The Music of Work

Soulful harmonies, impro­vi­sa­tional lyric edits, and genre defying playlists are the norm in TKO’s Plain­field instal­la­tion shop. Music is common ground for the varied per­son­al­i­ties working here — a way to relate.

In my short time as a trainee at TKO, I’ve noticed how installing graphics has its own rhythms. The more expe­ri­enced crew members under­stand the order and timing of balancing effi­ciency with high quality work, and music seems to aid the focus and flow of this process.

For me, it’s been cool to see how certain guys respond to different songs. I’ve heard perfectly pitched high notes (not quite Mariah Carey-esque) unleashed by honest, hard working guys who you’d want on your side in any confrontation.

Changing lyrics is another popular practice. The comedic effect a few unex­pected words can have on a familiar song is truly surprising.

I’ve never been one to peg a certain type of music or artist as my favorite. Without wandering off into the expanse of music phi­los­o­phy, I think it’s amazing sounds exist in such wide array and that they can be combined and patterned in ways that greatly influence human behavior.

So, if you ever stop by TKO and visit the instal­la­tion depart­ment, expect to hear the irregular noises of indus­trial work­man­ship held together by a steady bass line.