Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with the dt’s
the dt’s were born out of an absolute itching to start fresh and began collaborating, writing, and recording their music at their home studios. Snag any of their live performances and you’ll uncover them shifting harmoniously from rock to blues, to power pop and beyond. Their modern pop approach and various vintage influences are key in their collective and individual songwriting skills. The duo is not afraid to experiment while incorporating their love of harmonies.
Their debut EP, You With Me (2022), earned local and regional acclaim, followed by the singles Refresh (2022) and All In My Head (2023). the dt’s Live at Lakehouse Studios captures their full-band power and reimagined takes on their songs.
The band’s energy is surely felt in their single, “Cherry”. The Jersey Sound described the track as “an exquisite sound that channels the raw urgency of punk with the tuneful joys of pop music.
the dt’s capped off 2024 with major milestones, from playing the legendary Bowery Ballroom to debuting at the coveted WAWY Showcase. So far in 2025, they’ve opened for well-known acts including Supersonic (Oasis tribute), Jake Thistle, and most recently Penelope Road as part of the North2Shore Festival.
With an electrifying live show and new music on the way, the dt’s show no signs of slowing down.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Tom: A memory that stands out for me was when I was about 7 years old, I got to see Aerosmith and The Cult at an arena show in NJ. My parents and I got to move all the way down to the side stage because there was a drunk patron near us upstairs. Steven Tyler reached out and touched my hand side stage, and it blew me away. I just remember both bands absolutely putting on a spectacle, and I was blown away.
Dave: When I was a kid, I was helping my parents clean out the attic. While doing so, I came across my mom’s old guitar. Since I wasn’t familiar with the instrument at the time, I asked her what it was, and she explained it was a guitar and that it was hers. This immediately piqued my interest in music, and my passion for music bloomed after that. I asked for a guitar for Christmas that year, and my uncle got my cousin and me matching American Idol guitars with a speaker in the middle. I had no idea how to play at the time, but I couldn’t stop strumming it. I never looked back after that.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
Tom: My passion for making music really came from my dad, who was a musician during the 70s and 80s in the NJ/NY music scene. We always had guitars, records, CDs, and even tapes everywhere growing up, so it was natural. I got to discover so many cool bands at such a young age.
Dave: My passion for creating music came at a young age. Although I always loved the guitar, I always wondered how the artists that I loved actually made the music that they were playing that had this effect on me. It was at this time that I learned that although they all had their own unique approach, a lot of them did it collaboratively, experimenting, and taking influence from their idols. And then I thought, “That’s it?! I can do that!”. So I started to try to write my own songs early on, just trying to sing about anything.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
We have been playing music together for almost 12 years now! We grew up in a small town and started collaborating at a young age. We always knew each other growing up: seeing each other’s cover bands, and even being in other projects together, too. However, the dt’s started from both of us yearning to find an outlet to collaborate, write together, and share our own song ideas and melodies with the world. We discovered that we have so many similar influences, and there was an “aha” moment where we realized that both of our voices blend together so well. So through our natural friendship and musical chemistry, we decided to start a project together, which continues to grow, and we’re so grateful for.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
If the Everly Brothers got into a street fight with The Beatles!
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
Tom: One thing I’m proud of and have really leaned into over the last few years is just listening to the room and the players around you. There’s that famous Miles Davis quote, “It’s not the notes you play, it’s the notes you don’t play”. Allowing simplicity and letting things breathe is so important.
Dave: One thing that I try to embrace while making music is to just let go, don’t sweat the little things, and work with people who you trust and believe in what you are doing. As musicians, I think a lot of us want things to be “perfect” and try so hard to achieve that. However, there is such an art to “letting go” and letting things happen naturally. I can’t tell you how many times I cut a guitar solo or vocal track and, in the moment, hated it, but everyone around me said it was great. And then when I listened back later on, I loved what I was listening to.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Any tool that allows us to collaborate has been great for us. We’re always sending each other iPhone voice memos, writing lyrics in Google Docs and the Notes App on our phones, and designing in Canva. GarageBand has also been super helpful for us, especially when we started the dt’s, allowing us to create demos and share ideas. When we recorded our first singles and EP during COVID, we learned to record in Tom’s parents’ basement. Dave became very proficient in Pro-Tools and Logic as well. It was a great learning experience that helped us when we started working with other producers.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
Tom: The Lemon Twigs and The Beths are a couple of bands I’ve really followed and loved over the last few years.
Dave: So many, but my top right now are Inhaler, Royal Otis, and Silvertwin. They all write amazing songs that captivate and inspire me!
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
Tom: Our latest single, “Sorry Not Sorry,” is a rather vivid experience I wrote about and was a personal experience during my teens. Writing as a duo is also super fruitful, as it helps flesh out what feeling or meaning we are trying to convey. That ability to bounce other ideas off Dave and also listen/discover other artists together is a big influence too.
Dave: Personal experiences always influence our music and artistic vision. A lot of the songs that we write, both independently and collaboratively, are either directly or loosely based on personal experiences. Our other single, “Sun Shines Down,” is a song that was written during a tough time, so I tried to make it a triumphant track about trying to persevere and see the light at the end of the tunnel.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
So many! We want our listeners to have fun while listening to our music and experience what we experience when writing and putting the songs together. Overall, though, we just want them to experience pure joy! Just trying to get stuck in our listeners’ heads!
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Music has taught us so much. Everything from self-confidence to expressing emotions. The ability to listen and collaborate as part of a team has really helped us in all other facets of our lives with family and friends. We’ve also learned so much about doing business as well. Learning everything from writing emails, negotiating, and even knowing how to trust the right people and being your own advocate.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Red Rocks, Reading Festival, Madison Square Garden, The Royal Albert Hall, and Sea Hear Now, of course!
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Tom: Paul McCartney. His natural ability to create melodies and also let the creative process flow with experimentation is always inspirational.
Dave: A past artist I would love to collaborate with is Prince. He was an absolute musical genius and so innovative. A present artist I would love to collaborate with is John Mayer. He is such an incredible guitar player and underrated lyricist. He tells great stories with his songs!
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website, Spotify, IG, links)
Please give us a follow on Instagram and Spotify listed below 🙂
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thedtsmusic/
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/4nZVHrZrnqw6nNruvY3G0t?si=IPbzU296R_-n4QIvYbvdZA
All of our socials are also linked on our website – thedtsmusic.com 🙂
All of our socials are @thedtsmusic !
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
Continue to grow as songwriters and write quality, catchy material in the studio. We are eager to reach more fans and play some larger festivals in the coming years!
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
We really like to have fun, bring good vibes, and put on a killer live show!
