Interview To My Boy

The Liverpool-based duo are about to release debut album ‘Messages’ (XL Recordings, 2nd July). What’s more, they’re touring with popsters Pull Tiger Tail throughout June, and have various festival appearances lined up for the summer, including London’s alternative-to-Reading, TDK Cross Central. We thought it time to have a catch up with the boys.

Your style is described as ‘futuristic pop’. Which year would you place it in?
Probably some point in 2007. Its the style of Dubai, Wikipedia, segways and Virgin Galactic tickets going on sale.

At what point will you deem ‘Messages’ a success?
We probably won’t be satisfied with whatever level of success it gets. We’re getting stuck into writing album number two now - can’t get lazy!

How do you reconcile high-tech with lo-fi?
I think it can be a bit cheesy if you go for full-on futuristicness. We try and use naive methods because we think it gives more of a feeling of being in childlike awe of what you’re singing about.

Being thought of as one of the top ‘drummerless’ bands in the world, what would it take to get a real drummer in?
For him/her to not be a show-off. We’re keen on being fairly disciplined in our song writing - no wigouts!

Do you ever get lonely just being a duo, rather than, say, The Polyphonic Spree who probably don’t know all their bandmates?
Yep. We’re hoping to channel that loneliness into a My Chemical Romance style Number One single.

Your tracks are often remixed - does it worry you that someone will create a track you don’t like?
We’ve had a few rubbish remixes done. If they’re that bad they just get ignored - i don’t think it reflects badly on us.

Do you have any festival plans for the summer?
We’re don’t have many confirmed in the UK at the mo - definitely doing TDK cross festival in London in August. We’re headlining the Electric Youth Festival in Milan on the 30th of June which we’re really excited about. We’ve also got some lined up in France, Germany, Holland and Norway.

What is (literally) next for To My Boy?
We’re on tour with Pull Tiger Tail now, we don’t have any time off from that until July. Our single Model is out on Monday (18/6) and our album Messages is out on the 2nd of July.

We’re going to try a few new versions of songs on the album for future singles too. We’ve been talking to a French hip hop producer called Drixxxé about it - it might be an indication of the ‘next level’ To My Boy sound - it might not!