GROWERS Bring TikTok style to their video for “TTYL”
Energy-based band and Pop Punk pioneers GROWERS showcase their new single “TTYL.” Released in September 2022, “TTYL” is the second single from GROWERS’ new EP Cry Baby, coming soon in Winter 2023.
The four-piece rock outfit features the Toronto talent of lead vocalist Charlie Joy, guitarist Matt Raitt, drummer Chris Raitt, and bassist Nate Clapinson. Born in 2019 and residing in Toronto, Canada, GROWERS have had a plethora of successful shows, including winning a battle of the bands in 2019 and playing a string of sold-out shows in Toronto following the global pandemic (Horseshoe Tavern, El Mocambo, and Lee’s Palace). In 2020, the band would continue their success by winning a $2,000 grant from Corus Entertainment for their single and music video ‘The 90’s’.
Speaking of the 90s, GROWERS have channeled their sound straight from this late era, with a little bit of the early 2000s thrown in for good measure. Pop Punk at its finest, with hints of Blink 182, Weezer, and Fall Out Boy throughout their sound. Crunchy AF guitars, popping bass, and bouncing drums all fall into place with the sound of GROWERS. Vocalist Charlie Joy sounds expressive and powerful, releasing more energy than the Duracell Bunny.
“TTYL” arrives straight from the early 2000s and is the second single from their upcoming EP Cry Baby. Penned by guitarist Matt Raitt, the song went through those musical processes you always hear about, allowing producer Brad Nelson (Billy Talent, the Headstones, and Alanis Morrisette) to bring some input to the single by changing the verse sections. Matt enlisted Charlie to rewrite the verse and pre-chorus sections, allowing “TTYL” to be brought into the light in its truest form. With a huge response from GROWERS fans at every live show, the band knew that this one would be made into a single.
With an intro chorus of searing vocals, stabby guitars, and blooming drums, “TTYL” lifts off right from the beginning. Traditional 90s guitar and bass down-strums throughout the verses keep the pacing before launching into another soaring chorus. The energy that “TTYL” brings to the room is enough to power Toronto on its own. An accompanying music video will be released in late October 2022. Directed by Matt Raitt, the band has said that the “TTYL” video meets the demands of TikTok fans and is perfect for the platform with its quick cuts and visually stimulating content.
Watch the video for “TTYL” below and learn more about GROWERS via our mini-interview.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hey everyone! We are GROWERS, a 4-piece rock band based in Toronto, ON. The band consists of members Charlie Joy (vocals), Matt Raitt (guitar), Nate Clapinson (bass), and Chris Raitt (drums). We have been around since August 2019 and bring high-energy performances to every stage we play – so don’t forget to bring your favourite moshing gear.
Our band is influenced by a wide range of rock artists, giving GROWERS a unique edge when it comes to songwriting. Matt and Chris come from a classic rock background, providing our music with bluesy riffs, powerful drums, and “balls-to-the-walls” guitar solos (think Guns & Roses and Led Zepplin). Charlie brings his pop-punk-styled vocals and chord writing – much like Seaway and The Story So Far – while Nate drives the band forward with grungy rock basslines that draw from the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam. We truly love music beyond anything else and are just so happy to be able to share our work with the public.
What’s it like being a musician in Toronto?
Toronto is an amazing place to be a rock artist (or any artist, really). It has such a wide variety of venues to play, bands to play with, and an incredibly supportive audience of music lovers who commit to giving it their all at every show. Everyone is putting in a lot of effort to ensure that they put out the best possible music they can, and the support between bands and bands & audiences is what helps keep everything afloat.
The scene is also filled with many artists collaborating with each other – even across genres – which gives the Toronto scene a unique sense of community and artistry. Specifically, the rock scene in Toronto is probably one of the strongest rock scenes in the country, with a shared love for the music being what’s kept it so alive all this time.
Having been paved by modern greats like Billy Talent and The Tragically Hip, new, incredible rock musicians provide original music that holds the Toronto rock sound while keeping musicians and fans engaged in the art. Not to bash the other great Canadian cities, as places like Montreal, Vancouver, and Ottawa all have amazing music coming out of their respective scenes, but we feel very lucky to be able to create our music in a community that we relate to so deeply.
Is “TTYL” written about a real person? Do they know it’s about them?
As “TTYL” was written and re-written over the span of six months, the lyrics come not from a single person but rather were inspired by the events of a few different people who came into our lives.
The song, as a whole, is about wanting to be with someone, even though you know that the relationship is toxic and will end poorly for both sides if you stay together. It’s a take on the human desire to give in to our impulses, and short-term satisfactions that we know will hurt us in the future and trying to recognize that and walk away before things head south. It isn’t an accurate recount of these events but rather inspired by the feelings that these events brought forward.
So no – these people do not know that they inspired the song. But that’s what you sign up for when you come into a musician’s life!
Who was the first artist to knock you out?
Personally, I would say Green Day. When I was seven years old, my mom bought me American Idiot, and I immediately fell in love. It took a moment to get over my childhood jealousy of my brother receiving The Black Eyed Peas’ Monkey Business, but I soon realized that American Idiot was everything I could ask for and more.
It made me see at a young age that I wanted to pursue music and that rock would be the driving force behind who I was and who I would become over the course of my life. Not only that, it proved that a band doesn’t need a star member or two who stand out in their craft, but rather air-tight songwriting and cohesive relationship between members to create something that’s copacetic and just downright magical. It’s a powerful work of art from top to bottom, and even almost 20 years later I would still highly recommend this album to anyone who enjoys the genre.
What’s the one album by a Canadian artist that everyone should have in their collection?
We couldn’t all decide on one album, so here’s a personal recommendation from each member:
Charlie: Big Vibe – Seaway
Matt: Road Apples – The Tragically Hip
Nate: Harvest – Neal Young
Chris: Five Days in July – Blue Rodeo