On The Radar: TV People

Melodic Dublin four-piece, TV People are our final band of the year to show up on the radar at JACKS.

Words by Jack Squibb

Only forming at the beginning of 2019, TV People have been busy turning heads across Dublin City. With a mixture of sounds that they concoct, the four lads from the capital city give of vibes like they’ve come from the heart of New York in the early 2000’s.

TV People released two singles in 2019, ‘Sometimes A Sight’ and ‘Healthier Days’. Their first release, ‘Sometimes A Sight’ leans more into the shoegaze genre. With a gorgeous and enchanting melody on guitar by frontman Paul Donohoe, while a beat rolls through smoothly from Brendan Clarke.

Lyrically, Donohoe, hints that times can get tough but soldiers on; “and I can concede, it sometimes a sight but as you can see I’m still doing relatively fine…”.

Their latest release ‘Healthier Days’, a reflective track has a warmth to it melodically. While Donohoe looks back at “the good old days” and questions if better times can be had.

Singing over a bouncy beat that’s made to sway along to. It’s a bittersweet track with Donohoe’s inquisitive side weighing him down, while the band’s chilled and summer vibe tries to counter it.

TV People dropped a video back in October for unreleased track ‘Parasite’. Taking lead on the track is rhythm guitarist Len Rockford. Reeling out vibes similar to Interpol’s 2004 release, Antics.

Uplifting guitar lines undercut with Rochford’s imploring for someone acting like a parasite to leave. “You’ve been living for too long on someone else’s joy…”.

The band vary their sound, from moody hooks to glittering melodies. While also singing about dealing with the unavoidable acceptance of growing old on ‘Healthier Days’ and then lashing out at someone overstaying their welcome on ‘Parasite’.

TV People closed out the year with a gig upstairs in Whelan’s for the Midnight Hour, Dublin on December 28th along with Bullet Girl.

A new year but same TV People are gearing up to release their next single, ‘Kitchen Sinking’, which is out on Friday 31st January. They’ll then be returning to Whelan’s to, along with Sprints on February 22nd.