WL//WH Interview TH da Freak
Picture by @eddiefzone
Spanning over eight years and fourteen releases, TH da Freak, the creative musical brainchild of Bordeaux-based musician and Flippin’ Freaks label/collective co-founder, Thoineau Palis, redefines and reinvigorates its ’90s alternative rock roots in the eighteen studio album “Negative Freaks”, through an unedited full band synergy, comprised of his little brothers Sylvain (of SIZ) on bass and Rémi (of Animalmore) on keyboards, alongside Benjamin Monnereau (guitarist of Lemon Rose) and Quentin Plantier on drums, with a powerful, raw and experimental blend of Grunge, Garage and Slacker Rock.
Let us begin with the meaning of TH da Freak…
TH is literally my nickname. My mother used to write these two letters in her agenda, and my brothers started calling me that with an American accent. “Da” means “the,” and “Freak” stands for “the strange one” because, at school, some people thought I was weird.
Let’s go all the way back to the beginning and talk about how you got your start in the early days.
I started by playing in several rock bands: Scarlinton from age 14 to 17, 16, Final from 18 until today (though the band is inactive, it still exists), and then Kesseling from my early twenties until I was around 24. At the same time, I was recording my own songs on a Tascam 8-track recorder since I was 15, under the pseudonym Tyler Prudence. Then, in 2011, I took on the name TH da Freak and started releasing more concrete projects in 2015. My first EP came out in December 2014, and people liked it, so I kept going and recorded my first album, “The Freak”, which was discovered by Howlin Banana Records. From there, things took off.
Are there any older artists/bands that you look to as role models/main inspiration?
I feel like I go through phases of obsession with certain artists, and some stick with me over time. I like to think of these as my deep inspirations and role models: obviously Kurt Cobain, but also Beck, Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys, Sonic Youth, and the Velvet Underground.
After fourteen releases in eight years, what are the moments you are most proud of and satisfied with, and those that instead left you with a sense of dissatisfaction?
In a way, every record has its own story, and even if some can be considered “misses” or leave a trace of disappointment, they all shaped who I am today. I like to think they all taught me something. The records I’m most proud of, on every level, are the “Infandous” EP, the album “The Hood”, the double album “TH-Sides”, and the latest album “Negative Freaks”, which I find almost perfect.
How did you come up with the official cover art and the “Negative Freaks” title for the new album? What is its symbolic significance, and how does it tie into the music and lyrics?
The cover was created by our friend Eddie (@eddiefzone on Instagram). We love his work, and he even inspired our musical aesthetic through his photos and art. We did a photo shoot with him, and this image emerged from it. The faceless characters create a mysterious effect that fits well with the album. The album deals with difficult topics such as guilt and anger, but in a detached way, as if they’ve already been accepted. It’s like revealing unconscious secrets, and the cover art, as well as the title of the album, reflect that.
The maddening conflict between our inner and outer realities forms a lens for the lyrics to talk about identity, conformity, alienation, toxic societal norms, and the struggle to stay alive spiritually. What/who/when/where do you draw inspiration from for the lyrics?
The world and my reaction to it are my main sources of inspiration. For this album, I wanted to switch between being a narrator and an actor in the songs, though I mostly avoided using “I.” I also read a lot, watch films, and have conversations with others, which help shape the themes of my songs.
Your sound seems to build a dystopian surreal chaos where angsty, confused, and, at times, angry vocals struggle to make sense of it all. Is this autobiographical? Do you think it is timeless or shaped by our current era?
I don’t know if it’s consciously autobiographical, but I obviously put a lot of my thoughts into the lyrics, so there must be a part of me in them. I believe the ideas I tried to express are tied to the present moment. I don’t like absolute truths, and I see evolution as constant. I hope the thoughts in this album will evolve and be overturned by new ones—I’m open to that possibility.
In many ways, “Negative Freaks” is a complete reinvention. At what point did you decide to shift in an entirely different direction, using the full five-member live lineup? How did it affect your sound? Any notable pros or cons?
In the summer of 2023, after touring for the “Coyote” and “Indie Rock” albums, I felt tired of the formula: “I write an album, and the live musicians only come in for shows.” I needed something more collective, where I was an equal part of the group. They are incredibly talented and couldn’t fully express themselves before, so I proposed forming a new band while keeping the TH da Freak base, as I already had some Dark Grunge ideas. The chemistry in writing was instant, so it was a great experience from the start.
Do you have a certain criterion for how you stitch the tracklist together on the LP?
We almost wrote the tracklist at the same time as composing the songs. Sometimes we’d say, “Oh, we need a break here, or a laid-back tempo track,” and we’d work on that. I think it makes the album more coherent. You can subtly feel that we structured it in different acts: a pop introduction, then a weird section leading into a punk tunnel, a break, and an ending with more storytelling.
How much of your creative process is cerebral/conceptual, and how much is instinctive?
It always starts instinctively, with an idea popping up. But afterward, we become extremely aware of every note, every cymbal hit—everything has to be perfect. Improvisation serves as a base, but very quickly, we focus on refining it.
What excites you the most, besides music?
It’s a bit basic, but movies, books, and comics! I also love drawing!
Picture by @eddiefzone
Can you recall the first record/song that ‘broke your heart’ or gave you a sense of excitement and wonder about what music can do?
“Oh! Sweet Nuthin’” by the Velvet Underground. It was the soundtrack to my first breakup when I was 12. I felt so alive…
What song most defined the teenage you?
I’d say “New Toy” by Metronomy from their first, lesser-known album. I used to listen to it at night while falling asleep. It really defines that time for me—I was shy, almost apathetic, and wanted to escape somewhere.
What’s your take on AI-created music?
I’m not sure yet—it’s too early to analyze. I use it a bit for lyrics since English isn’t my first language, but I hate fully AI-made music and find it disgusting when it’s used to deceive people.
With such an extensive discography, how do you usually bridge new and old material when playing live?
It’s really difficult! That’s why we don’t do it much. We usually only play songs from the latest album. I think it’s cool because it creates distinct eras for the band.
You will soon embark on a Swiss/Italian tour. What’s next for the rest of the year?
We’ll be touring across Europe this year, playing in Spain, the UK, Germany, and Austria for the first time! We’re also playing at the Left Of The Dial festival in Rotterdam, which looks amazing. We’re super excited about our French release parties in Bordeaux (our home) and Paris, where we have a strong audience!
TH da Freak‘s fifteenth album, “Negative Freaks,” is out now, on limited colored Vinyl 12″/ CD & Digital, via Howlin’ Banana Records, Flippin’ Freaks Records, and Les Disques du Paradis.
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