Jules De Martino

East Londoner Jules De Martino is the half of the Ting Tings behind the drums, unpretentious and unburdened by the rock-star ego, backing up bandmate Katie White on vocals. They met as part of the London music scene, brought together by their mutual love of trip-hoppy Portishead, the band responsible for some of the more eerily noire sounds to come out of Bristol.

De Martino and White originally made up two thirds of the band Dear Eskimo, which was signed to a major label. The project, however, never went anywhere. The band broke up, with De Martino and White later reuniting as the Ting Tings. The unapologetic indie-pop material they played at the Islington Mill got around by word of mouth at first, eventually resulting in a deal with Columbia Records. Steve Jobs is a fan, and has featured their “Shut Up and Let Me Go” in an iPod commercial for Apple.

Their big hit “That’s Not My Name,” as well as “Great DJ” and “Fruit Machine,” are featured on their album “We Started Nothing.” Their music is bubblegum popping in a new way that you will recognize immediately, while being unable to resist savoring each ting-ting-tingle of flavor.