Daytime TV plan album release for 2021

But, then, it does matter. Of course, it does. It matters even before brand recognition – is this something people will understand? It matters even before commercial considerations – can this name be easily sold in the music industry? It matters even if you have already released an entire album under a different name and you now want to change it. Of course, it matters.

The name we all chose for ourselves is an echo of our identity: how we see ourselves, what we stand for, and what we do. It will always matter. Otherwise, why put a name to it at all?

Hunter and the Bear became Daytime TV. Their previous releases have not been shunned, they have already unveiled two songs under DTTV and are set for an album run this year. Frontman Will Irvine knew the move would not be without backlash, at least in some cases, but they all felt the change was still long overdue.

"It didn't really make sense anymore," Irvine tells The Weekender. "For us, Hunter and the Bear will always be a chapter in time for us – all those songs and all the history – but it was time to look ahead.

Once we play some gigs as Daytime TV, that's when it will all just be the norm. It will be solidified that that's who we are and that's what we do."

"There's no huge change in direction, at all, it is just a new chapter in our musical journey, I guess. We consider our Hunter and the Bear back catalogue to be part of us – we're not abandoning that; those songs are coming with us.

"There will be a period of change, but it's the same band, a different name, a new member, and new music. Once we play some gigs as Daytime TV, that's when it will all just be the norm. It will be solidified that that's who we are and that's what we do."

Of course, it had been a name for something else. The band started as a duo with guitarist Jamie [whose second was Hunter] and Irvine [the Bear – a throwback to an old high school nickname]. The Hunter and the Bear. Two other members joined to take the project to the next level, but the name persisted.

The idea to change the name was often discussed, but with tours, releases and festival bookings already in the works, it was never a good time. And, so, the name persisted still.

Jamie later left the band and yet again the name persisted as so much progress had already been made under that banner.

Before long, Hunter and the Bear was going by a designation that represented an iteration of themselves they no longer recognised. They were not a duo, they had written so many songs as a full band, and one of the founding namesake members had moved on.

Picture: Rory Barnes

Continuing as something they did not identify with became an act of absurdity – and a constant reminder that they are not who they used to be. Once covid took hold and tours and releases came to a halt, the opportunity was presented to the band and they took it.

It is nothing new. Mentions of Glass Onion, The Hype, On A Friday, The Rain and The New Yardbirds have been reduced to mere trivia. Even Kendrick Lamar said: "If I'm gonna tell a real story – I'm gonna start with my name."

That few bands had already released an album before doing so was not lost on them. Pushback was inevitable.

"It was a risk," the singer reflects. "But it's not something we would ever have done if we thought it was going to completely shaft us. Not everyone took it well; there were a few people who were – and still are – quite raging about it.

"I suppose there are two types of people: those who hear a name change and say: 'cool, good for them – if they make music I like, then I'm a fan still'. Then there are those who felt a sort of ownership over you and the fact you've taken that name away is insulting to them.

"I saw one comment on our Instagram who said: 'I remember when you had beards! What the hell are all these changes about?' So, here we have a grown man being annoyed at us because we shaved our faces. Someone to have such a fired-up comment about something like that is a bit much.

"I get it. I'm a music fan and I love bands in a certain way and love what they do. Change is always strange at first, but it's the music – we're here for the music. If you listen to what we've been putting out, we haven't become a K-Pop band overnight. We have stuck to our guns and we're still writing the same style of music we have always done. And there's plenty more to come.

"Bands change their names often – it's just you never hear much about their earlier name. I'm sure there were some Glass Onion fans who responded with: 'why would you call yourself Travis? That's a stupid name…'"

There are schools filled with 13-year-old girls who don't feel worthy of being on this planet because they don't look like Kim Kardashian. Something has got to change there – every single one of them has something to offer; they are a loved; they are amazing, and for our world to tell them otherwise, on a daily basis, is just so wrong."

He adds: "We live in such an Instagram society these days where image matters more to a band than the music. That's so not what we're about. When that starts happening, that's when I lose interest. It's got to feel right for us; we're doing this for the love of music and to feed our own artistic creativity.

