TV TUTS INTERVIEW: TV Smith's Life Story (Part 2. So Low... Rising) by Tj

[Alan]

ahem...

[Tj]

Hey! One miracle at a time Alan. 

Have a great flight buddy. 

[Tj]

I wonder why the end of part 1 and the start of part 2 of my TV Smith Story interview reminds me of Simse's EARTHBOUND 2009 party in Germany?

"Our lifeboat hits the rocks.
The Captain climbs off.
It's hard to keep going on when you think all hope is lost..."

In The Arms of My Enemy?

Part 2: So Low… Rising

“Sirens who lure you onward
Keep your hopes afloat
An soon as land slips out of view
They hole your boat
Then when you think you're sinking
Below the waves
A voice says “Climb on board.
Those of you who want to be saved!”
Well, life’s perilous,
You swim with the predators
Seems like they’re all out to get us
No, don’t give in,
They will not win.”

[Tj]

One of the things I admire most about TV Smith is that spirit of Carrying On...

24qTJ: You never seem to give in…

I'm aiming to connect to that very spirit next week.

[Tj]

As my final EARTHBOUND treat TUTS here is TV talking to me (who was inspired to create EARTHBOUND by Mike Peters annual fan GATHERING) about what makes EARTHBOUND so special...


38qTJ: Every year you hold annual fan club gatherings in England and Germany called EARTHBOUND. What makes an EARTHBOUND show different to your other gigs?

38aTV: I suppose the main thing is that it's put on for the fans by the fans, so there's a special atmosphere to them straight away. As far as the music goes, I get asked to try songs I never usually play, which makes it quite different from the usual gigs. It's quite a challenge for me to dust these old songs off and have another go at them, but I really enjoy doing it. Often when I'm preparing songs for the Earthbound gigs I find myself thinking, how come I don't play this one more often? Of course there are always a few that don't work so well, but that's all part of the fun. I can take risks with the set list at an Earthbound gig that I wouldn't really dare to do at a normal gig.

TJ: I noticed in the set lists in your website archives that many of your brand new songs are also launched at EARTHBOUND.

[Tj]

Just enjoyed reading this again. Here's looking forward to that dream. But first there is something new, yet old, on the horizon. 

51qTJ: Which of your albums was made by your true Self? What do you think has been your finest hour to date?

51aTV: They're all made by my truest self, TJ, otherwise I wouldn't make them. That's what moves me to write, and that's why the albums work - they might be flawed, they might not have the production values of "commercial" records, they might not have the advertising campaign and the video but when you hear them you know it's the real deal. I've never written a song that didn't stem from some genuine moment of inspiration.

TJ: That may well be the secret of your great consistency over the past 30 years. Pure inspiration from the heart – no lies!

52qTJ: What one music dream do you have that you have yet to fulfil?

52aTV: The next album.

[Nick]

That is why I admire TV Smith so much. Honesty oozes from every song he writes. My partner Valerie had never heard of him before, but now she is also an avid fan.

[Tj]

Of course she is. What did you think the V stands for?

[Nick]

ice one