JORDAN BUDD
Staff Writer
In the past few years of the Fredonia music scene, no project has had a more open-ended meaning than T.T.T.T.
This mysterious title is the work of Jacob King, a Fredonia alumni student-artist who has become synonymous with the scene for his involvement in multiple projects. He played in indie folk outfit Hal & Pals, as well as planned shows and cassette releases with Foxhead Record Company.
On Aug. 24, T.T.T.T. released “Folk Song Killer,” a streaming release that also included the B-side, titled, “Dolly Castle.”
T.T.T.T has had different meanings over the years, even representing an acronym at one point. Nevertheless, King said “My go-to answer is that it doesn’t stand for anything.”
One fan, Connor Bessey-Nolan, also known for being the manager of Beach Tower, mentioned how the name T.T.T.T. “feels like a fun mystery to [him]; it feels like it invites you to fill in the blanks and make up a name.”
While King reflects on his early years as a music fan, he mentions that there was a specific strain of reverb-soaked psychedelic garage rock that stuck out to him as a teen.
While referring to the new fast and loud T.T.T.T. songs, King said, “It’s a really comfortable place for me. It feels like home in a weird way.”
The songs were released in conjunction with Foxhead Record Company’s first music event of the semester on Aug. 26.
T.T.T.T. played alongside Lobotomite, a Fredonia alternative-metal band, and Torture Agenda, a sludgy crust punk band from Buffalo-based record label Swimming Faith.
When played live, “Folk Song Killer” and “Dolly Castle” fit right in with the heavier bands.
Along with King, the current band lineup includes Cam Bunch on drums and Meg Munro on bass. These members are also two-fifths of another Fredonia alumni band, Tsunami Tsurprise.
Bessey-Nolan said, “For me, I know Jake’s going to put on a great show regardless of what name he’s under, but I do love the fast and frantic energy channeled through T.T.T.T.”
Similar to much of King’s music, the songs were recorded on a 4-track cassette deck. His releases have a signature scratchy DIY sound.
One thing even more lofi than normal is the vocals, this time recorded through an old landline telephone-turned-microphone that King rewired.
King said, “My voice cut through the mix in a weird way. It’s very grimy, scratchy.” He compared the sound to an old intercom system on a rollercoaster where the high frequencies are so loud the words can become muffled.
King said the B-side, “Dolly Castle,” originally had more of a glam-rock feel as it was highly inspired by a Donovan song called “The Mountain.”
As many of his tunes developed over time, he eventually found “Dolly Castle” hit better when performed in a similar vein to “Folk Song Killer.”
The title of the short EP, and intro track, has to do with King’s interest in a killer persona that is often found in American outlaw culture. The idea of a killer and grim narratives in general have long been explored throughout our country’s musical timeline. King mentions the 60s rock standard, “Hey Joe,” as well as the ominous songwriting of the Doors frontman Jim Morrison.
Similarly inspired by the past, the cover features a cartoon-ish speech bubble above King’s figure that reads “Eat your hair.” King had the Mother of Inventions album cover and music for “Freak Out” in mind. He likens the absurd phrase “Eat your hair” to the work of Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart.
In terms of the future, King has another two-song T.T.T.T. release scheduled for Oct. 4, “Pig,” and “Eat Tomatoes or Eat Shit.”
This upcoming release will be available on lathe cut 7” records, the first time King’s music will be on vinyl.