The Ting Tings – How They Got To Number One

The Ting Tings are this year’s biggest indie success. The Ting Tings were hatched in The Islington Mill, a bohemian enclave of Salford, Manchester. Tainted by their previous experiences of the music industry, the duo (singer/ bass drummer/ guitarist Katie White and singer/ drummer Jules De Martino) stripped back their sound, focused on big pop hooks and hunkered down. By their third show at The Mill, the industry that had previously ignored them, came flocking. The band’s first single, a limited 7” of ‘That’s Not My Name’, was released by local indie label Switch flicker in the summer of 2007. It was followed by ‘Fruit Machine’ in autumn, and after much hype, major label Columbia Records eventually snapped them up. In November 2007, White and De Martino entered the Xfm Manchester studios for the first time, recording a session for Clint Boon’s Music: Response, which you can listen to by clicking here. And with their star clearly on the rise, the band were invited to perform at Xfm Manchester’s Winter Wonderland, along with The Charlatans and The Cribs. Watch their set by clicking here and check out the gallery here. ‘Great DJ’ became the band’s first UK hit in March 2008, entering the singles chart at No. 33, and to celebrate they performed an exclusive acoustic version for Clint back in January. Listen to the acoustic session on XFM. This was around the time when Xfm Online sat down with both band members for an in-depth chat all about their forthcoming album ‘We Started Nothing’, as well as the current workings of the music industry. ‘That’s Not My Name’, their second Columbia single, toppled Madonna for the No. 1 spot. As an amazing year began to draw to a close, the pair’s debut album was released on May 19, not only to rave critical reviews, but also the No. 1 position in the album charts. The Ting Tings were no longer just an indie band from Manchester, but a chart sensation ready to take on the world. In May, the band dropped by the Xfm studios in London yet again for Live From Leicester Square, performing a set which as well as included their latest hits and a fine cover of Kings Of Leon’s ‘The Bucket’. Now, we wait impatiently for next single ‘Shut Up And Let Me Go’ out on July 21 and currently sidetracking the new iPod advert. As far as festivals go, they’ll be packing out the tents at Glastonbury, T in the Park and the Reading/Leeds Festival. After the incredible success of debut album ‘We Started Nothing’, The Ting Tings still have much to conquer.

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Article source: The Ting Tings interview on XFM. XFM online radio carry profiles on all the cutting edge artists in the UK today. XFM have been serving alternative rock and indie to London since 1997.

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