INTERVIEW: TSS Talk Tour Life, Growth & The Album Ahead

On February 17, French band TSS played at Melkweg Amsterdam as part of their European tour. After the show, we caught up with vocalist Matthieu and drummer Hugo backstage. They spoke openly about the band’s shift from synthpop to metal, what it’s like to tour outside of France, and what listeners can expect from their upcoming debut album.

From synths to heavy riffs

TSS began in 2018 with a much lighter sound. “We were playing synthwave, synthpop—very poppy music,” Matthieu explains. “And we did that from 2018 to 2023.”

But last year, the band decided to make a change. “We kind of restarted the band and began playing metal,” he says. That shift led to the release of Would You Be My Therapy?, a song that went kind of viral on TikTok in December 2023.

Shortly after, TSS signed with Fearless Records. “Now we’ve just finished our first album, which comes out in June,” Matthieu adds. “And we’re on our first European tour. It’s crazy for us.”

Playing beyond home soil

Touring outside France is a first for TSS. “We’re used to playing small venues, maybe just a few shows a year,” says Matthieu. “So this is all new. Every night is wild—we’re playing for bigger crowds than we’ve ever seen.”

Despite the new settings, the band says fan interactions haven’t changed much. “People come up, say they enjoyed the set, ask for pictures or autographs,” Matthieu says. “We love that part.”

According to Hugo, fans in countries like Poland and Italy stood out. “They were incredibly responsive,” he says. Even their Paris show surprised them. “Usually it’s just the front row that’s into it,” Matthieu explains. “But this time, the whole venue was moving.”

Keeping control of the sound—and everything else

How do you stay true to your identity when shifting genres? For TSS, the answer lies in independence. “We’ve always self-produced our music,” Matthieu says. “We record, mix, and master everything ourselves. So whatever the style, it ends up sounding like us.”

While that DIY mindset still drives their work, the band isn’t ruling out collaboration. “We might keep producing the core ourselves, but eventually we’ll probably refine our songs with other producers,” Matthieu adds.

That DIY spirit extends well beyond the music. “Everything from music to social media—we taught ourselves,” Hugo says. “Photos, videos, artwork… we just learned by doing.”. When it comes to music videos, they work with directors—but the creative vision is all theirs. “We come in with mood boards, scene ideas, references. We already know what we want before we shoot,” Matthieu explains.

Even now that they’re signed to a label, nothing about their approach has changed. “They give feedback, sure,” says Hugo, “but we’re totally free. They trust us with the music, and we trust them with the rest.”

The debut album: contrast and range

With their album on the way, the band hints at a dynamic listening experience. “You can expect heavier sounds, but still pop-like choruses,” says Matthieu. “There are lots of moods—some songs are heavy, others are slow piano, and some feel like radio rock.”

As for the lyrics, many come from unexpected places. “Movies, anime, TV shows—sometimes a line just sticks with me and I turn it into a song,” Matthieu explains.

Two music videos are already in the works: one is set to release before the album, the other on launch day. The visuals follow the same contrast as the music. “Killing Me was inspired by 2000s horror films,” Matthieu says. “And Dead mixes medieval elements with modern gothic aesthetics.”

Writing on the road?

Touring and writing don’t really go together—at least not yet. “We’re in a van,” Hugo laughs. “No space, no time.”

Back home, there’s no fixed writing process either. “We once rented a house for two weeks to write,” Matthieu recalls. “It was the least productive session ever. So now we don’t force it. It just happens when it happens.”

Even their pre-show routine is simple: they set up their stage themselves, do a soundcheck, get dressed, and warm up. “And then we just look at each other and go, ‘Let’s go,’” Matthieu grins.

Looking ahead

As the tour continues, TSS is already dreaming a little bigger. “One of our goals is to headline a European tour,” Hugo says. “And reach more people with our music.”

There are more collaborations in the pipeline too. “We recently featured on a Windwaker song,” Matthieu says. “And soon we’ll release one where they feature on ours.”

They also teamed up with Japanese band CVLTE on Dead, and say there may be another track with them in the future.

“I just hope the album finds the right people,” Matthieu says. “That’s what matters most.”