes in as many sonic pools as possible. Not settling for anything less than complete artistic satisfaction and following the trail towards something special when it presents itself before you.
It has all led towards their new EP 'Island'. Five songs that serve as a fresh manifesto of sorts, showcasing the different shades that the band find inspiration and solace within. A collection of tracks that weave their way between prickly indie, throbbing synth-pop, anthemic pop-punk and thrilling arena-rock effortlessly. A showcase of innovation, adventure, and not letting anybody tell you who you should or shouldn't be. It's the most complete, confident and cathartic version of DAYTIME TV they have been to date, and that's an incredible position to be in.
"The one thing we know we were not going to do was make a bunch of tracks that just sound like any sort of standard rock band," Will states. "That's not what we're here to do. We're here to open our wingspan and be free with our writing. What's the point in doing it any other way? There's no point in playing a game or trying to second-guess anything. Life's short, let's just do what feels right all the time, not worry about consequences, and embrace the freedom that comes with it."
To get to this place, the band enlisted producer Ross Hamilton. A Glasgow-based multi-instrumentalist, he was suggested to the quartet by their longstanding manager, Alan Smith. Though when Alan tragically and unexpectedly passed away in late 2022, working with Ross became as much a tribute to Alan's belief in the band as a reminder to grab onto opportunity when it presents itself to you. Because you never know when such a chance will be gone.
Ross was precisely what the band needed to unlock that sense of freedom they were searching for. Taking experimentation as deep into the unknown as possible and pushing for any flicker of an idea to be passed back and forth and developed. Utilising the concept of music as escapism from the harsh reality of the world and stretching it as far it could possibly go, the result is DAYTIME TV at the height of their powers with some of their most thoughtful pieces to date.
Take 'Lost In Tokyo', a song less about walking the streets of Japan and more about taking your art to places you could only have ever dreamt of. 'Block Out The Noise' is as much a signaller to focusing on what is important to you and you alone as it is to not let the outside sway the direction you are destined to head. 'Fear' is less about admitting the things that make you feel wary but more about looking for an escape from the things that make you feel like you are being held back. These sentiments reflect on DAYTIME TV as individuals trying to navigate an ever-changing world as much as artists try to make a name for themselves. It is honest, heartfelt and beautifully human songwriting. Love songs for those who love the idea of exploration.
"In the past, we feared making something that we liked," Will admits. "We were instead making something that we thought other people would like or we thought could get us up the ladder of the music industry. But working with Ross has allowed us to be us. We've found who we need to be, and that is just ourselves. It's about having fun and being honest, and that's a really good feeling, man."
That extends to using 'Island' as a title to tie it all together. That actually stems from two different places. The first is through the intricate production that Ross was able to provide. The density of layering, the repeating of key sounds and the attention to detail to tie everything together, building up this foundation that could be stood on with two feet. The second comes from the desire to escape from the mundane and monotonous. To create a state of mind that can't be touched by any of the usual anxiety or trepidation that comes with everyday life. An accurate representation of who you want to be and how you want to present yourself to the world.
Both explanations ebb and flow perfectly against each other and, in many ways, truly represent what it means to be DAYTIME TV in 2024. It is the sense of creating a feeling that you can only get from this band. Building something that will stand the test of time, transcending your journey and becoming timeless. It's knowing that what you are using your moment in the spotlight to pursue something that will be much bigger than yourself. Of being unafraid of the consequence and instead thriving in the action. 'Island' is just the tip of the iceberg in a new way of thinking that will carry DAYTIME TV from milestone to milestone.
"Now we don't have barriers for ourselves of what we can and can't do," Will adds proudly. "Because music is supposed to be about expression. It's supposed to be real. There's an energy that's supposed to be injected into it. And if you can make people feel that through being real with yourself, that's as good as it gets. But most importantly, we love what we have made. Whatever happens now, that will stay the same. We feel like it's us."
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