"When you start trying to please everyone all the time, you'll end up pandering to trends and doing you think others want you to do. We're just doing what we want to do and if people want to be on board with that then that's great.

"Of course, we use social media to promote our music and we play the game, sure, and post pictures of ourselves, etc. But it should never be used against you or get to that point where people are saying they miss the days when I had a beard. Do you actually miss my beard? That is bizarre. Are you okay? Do we need to have a funeral for the beard? It's a funny one."

Any modern band trying to make their way is all-too aware of the influence social media has on their success. It is, for better or worse, essential to have an online presence. But it remains a weapon held by the blade. For every positive there are countless negatives – the harmful impact on mental health is ubiquitous. No one is immune and no one is innocent.

Irvine continues: "A few of our songs are written about that sort of thing – that 'Insta-culture' – where it all messes with people's minds and makes them feel bad about themselves. Digital Light and Zombie, in a sense, of being made to feel dead behind the eyes, because nothing you do is good enough.

"There are schools filled with 13-year-old girls who don't feel worthy of being on this planet because they don't look like Kim Kardashian. Something has got to change there – every single one of them has something to offer; they are a loved; they are amazing, and for our world to tell them otherwise, on a daily basis, is just so wrong."

NEW CHAPTER: Daytime TV will pick up where Hunter and the Bear left off. Picture by Rory Barnes

He adds: "We are all fed these stereotypes of people living such wonderful lives – even though it's just a snapshot.

"The other thing that really annoys me is that we are part of it. For example, as a snapshot, we might post on Instagram a picture of us on a gig day setting up and playing a show. Now, that's an amazing moment from that day and everyone who looks at that will be led to believe that this is our life all the time. But then fast forward ten minutes from that moment and someone is sad, or someone's had an argument. Real life happens off camera, but we're led to believe everyone is leading perfect lives, because all we see is perfect little snapshots.

"It's a crazy way to rationalise your place in the world by looking to everyone else's best moments – the highlights of everyone else's day."

The topic has seeped into much of the band's recent output, most notably Digital Light and Zombie and is expected to re-appear in the Daytime TV album which is on its way this year.

Much of it was already recorded and plans were in place for a second Hunter and the Bear record. Of course, the pandemic meant releasing without touring and the band opted to wait. That is not to say the Daytime TV album will be the same, however.

Zombie is just the beginning...There is a mountain of music there just waiting to be discovered."

A lot of time has passed, and lockdown provided an opportunity to work on more songs… A lot of new songs.

Irvine says: "We've been writing this whole time, during lockdown, so there are so many songs there. I feel I could release four albums right now. And there are a couple that might have to be recorded – so there's talk of a sneaky little extra track in there. It feels like it would be a shame not to involve them at this point."

Daytime TV recently released the single Zombie and such was the impact of the track that name-change chat has certainly subsided. It is the second single this year, following up on Side Effects, which was given a far more low-key unveiling.

But Irvine – with a genuine inflection of excitement in his voice – talks about the steps ahead and the plans they have to keep the momentum going.

"Zombie is just the beginning," he proclaims. "There is a mountain of music there just waiting to be discovered. It's an exciting time for us and we can't wait to release the other new songs we have that have been sitting on the back burner during covid. We're itching to let people hear.

"It's been one of the most frustrating things having all the music to release and not really being able to. We've just had to sit there and hope the fanbase sticks by us for the time being.

"Side Effects was released more as a gift for all those supporting us with the new name. We didn't really put anything behind in terms of promotion, and just chucked it up online.

"Zombie has probably been our best release ever – with either name – and is the start of our album campaign. There will be a lot of action this year. It's going to be busy."

Daytime TV are scheduled to tour the UK this winter, starting with shows at the Liquid Room (upgraded from the Mash House) in Edinburgh on Thursday, November 4, and The Ironworks in Inverness on Friday, November 5.

They also have two sold-out shows at King Tut’s in Glasgow before shows across England.

For ticket details, visit https://www.daytimetvmusic.com/tour-dates/