DAYTIME TV DEBUTS LATEST SINGLE
Photo: Derek Bremner
“What do you do with one day left on Earth?” is the question asked by ‘Creatures’, the latest single from alternative quartet DayTime TV. The band answers this question with a call to party and to have a good time with your friends. Released on August 14th, the track was inspired by frontman Will Irvine’s recovery from a life-threatening illness. Formed in 2020, DayTime TV have established themselves as one of the most exciting emerging acts in the scene, known for blending guitar grit with synth and electronic elements. The band features Will Irvine (vocals/guitar), John Caddick (guitar), Naomi Boschetti (bass) and Gareth Thompson (drums) and they have shared stages with artists such as You Me At Six, Twin Atlantic or Two Door Cinema Club.
On ‘Creatures‘, Irvine sings: “This is where I wanna be found when I drop dead“. Described as a playful look at mortality, the single pairs its serious subject matter with an upbeat melody made for the dancefloor. The song was produced by Pete Hutchings, who has also worked closely with bands such as Royal Blood. Irvine explained the song was written at a time when he was seriously ill and thinking about what really matters: "Where's your head at when you’ve got one day left on Earth?“. The song is a reminder that, if we only had one day left, we’d probably stop overthinking and gather our friends for one last rave. For him, the track is as much a celebration of life as it is a reflection of death.
‘Creatures‘ is the band’s third single since signing to Marshall Records this year, following ‘Pause‘ and ‘Sun‘. Irvine said the song was also written during a period when the band’s future felt uncertain and recalled their performance at the Roundhouse in 2024. He played the show while seriously ill, saying he was “fully hallucinating“ before the show and “crawling down the corridor“ after the performance but despite the pain he was determined to play. Irvine added that the Roundhouse show ended up being one of the best shows the band had ever played, according to friends and fans, even though he barely remembers it. “What I do remember is being on stage and the pain disappearing“, he said, “The adrenaline and my sense of purpose completely took over“.
Irvine explained that the whole experience shifted his perspective “Up until then, my existence had been about just trying to stay alive“, he said, before adding that getting back on stage that night made everything else wash away. He recalled being named the GP’s “mystery patient“ and said that doctors eventually tried a high dose of steroids, which began working within days. “Im not religious“ he noted, “but I can only describe it as a religious experience“. That experience made him realise what matters most and led him to say what he means more openly. Irvine went on to say: “At points I genuinely believed I was going to die or never be the person I was again, so I feel incredibly lucky and privileged to have another go…I feel very lucky to have been woken up by this experience."
On Tuesday, August 18th, the band debuted the song live at Third Man Records in Soho, along with a few other tracks. Irvine also spoke about another track called ‘Anger Management‘ on stage, which he explained was written about a “Kiss A Frog Moment“ from the band‘s early days, before he added “If you got something that‘s playing on your mind, collectively cleanse the bad energy. It's like a group therapy moment“. DayTime TV will take the new material on the road in October, with a run of intimate UK dates in support of Music Venue Trust and Marshall’s Keep Live Music Alive campaign to help keep the grassroots music scene thriving. Tickets can be purchased here.
September 17 - Kaiserkeller, Hamburg
September 23 - Supersonic, Paris
October 14 - Hull - New Adelphi Club
October 15 - Coventry - Tin Music and Arts
October 16 - Newport - Le Pub
October 17 - Milton Keynes - Crauford Arms
October 18 - Bournemouth - Bear Cave
October 28 - Liverpool - The Quarry
October 29 - Sheffield - Yellow Arch
October 30 - Edinburgh - Cabaret Voltaire