Following in the footsteps of The Blizzards and The Coronas, Television Room are a newly-formed pop/indie group that are slowly but surely making their mark on the Irish music scene. Jennifer McShane talks to band member Grace Fay about life in the band, making music videos and why she’s more than just a pretty face.
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n the presence of most members from popular bands one would almost expect to feel a few things: intimidated, nervous and have even a sense of dread at the thought of the upcoming interview. Arrogance is said to be a common trait in some new bands and getting a member to open up can be like pulling teeth. None of this however was the case as I sat down to talk to Grace Fay about her life in Television Room. Not the title of a TV series, but the quirky name of the newly formed band from Dublin.
Appearing fully at ease and very relaxed as we sit in her conservatory at her family home, Grace tells me how the band first got together. “I saw an ad on the internet originally looking for a Bass player put up by Michael (front man of the band) and the other four members we either met through friends or on the internet. So we’re like an internet-based band really.” says the stunning 24 year old, laughing. This happened in early 2007 and the band has been going strong ever since. Consisting of five members: Michael, James, Fergus, Grace and Mia, the band have already gigged all over the country, released two singles and made two music videos. Quite a CV for a band who are still in the early stages of their career.
Grace’s role as a musician is a noted change from the parts that females usually play in bands. She plays the keyboards, glockenspiel, melodica as well as the synthesiser. “I hate that ‘token girl in the band’ label that’s attached to the woman in the group” she says. “A lot of people assume the female is there to just look nice so it’s nice to break away from that.” Clearly much more than just a pretty face all of the instruments Grace plays were self-taught. This brings us to talking about the bands image. Though Grace agrees that image is obviously very important, she says that it was never taken too seriously by all in the band: “It’s always hard to find an image in the first place, but everyone just dresses their own way and it seems to work very well.”
She tells me that all of the members get on great together and have become her best friends. She laughs as she recalls making their first music video for the song Tinabelle: “We had to carry this couch up a hill in Houth and we were freezing!” All didn’t go exactly to plan when a group of German tourists “borrowed” the CD player they were using to play the track. “We just came back from lunch and it was gone!” she says. Luckily they had more or less finished with it and everyone had a laugh about it after. I ask about their first live gig in the Ambassador. She mainly recalls her nerves: “I had never played the synthesiser live before so I was so nervous.” But she says the reaction was great from the crowed and she’s obviously a lot more comfterble on stage now.
The Irish music scene is “stuck in one place” according to Grace. She says the bands themselves have moved forward but because of the large amount of bands coming out its harder then ever for Irish bands to make a break through. “Basically anything that’s big in the UK or US is going to be big in Ireland and that’s part of the problem. I don’t think people are as willing to take a chance with Irish bands.” She says what has really helped the band, in terms of becoming known are sites like Bebo and Myspace. “All our promotion work for singles and gigs are done through those sites. I just think it gets the music out there really well, especially to the younger audiences.” All the work with the sites is done solely by the band who doesn’t have a manager. “It’s really hard to find a manager that has the band’s best interests at heart.” She says. “So until we find the right person we prefer to do it all ourselves.”
I ask what her career highlights have been so far and she pauses momentarily before saying that she’s most proud of hearing their recordings. “It’s something you’ve worked for and it’s great to be able to hear the results of that.” The songs are produced by Tom McFall who has worked with the likes of R.E.M and Wheezer in the past. Grace tells me that “everyone has their own part to play” in terms of the music in the band so it’s all a team effort. The band obviously has a bright future ahead of them and I ask Grace what she’s most looking forward to. “I’m looking forward to the album that will probably be out later in the year and I’d ultimately love the band to be really well known, not just in Ireland but other places too.” As a final parting question I ask if she would ever go as far as to go on a reality show to raise the profile of the band. “God no!” She says, laughing. “I understand why some might be inclined to do that sort of thing but I think the music should always speak for itself.” And it really does.
Television Room’s debut album: ‘House’ is available to download now from Itunes and all other digital outlets. For more information on the band visit there Myspace at: www.myspace.com/televisionroom
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