More about: TV Priest

If you lived through 2020, you might reasonably ask the question: what the fuck was that? 

It's not been a normal one, that's for sure, and the time it will take to reckon with what's happened will stretch far into the future. Let's start by looking at how we spent the weirdest year in living memory. 

We collared a bunch of our favourite bands and artists and asked them questions about how they experienced the year that all of us will remember forever.

Today, Nic, bassist and producer for TV Priest takes the quiz.

How are you, really?

Yeah, what can I say. It's been a really shit year, for some more than others, it’s really rained down, and whilst personally some of us have fared better than others in the band, we’ve all had little chunks taken out of us at points. But, in other ways, it’s been a phenomenal year for us as a band, so we can’t help but be grateful and extremely thankful for the support there. However, in the lead up to Christmas I just want to get off this fucking ride, I’m starting to feel a little sick….

Did you watch Tiger King back in March?

I did. And honestly, while I found it entertaining at first, it just sent me into a spiral of sadness as to how insane media and the search for acceptance and fame can push people. But who doesn’t love watching the world burn ya know? We’re only human.

What else did you binge watch?

Kingdom on Netflix. Fourteenth century Korean zombies. What's not to like? I don’t tend to watch too many series though, but I did listen to almost all of the Broken Record Podcast by Malcolm Gladwell and Rick Rubin. It’s fascinating and full of stories about incredible artists told by people who spent time with them at their most creative. Fascinating listen and really changed my opinion on Rick Rubin, he seems like an incredibly calming and grounded human, would like to hang out with him.
  

What did you drink and eat too much of?

Without knowing a pandemic was going to hit I quit smoking at the start of this year and have now directly replaced it with a caffeine addiction. Currently drinking between 3-4 coffees a day which so far isn’t making this year any less stressful or edgy.

Describe a joyful moment.

Finding out my wife is pregnant and that come early 2021 I’ll be a father.
  

Did you take up a new hobby?

Ed started chainsaw carving, he gone made an owl. I also wanted to start building guitar pedals from scratch and so learnt electronics, invested about £300 in parts, built 2 working pedals, unsuccessfully built 2 DIY kits, then got completely side tracked and haven’t touched them since

What's the best thing you read in quarantine?

Estates by Lynsey Hanley. It’s about council estates, their development and construction and their impact both physical and mental on the people that live in them. Talks about class in the UK and is a really interesting read.

What's the best album you heard in quarantine?

I discovered Songhoy Blues in the last year and I love their new album Optimisme. As individuals and as a band we can sometimes be pretty cynical of the world closest to us and struggle to pull ourselves out of holes we’ve dug for ourselves, but Optimisme, whilst still tackling adversity in Mali and political debate, retains an immense sense of joy and gladness that I find infectious and brings me great comfort.  

  
What did you miss the most?

Playing in a band with my friends. Not being able to do so drove us a bit loopy.

TV Priest's debut album Uppers arrives 5 February via Sub Pop.

More about: TV Priest