Dusseldorf’s rock reggae pioneers THE TiPS are set to release their upcomign EP Come Closer via Long Beach Records on Friday 2nd February.
THE TiPS open up a new chapter in their career: after parting ways with singer Ali due to personal reasons and health issues, the TiPS‘ vision was still as clear as before and giving up was not an option for anyone. Sometimes the world is simply very small and so, after a short while they crossed way with their old friend Stefan, who was instantly, mutually accepted as thedesired solution to becoming the new voice of the three reggae-punks.
You can check out the band’s latest single, Go, below!
We managed to catch up with the band as they talk about the upcoming EP and more!
How pumped are you for the release of Come Closer?
Stefan: It´s such an important step and we are bent on taking it. We know that we chose the right path because we did not sham or buckle to keep „THE TiPS“ alive. That´s what the EP stands for: We are „THE TiPS“
Janosch: Come Closer is the first EP that really integrates the soundwise ideas of all of us.Also the whole recording process bound the whole Team together even more closely.
What is your favourite track from the release?
Stefan: before a release you usually write more songs than are released so you pick the best songs for the release. Hence there is no Ranking for the published songs anymore.
Janosch: I totally agree with Stefan. It´s a represantive sample of the new and the old TiPS sound.
How has the release of Go gone down so far?
Stefan: Fantastic! It was worth to choose GO as the first Single. Even at the first Live situation where we played it the crowd and us came together to sing it full-throated. It´s a brilliant Song to sing together.
Janosch: Exactly! And all the feedback we get is very positive and encourage us as a Band in what we do.
Can you tell us something about the music video nobody knows about?
Faf: We shot it on two different dates and between that something bad happened to my Bass. If somebody is able to find out I´ll give him a Beer on our next UK Tour.
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
Stefan: There is no particular Band that´s coming to my mind. For me it is more fascinating to conect different fields of music. For example with diverse Instrumentation. Faf and I tried to give our Songs a new style whenever it was possible. Be it on the Piano or with friends that play strings or wind instruments. That clears the mind and is very important to me to get another perspective on our Songs. Needless to say it is great fun!
Unfortunately each of us has just 2 hands so for the future my wish is to play with many many guest musicians who put their two cents in
Faf: It is really hard to pick a band to work with cause there are so many brilliant bands on this planet. It´s like Stefan said: You meet people who have the same or an interesting vibe of making music and then you just do it. We don´t have a certain band in mind. If we meet nice people to work with it just happens.
How pumped are you for your upcoming tour?
Stefan: Of Course we are artists that want to be heard therefore touring is a part of the process for sure.
We are highly motivated and really looking forward especially because while writing the EP we always had the Live-Performance in mind.
Janosch: It will be a exciting year and we are looking forward to meet many friends and new bands as well as visitng awesome places like „Mighty Sounds Festival“ in Czech Republic. It is always a pleasure.
What venue are you most looking forward to playing?
Stefan: The great thing is that music is able to unite people at any place. It can be magical anywhere. Theoretical you don´t need a promoter or a big festival location to have these moments.
Faf: We had on of our best Gigs last year on the roof of a barbecue smoker of our friend Björn in the Netherlands. As you see it doesn´t matter where the gig happens.
Janosch: I´m really looking forward to tour the UK again as the tour was cancelled last year. I´m excited for that.
What was the first gig you all attended?
.Stefan:Our first gig together was in „Haltern am See“. I can say that THE TiPS have some of the best Fans in the world cause at that gig there were people in the crowd that follow THE TiPS for years and know the Lyrics word by word and I have to tell unlike me. There is no fluent change if a member of the band drops out and there are pre-booked shows so you are thrown into the deep end.
With much love and the wish not to drop THE TiPS as a big community they supported me full-throated. That was the moment our supporters and me closed the gap together.