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With a shared obsession over 80’s pop/R&B and hip-hop, New Orleans based alt-pop duo Tysson, have been on the grind pumping out sonic goodness. The guys just released their debut single/video “Bigger,” it’s the first taste of their self-titled EP expected out later this month.
GroundSounds recently caught up with Tysson to talk about their latest track, musical inspirations and more, check out the exclusive interview below.
For those just discovering Tysson, how did you guys come together and start making music?
Alvin: We met at an event around Jazzfest. JM and I went to a sushi dinner and hatched the plan for Tysson.
How did you guys decide on the moniker TYSSON?
JM: It’s a word that’s provocative. It made sense to us because of people like Cicely Tyson, Mike, and Tyson Beckford. Ms. Tyson is one of the strongest individuals on the planet but she plays characters that are quite vulnerable. Mike is a ferocious competitor but is a pretty broken dude when you hear an interview with him. That dichotomy is very much what we’re trying to accomplish; power and vulnerability.
What was it like growing up in New Orleans? What do you enjoy most about the city?
Alvin: The music heritage is bananas. Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, The Meters, The Nevilles. What else can you say? Our heritage is pretty epic
JM: My favorite part of the city is the food. We’re absolutely spoiled having many chefs as friends. Alon Shaya is a Demi-God in my world.
Can you tell us about working on your debut single “Bigger?”
Alvin: It was a song that we had for a minute because we knew it could be really special. The big thing was figuring out how to mix the Mardi Gras Indian rhythms with the big chorus.
JM: I wanted to have a lyric that was really personal but then became very broad. The verses stem from some experiences that I and some friends went through and the chorus is the want to reach a higher plane of existence.
What was it like the day of filming the music video for “Bigger?”
Alvin: The shoot was during Jazzfest which is a crazy and chaotic time. We were supposed to shoot it one day but I got called to play drums with Lauryn Hill. We pushed had to push the shoot back. Lol
JM: I just remember the house and getting the crap beaten out of me by Katarina Pavic. Our directors and I were egging her on to really mess me up. She was exhausted dragging my ass around.
What is it about 80’s pop/R&B and modern hip-hop that attracts you guys to this sound?
Alvin: All of our favorite records and artists are in those periods. Bowie, Prince, etc
JM: The 80s was a period when artsy artists were making R&B records and R&B cats were making artsy-er choices. That’s basically the makeup of our band
Can you tell us about working on your self-titled EP?
Alvin: I remember Paul Ebersold and I eating so much hot chicken, lemonheads, and Simply Lemonade.
JM: We spent a week or so in Nashville with our big brother, Paul Ebersold. He was such a guiding force in narrowing down the sound. He kept using the analogy: “we gotta make these stars a constellation.” Then, we took the stuff back to NOLA and put the finishing touches on the tracks. Tony Hoffer (who is a mastermind) mixed them.
What was the inspiration for the track “Go Down?”
Alvin: The original version was way more of a tribal thing, but it wasn’t quite working, then we flipped it into the record you hear.
JM: I wanted to make a metaphor between oral sex and worship. It felt kinda bizarre at first but it just felt right. Alvin’s drumming on that song really brings it together.
What bands/musicians are you currently listening to?
Alvin: I’ve seen Anderson Paak a few times recently. He’s smashing. The new Frank Ocean record fucked us up pretty bad. It’s so musical.
JM: That Frank record is bananas. We were in LA working on some records when we heard it and immediately stopped the session. He’s on another level right now.
After the EP release, what’s next for Tysson, what can fans look forward to?
Alvin: A shit ton of touring and more records and then a shit ton of touring then more records and on and on and on.
JM: What my brother said.
