The Ting Tings began 2008 being tipped for the top on many a Ones To Watch list (including #3 in the much coveted BBC Sounds Poll). Their debut album ‘We Started Nothing’ went straight to #1 in the album chart on release in May 2008 and has since reached platinum status in the UK having sold 1 million albums worldwide. From out of the now infamous Islington Mill art space in Salford The Ting Tings formed in 2007. Born of a desire to employ the DIY ethic from day one – Katie White and Jules De Martino escaped the industry trappings they once experienced in a previous band and went back to basics as a duo.

The first Ting Tings music to be circulated was the original version of ‘That’s Not My Name’ in early summer 07. Self-released, hand artworked and strictly limited, pressings of the track found their way up and down the country and the real buzz began. After a captivating performance on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury that summer, The Ting Tings signed the Columbia Records but retained complete control over how and when their music was released. ‘Fruit Machine’ followed in the autumn in conjunction with four shows in Salford (at The Mill, naturally), London, Berlin and New York – where fans were invited to contribute to the 7” artwork of the limited single. ‘Great DJ’ became the first official single released on Columbia in March 2008 – the non-chart eligible single found its way straight onto the Radio 1 playlist. A full release of ‘That’s Not My Name’ came in advance of the debut album at the start of May and instantly hit the top spot, making both single and album #1 simultaneously. A feat held by but a few.

A summer of tip-top spots at festivals all over the world and near constant touring followed. As did the single ‘Shut Up And Let Me Go’ (a gold single in America) and fourth single ‘Be The One’, their 2008 autumn shows became the fastest selling tour of the season. 2008 has also seen Katie and Jules win best UK video at the MTV Music Video Awards in LA, the Vodafone Live Award for XFM Breakthrough Act and Best Festival Pop Act, Newcomer and Anthem Of The Summer for 'That's Not My Name' at this year's UK Festival Awards. They were also invited to play at the 2008 MTV European music awards in Liverpool in November. To round off their truly amazing year, the band have released a deluxe version of ‘We Started Nothing’. This features the original album on disc one, with a bonus DVD featuring videos, ‘making of’s’ and acoustic versions of their four hit singles - Great DJ, That’s Not My Name, Shut Up and Let Me Go and Be The One.

These acoustic tracks were recorded exclusively for this package and feature a string quartet. There is also documentary footage from their early launch events in Salford, London, New York and Berlin in Oct ’07. After a much needed and well deserved Christmas holiday, The Ting Tings head to Australia (for the Big Day Out Festival) and Japan at the start of 2009. They will be back for the release of the final single –‘We Walk’ - in February before the 2009 tour which will see them play bigger venues across the country including Brixton Academy - no less than a year since first single proper ‘Great DJ ‘ was released. What an incredible year - illustrating just how much demand for The Ting Tings’ unique style of British garage party pop has not diminished from day one and shows no signs of doing so. Bigger, better and greater things await for 2009 and beyond (once they’ve caught their breath).