Tee Vee Evolves Ahead of Day for Night

Tee Vee. Photo: Ryan Francisco

The electronica scene is Houston has almost always had plenty of entrants, but few have been as different as Houston’s Tee Vee. Originally a solo effort, the now-duo performs a mixture of darkwave, electro pop, and synth heavy electronica to craft their own sound that’s far from ordinary. Free Press Houston caught up with Teresa Vicinanza of the electronic duo to talk about the whirlwind year the group has had as well as what they have planned for their appearance at Day for Night.

Free Press Houston: For those who don’t know, what is Tee Vee?

Tee Vee: Tee Vee is an electronic act that grew from my desire to have full control of writing, recording and producing.

FPH:  This started off as a solo project correct?  How did Daniela from Rose Ette become involved?

Tee Vee: One day Daniela had mentioned playing with me and I thought that it would be fun for a live set. The project has since transformed and Dani plays with me regularly. She adds a lot of low end and also mixes in her own ideas. However, it is kind of still a solo project. The songs are written and produced by me and I can play my set by myself if I need to.

FPH: There’s a darker side to your music that most people might not notice at first listen. What inspires you as an artist and is there a particular sound you’re trying to achieve with your music?

Tee Vee: I am inspired by such a wide range of sound and visual art. I like a lot of 80s Japanese pop. I am also influenced by SPK, Björk, Broadcast, Kate Bush, John Coltrane, David Bowie, Kraftwerk, Tupac… This project is my heart and so every influence plays a part. I think right now I’ve mostly been experimenting with sound and textures that can fit inside of a pop song structure. I think this can change at any moment though.

FPH: The demos on Soundcloud are a bit more pop infused than some of your newer songs, will we see a proper Tee Vee release anytime soon?

Tee Vee: Yes! I am hoping to have have an EP released in 2024.

FPH: Your live setup is evolving daily, do you mean for it to be that way or is the band just an ever changing organism?

Tee Vee: The live setup has been evolving because I am still working out how I want to play everything live. Also, I do think the band is an ever changing organism and can evolve regularly. I think I’m actually drawn to the challenge of evolution within a band or creative process. It’s an interesting and fun to work through.

FPH: The Day for Night appearance is a big landmark for a new band.  Do you have anything wacky or different planned for your performance at the festival, or will you be incorporating any digital art into your set?

Tee Vee: There is always a visual aesthetic that I try to embrace when playing live. I am constantly imagining and creating different personalities in my head that I can embody. I like the idea of being another person on stage. So, yes I will absolutely have some surprises for Day for Night.

You shouldn’t sleep on this group as I’ve witnessed them grow from what appeared to be bedroom pop to a fully fleshed out electronica act with plenty of heft over the course of this year.  You can catch Tee Vee when they perform at this year’s Day for Night Festival.  The two day festival merges some of the greatest visual artists in the world with acts like Björk, Aphex Twin, Liars and more.  Tickets for the festival run between $170 and $700 and it takes place on December 17 and 18 at the Barbara Jordan Post Office in downtown Houston.

by David Garrick