by Kris Handel
Tetchy get wild and more than a little bit dirty for their video for latest single "Married" released at the beginning of September. The melodicism is still present while a thunderous rhythm section and crunching guitar lays the basis for Maggie Denning's howls and yelps about premature commitments and stunted emotional growth. The video is filled with juxtaposition of wild thrashing and raucous partying combined with rituals of the marriage ceremony and events leading up to such. Denning took some time away from her schedule and shenanigans to respond to some email questions on the future and evolution of the group.
As an additional treat, the band recently released new single "Voices," a song that has Tetchy slowing down a little and ramping up the tension. Denning expresses displeasure in lack of personal connection and crushing emotional insecurities. Tetchy once again show themselves to be in touch with a deep level of self-awareness and an uncanny ability to bloodlet in such a captivating, accepting and open manner.
Kris Handel: In the new video for "Married" what are some of the themes you feel should be highlighted or or were inspiring to its vision? There is a high sense of drama and interesting contrasting themes sprinkled throughout.
Maggie Denning: For me, whenever I’m developing the concept for a music video I usually just pop on the track, close my eyes, and let my mind dream up whatever visual story the sounds feel like they’re wanting to tell. Then I scheme and plan for a shoot that’s way too soon and way too expensive, and I call upon my equally crazy and endlessly talented / generous friends to help me materialize the vision.
When I first closed my eyes and listened to “Married,” I instantly wanted to make something that was just really shitty and shameless. Almost comically so. The idea of a bad, early 2000’s skate video was the first thing that came to mind. Then all these other motifs and scenes that play around with “punk girl” aesthetic, gender, and ideas about expectations, submission, and possession just fell into place.
KH: What was the most fun part of making the video for "Married" and revelry with friends, and who has best skateboarding skills in your opinion?
MD: Oh, we had waaaay too much fun making this video. Watching the buds skate to 90s club bops and butt rock anthems was definitely a highlight. (I think Kallan or Ginno probably have the most polished skate chops but neither of them would say so.)
Our AD Zach (from Dead Tooth) took the night shoot / party to another level with his many genius bottle-popping shot ideas—one of which was inspired by this Big Wet video. Obviously, that scene required some pretty intense beer and champagne work.
Also, Kait’s vomit shot was the last thing we filmed. I believe I was shivering / freezing cold but simultaneously unable to stop laughing, if memory serves.
KH: For those that have had the opportunity/joy of experiencing Tetchy live, this video gives a brief glimpse of the chaos and abandon of a Tetchy show and connectivity with the recording. What has been the most difficult or most fun part of translating the recordings to stage.
MD: Hmm. An interesting question as the songs certainly evolved before recording them— when we played them with their original writers— me, Jesse French, Dylan LaPointe and Chris Krasnow. They moved and shifted to find new meanings and moments, and I’m really proud of everything we were able to capture in the recordings— thanks largely to Jesse being an unbelievably special (and pretty fcking brilliant) engineer.
Since entering Tetchy’s current era— with Jesse on guitar, Kaitlin Pelkey (of Big Girl) on bass, and Max Goldstein (of Rong, Fred Cracklin, Stice, etc) on drums, the live versions have certainly become even more chaotic and cathartic. Nothing about the ways that they’ve shifted has felt difficult for me, though— it’s almost as though we took the leash off and let them run out all the day’s pent up energy off.
KH: After a little bit of time away/reflection from late-spring/early Summer, what were some of your favorite shows/memories from the handful of shows you played? Any interesting lessons learned from the experience?
MD: Some fave memories would have to be…
Sneaking into the hotel pool at 1 in the morning after our New Hampshire show on our June run with the Dead Tooth pals.
Watching Kait sing “All Star” by Smash Mouth on top of a chair at old Stanley’s after headlining Brooklyn Made in April.
Feeding Jesse a hot dog every single day for a week (I think they were leftover from a May BBQ I had??) while we tracked the vocals for the All in My Head EP.
Living off of peanut butter and Celsius on the most blessed SXSW tour of all time.
KH: There have been some shake-ups in the recent history of Tetchy that I'm sure have pushed the project further in its growth and development, any clues worth divulging to the audience as to what to look out for in the future (near or far) in the Tetchy universe?
MD: Tetchy is always changing and shifting and moving towards some new way of feeling freedom in our art, our communities, and in our bodies. And to be totally honest.. it just keeps feeling better and brand new and extremely right all over again. But yeah, it’s feeling especially this way right now.
We’re sitting on a pretty ridiculous amount of new songs. We’re feeling like ourselves and we’re feeling like we’re cracking something wide open. We’re also digging into some very cool (and kinda nasty) ideas for the live show... haha.
So yes— we’re excited. I feel like Tetchy’s 2024 is probably gonna be one for the diaries / grandkids / historical tomes on Bushwick rock of the 21st century / etc.