Ting Tings seek out artistic talent

POP BAND the Ting Tings visited MMU this week looking to collaborate with students from the School of Art.

The Manchester-based chart-toppers wanted to give students the opportunity to artistically respond to their work, for example by remixing their tracks, making them a music video, designing album covers, outfits or merchandise, performing a cover of a song or virtually any other artistic idea a student may have.

The Ting Tings briefed around 100 students from the School of Art as part of the nationwide ‘show us yours’ tour to seek artistic collaboration from students in the run up to the release of their highly-anticipated second album.

The band which is made up of Jules de Martino and Katie White promised to look at every entry that is sent in and follow up with any pieces of work they particularly like. Students whose entries are chosen will have the kudos of having produced work for one of the UK’s biggest bands as well as the opportunity to win tickets and other Ting Tings’ merchandise.

Unique opportunity

Graphic design lecturer Liz Wheeldon-Wyatt organised the visit; “It is a great opportunity for the students to work with a really unique live brief and create a compelling and dynamic piece of work.

“It will give students the chance to create something memorable for their portfolio which could ultimately get them a job.”

The Ting Tings is an unconventional band which refuses to be branded, labelled or pigeon-holed. Liz thinks this might have led to them deciding to come to MMU “We deal with unconventionality well here in the School of Art. The Ting Tings have a studio in Islington Mill and said they had seen some of our work and were very interested in talking to our students.

“They certainly seemed impressed with a lot of the work on display in the Grosvenor building, I had to keep stopping for them to admire students’ artwork.”

Fantastic students

This was echoed by Katie of the Ting Tings who commented on how fantastic the students were here at MMU “they really understood what we were asking for, they really got the brief and we are looking forward to seeing anything they produce.”

Liz added; “I think this visit reflects the quality of the School of Art here at MMU, it’s the second oldest art school in the country and I think the Ting Tings will be impressed with any work students send to them.”

For more information about the Ting Tings Show Us Yours project visit http://showusyours.thetingtings.com/