Rather than milking the algorithm by churning out identical bedroom-pop tracks, the band leaned into artistic disruption. In 2020, Petering connected with bedroom-pop multi-instrumentalist Jordana Nye. As chronicled in their joint interview with Talkhouse, the pair established an effortless creative rhythm, resulting in the acclaimed 2021 collaborative EP Summer's Over. Jordana's fluid vocal range and basslines brought a warmer, organic humanity to Petering's rigid rhythmic loops, spawning the enduring streaming favorite "Better in the Dark."
In mid-2023, TV Girl issued their long-awaited fourth studio album, Grapes Upon the Vine. Instead of recreating the lush 1960s pop textures that drove their viral success, Petering built the entire record around sampled vintage gospel recordings, testing a fanbase that expected more romantic melancholia. The choice alienated some casual listeners while earning praise from long-term observers who recognized Petering's refusal to be hemmed in by streaming platform algorithms.
