SPILL FEATURE: WRITING THE FUTURE, ON THEIR OWN TERMS – A CONVERSATION WITH TSS

WRITING THE FUTURE, ON THEIR OWN TERMS

A CONVERSATION WITH TSS

When TSS (formerly known as The Sunday Sadness) embarked on their artistic journey in 2017, the remarkable success they have cultivated over the past eight years stood as a testament to their resilience and creativity. Originating as a vibrant French pop band under a different label, TSS experienced the constraints of an imposed identity, with their early career largely dictated by the label’s narrow vision for their sound. Beneath the glittering facade of catchy pop melodies, the band secretly craved a deeper, more powerful edge that yearned to break free.

Despite their earnest efforts to conform to the label’s limited expectations, TSS ultimately faced the unexpected freedom of being let go, leaving their future hanging in the balance. Yet, when that door closed, the band boldly kicked open another, seizing the opportunity not merely as a clean slate but as an exhilarating chance to unleash their unique metallic essence that had long been stifled.

Now, as they turn the page onto an invigorating chapter marked by a new name, a fresh label, and their new album, End Of Time, TSS is forging a path toward an exciting and uncharted future, finally embracing the raw energy and authenticity they have always aspired to embody, unhindered by the constraints of the past and resolutely defining themselves on their own terms.

“I would say End of Time is very important for us,” replies Kirby. “In a way, I feel like this is our first album, because I feel like what we have always done before was conditioned by the record label team or some other participating interests to fit in a genre that was supposed to do good numbers or to do well, you know? But End of Time really is something that comes from our very own hearts. It’s literally a mix of every influence we’ve had for the past few years without any limits. We can go from the poppiest chorus to the heaviest breakdown, or to the softest, slowest ballad, without thinking of any strategy or without being dictated by any other party than us. It’s also much more coherent; the vibe is much more in line with who we are since we started making music. We fell in love with music when we were younger, with heavy music, so for me, it’s the first time that we can show what I want to show to everyone, rather than just what others want us to do or show. I think that the fact that the band is doing well now is really relevant to that situation.”

While End of Time marks a pivotal moment for the band as they prioritize their musical identity, there was an era following “Regrets” when the production of such an album felt nearly unattainable. Stripped of a record label and faced with the daunting challenge of starting anew, the band found themselves at a crossroads, grappling with uncertainty and the weight of their past. Yet, undeterred by the obstacles before them, TSS pressed on, methodically constructing their path to success, piece by piece. Through relentless determination and creativity, they have finally emerged at this significant milestone, celebrating the fruits of their perseverance and dedication.

PURCHASE END OF TIME

“The funny thing is, after the release of that album, the label dropped us not long after its release,” Kirby candidly admits. “So, the first song we released as an independent band was called “j’abandonne”. It means I’m giving up, and at that moment, I think really we were thinking maybe we would end this project, but before actually giving up, we released our first metal song, “Tes Pleurs”, which was all in French. I remember us receiving the music video, and thinking, ‘Wait, I’m seeing us do something that we are good at and feel confident in.” I felt like this was going to work for us, going into heavier music. When it was released, it went viral. It did great, and people were touched by it. So, I would say that this is the moment that we felt that there was something more to our music and where we started to feel more confident in what we were making.”

When comparing “Regrets” to End of Time, one can’t help but experience a palpable jolt of electricity and dynamic energy that resonates throughout End of Time. This vibrant intensity is something that feels distinctly absent in “Regrets”. The stark contrast between these two experiences underscores a before-and-after transformation in the band’s sound, signaling that TSS is not only ready to embark on a bold new chapter but also prepared to confront any challenges that come their way. End of Time emerges as an album that skillfully intertwines instrumental innovation with profound lyrical depth, ultimately encapsulating the defining essence of a second chance in their musical journey.

“When we’re writing music, John, the other singer and also guitarist, takes care of most of the instrumental aspects. Sometimes I can write a few parts or a few basic ideas, but it’s really them finalizing the instrumentals and giving them the finishing touches. For me, I work on the vocal production,” says Kirby. “That is something I have always been comfortable with. I just focus on this, and I can spend hours perfecting all the vocals, haha. We really like this workflow. Something that I felt was different from other bands is that I know a lot of rock and metal bands; when they start an album, they find a tone for all the instruments. When they find those tones, they will basically write and mix all of their songs in this way. This is something we really tried to avoid for this album. We do not work like this. Every song we write comes from scratch. We are really drawn to wanting to try every instrument and make each track have its own individual vibe. So, I think that is what makes End of Time so different from what other bands are doing these days. Of course, making heavier music, we spend quite a bit of time on the guitars and bass, trying to find the right tones, but there are also the electronic elements that are a big part of that sound. I want to say that maybe we spend even more time on those aspects because the synths and electronic parts make up and define a lot of our sound. Because each song is a new piece of ourselves, it is also the most challenging. With each song, we are starting from scratch to create something new, and that also takes us places that we haven’t even gone ourselves as musicians. We want the listeners to feel the same way as they listen to it.”

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