The relationship between psychedelia and alternative rock is long and storied, a lineage of classic songwriting and outsider sonics that’s now being continued by TV Star. Emerging from the punk scene of Seattle, WA, the band’s debut EP Hallucinate Me picks up the torch with a healthy dose of hazy atmosphere and an effortlessly cool aura. It’s sure to perk the ears of psych traditionalists, but TV Star deliver it all with more than enough timeless pop sensibilities and punk concision to please any fan of big chords and big hooks.
TV Star–vocalist Ashlyn Nagel (they/them), guitarists Bryan Coats (he/him) and Che Hise-Gattone (he/him), drummer Waylon Trim (he/him), and with former member KT (she/they) performing bass on the recordings–formed in 2020 looking to capture the mix of mood and melody that powers the pioneers of psych (The Beatles, 13th Floor Elevators, The Electric Prunes), as well as the following generation of bands from the ‘80s Paisley Underground movement and the ‘90s alternative and college rock scenes (The Jesus and Mary Chain, Mazzy Star, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Rain Parade). After releasing two singles, the band hunkered down with engineers Peter Sumic and Robby Porovich, along with a 24-track tape machine, to record what would become Hallucinate Me.
“The recording process was a little challenging,” Hise-Gattone explains. “We recorded on a tape machine with all analog preamps and hardware, and things were perpetually breaking while we were tracking. But in the end it added a raw and creative edge to the whole process.” The intangible quality of recording to tape is the perfect compliment to TV Star’s vibrant brand of psych-infused jangle, and allowed the band to tap into the timeless sound of their influences while keeping a foot firmly planted in the present. “Recording to tape required us to accept mistakes, which I personally find to be a very freeing notion,” says Coats. “It’s not as important to play perfectly as it is to feel good about the performance, and make sure it fits with the song.”
“Song 159” opens Hallucinate Me and introduces TV Star with a wash of full chords, agile bass lines, and Nagel’s soaring voice. “What I like about recording analog is that you have to approach things in larger takes and look at the bigger picture,” they explain. “Since we recorded on a 24-track and a few of the tracks weren’t working, I had to be very methodical about how many vocal tracks I used–puzzle-piecing where harmonies and doubles could fit. It made getting a good take very satisfying.” Tracks like “Room” and “Leaving (You)” highlight TV Star’s ability to be sweeping and cinematic, while elsewhere “In-Between” and “Trigger Itch” bring out a reverb-laden bite. All the while, Nagel’s voice is warm and assured, captivating the listener like a welcoming guide through a dream.
Lyrically, Nagel explores the inevitably of chance within interpersonal relationships, often interrogating shifting perceptions and the ensuing emotions. It’s a strikingly personal take on a genre that sometimes shrouds vulnerability in sunglasses and vibe, but TV Star don’t lack in that department either. The result is an EP that bridges the gap between different moments in time as effectively as it connects different eras of music–an equal parts catchy, dreamy, and affecting new generation of alternative psych rock.
