Artwork by TREASURE TEETH

TREASURE TEETH is the collective works of James McKillop and Barbara Elting; the ultimate collaborative duo. They share all aspects of the creation of the music, from writing to producing and engineering, and further to performing. This also extends into the realm of art, where they create installation work regarding the mythology of the spaces that surround music, using the means of song, video, interaction, participation and performance as our mediums.

Tell us about yourselves….location, band members, personal habits, favourite food, types of shoes, etc.

Barbara:

I’m from London! I have been living in the US with James for almost a year now…

James:
I’m from Miami, it’s too cold here.

Barbara:
In regards to habits…James is a little OCD. Though we both like to lock ourselves up in our little submarine flat/apartment to create our music and art….everyday. Also, I’m a bit icy.

James:
Like ice cream, sweet but cold.

Barbara:
My favourite food is tuna sashimi, anything from Borough Market in London.

James:
Smothered Chicken and Waffles or Bangers and Mash, sushi is good too.

Barbara:
As for shoes….I like brogues.

James:
My gold Le Coq Sportif sneakers.

Who are your biggest influence(s)?

James:
My cousin Nived the 3rd Eye Monster who took me aside when I was 14 and introduced me to beat making on the MPC.

Barbara:
I try to avoid direct musical influences (if it’s of the seriously subconscious kind, then it’s beyond my grasp so kudos to that). That said Rosemary’s Baby, Michael Elting (my dad), Ivor Cutler, Miranda July, the Troll soundtrack….

What was the last gig you’ve been too and if you could have an musical orgy with anyone… who would it be?

Both:
A band we got to know during our stay in West Palm Beach, Florida, namely Cop City/Chill Pillars played at CakeShop in NY, it was intense and eerie.

James:
For musical orgy, Sun Ra, Frank Zappa, Burial, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Thom Yorke, Harry Merry, Tom Waits, YMCK, Kate Bush and Juana Molina….in a castle under the sea.

Barbara:
Matthew Herbert, Cat Power, Four Tet, Luke Fishbeck, Grieg, Inca Ore, Nick Zammuto, MF Doom, Delia Derbyshire, Rio en Medio, Pseudo Nippon…..in a secret English garden.

Where’d you get your name and artwork?

James:
It was between the completely regretful “Snorkle Rock” and “Honey Research Unit”, then we mixed and matched some independent written words together and we eventually got TREASURE TEETH; it stuck out like a sore red thumb. With our mild fascination with “Grillz” and our collective consistent problem with our teeth, it felt like a winner. As for artwork, we do a lot of it ourselves, but the cover of our upcoming single was made by none other than the Goodiepal himself.

Photograph taken by Joseph Tovey Frost

Day jobs?

James:
Freelance producer and sound designer.

Barbara:
Freelance curator and media person for a company I won’t disclose…

One amazing fact about each of you.

James:
I ran with a herd of elk in the Rocky Mountains…

Barbara:
I scream really, really well. Like… Laura Palmer standard. Just search Laura Palmer scream in youtube.

Recommend us something we wouldn’t have heard about.

James:

Barbara:
It’s probably not new to anyone here…but I can’t love a venue any more than I love Cafe OTO in London, I’ve seen my favourite shows there….or maybe I shouldn’t say that.

Both:
Goodiepal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodiepal

The original drawing of TREASURE TEETH – Island Eye / Teasha single cover artwork by Goodiepal

TREASURE TEETH’s limited edition single Island Eye/Teasha split comes out February 21st this year with True Nature www.truenaturefor.us, and their EP Sell Your Gold will soon follow.