What’s in a name? A lot, at least when it comes to the Mancunian band, The Ting Tings. After becoming obsessively fond of a work colleague’s name, singer Katie White decided to name her band after that coworker. Let’s hope Miss Ting Ting is fond of dance-floor-friendly indie-pop madness, as the aforementioned singer, and drummer/general music-maker Jules De Martino have run away with the name and pasted it all over radio playlists, records, and gig posters worldwide. However, on further inspection by the band, they happened upon a deeper meaning to their name: its translation from a foreign language is “the sound of innovation on an open mind.”

The definition is seemingly fitting, for both Katie and Jules have been in several pop bands, all with varying levels of success and with prior knowledge to this fact, open minds to their new direction is not always a scene that greets them with open arms. Despite this they continue to strive towards artistic innovation and it has proven fruitful with the infinitely catchy “That’s Not My Name” and subsequently, the highly danceable “Great DJ,” landing into many an unsuspecting radio listener's subconscious, causing the incessant humming of either track for weeks on end.

psychoPEDIA joined White to chat about DJs, The Smiths, and sunny Salford:

As a band, don’t you resent DJs?
We wouldn't want a band playing at every party we went to... having a DJ in the corner is a nice way to focus the evening on the people having a good knees-up and not just a spectacle on stage, even if it is yourself playing the records.

Were you apprehensive about writing a song about a DJ, and having to follow such greats as fellow Mancunians, The Smiths' "Hang the DJ" and, er, Robbie Williams' "Rock DJ?"
It wasn't intentional, and following a band like The Smiths is a compliment. We wrote this song after spending many nights releasing our musical frustrations with our friends playing records like “Ghostbusters” and “Kung Fu Fighting” very loud in a drunken stupor. Bless self-DJing.

Was singing in front of the mirror or in the shower important to you as a youngster?
As crucial as banging the tin pots and playing the tennis racket.

Is there pressure to be all prim, proper, preppy, and clean cut for TV, major labels, and radio– or is there as much creativity and lifestyle freedom as there is in Salford to do what you will?
There will never be as much creativity and lifestyle freedom as there is in Salford, but we have a deal with the label that gives us complete creative freedom and control. They're even making replicas of our hand-made promos out in the USA, all by hand. We're hoping to turn Columbia into a DIY major if we haven't already!

How does Salford compare to San Francisco, where you were just on tour?
It’s a great looking city from the sky. Unfortunately, we didn't get to spend more than one afternoon but can't wait to get back out there for more of a stay. The USA was a hoot on our last short visit. If Salford was warm and sunny like the West Coast, we would never have finished our album.

You have been likened to both Girls Aloud and The Gossip. If you could pick one to go on tour with, who would it be and why?
The Gossip. No explanation needed.

Beth Ditto clearly is clearly outspoken and has a lot of important feminist agendas in her lyrics and interviews. Is this a direction The Ting Tings would like to take one day, or are you happy just making people dance?
I think it’s important to be honest and tell things how you see them. We didn't set out with an agenda, but frustration will naturally come out in our lyrics and expression. Whether it be from ways that I have been treated or things that we see. So yes, I’ve probably got a bee in my bonnet like every other girl out there.

After being involved in several musical reincarnations, do you ever feel like The Ting Tings is your last big shot at the music world?
Nothing surprises us. Our last band got dropped without getting a record out, and we thought when we wrote these songs that nobody would ever work with us. So, it’s always full of surprises. We love what we do, and it seems to be connecting with people, but you don't set out to: when you’re laying yourself down in a song, you don’t think "I’m doing this as my big shot," -- you do it because you are being creative, and the odds of it actually getting somewhere are so slim. I don't think any band goes in with that approach.



First photo by Camille Nolan via Flickr
Second photo by Brendan Docherty via Flickr
Third photo by Holly Erskine via Flickr
Fourth photo by THE AFTERSHOW via Flickr
Fifth photo by cantsaynotohope via Flickr
Sixth photo, courtesy of The Ting Tings