Tempo Tantrick – The Interview

Check out Bangalore-based Electronica/trip hop duo, Tempo Tantrick. Tempo Tantrick is Priyanka and Arfaaz, popularly known as ‘Blah’ and ‘Fuzz’! Now, we think they could be the next big thing. If not for those oh-so-cool indie labels in the “scene”! Check out what they have to share about their music, musical experiences, indie in India and more!

Q. Have the two of you always been associated with music at this level? Or was it something that happened late in life?  Tell me something about your past in connection with music.

Blah: I have been a bathroom singer for the longest part. When people outside the bathroom started telling me I didn’t sound too bad, I decided to try it outside those confines. So I went on to singing for plays, karaoke and then met Arfaaz and made melody to his tunes!I Guess it was a natural progression from the bathroom to the jam room especially since we’ve all been aspiring “rock-stars” at some point. Some get there (and how!), some try (like me:)), and some are just too humble to show the world.

Fuzz: I wanted to be a keyboardist, then a guitarist but lacked the patience to really learn these instruments. Drumming was pretty much inherent and I found myself being able to play out the beats I grew up listening to without much of sweat. I formed my first rock band called Zebediah Plush with schoolmates and the band did get a fair amount of recognition for having an original, if not peculiar sound. We disbanded after releasing an album called Afterlaughs. After this came my next project Maximum Pudding which was fun but short lived, followed by a stint with the Galeej Gurus. All the while I was a closet Electro junkie, tripping on what was ‘forbidden music’ for most rockers. I digested everything and then felt the need to regurgitate. Tempo Tantrick being the result of that very need. A need to be the change that is crucial to the growth of music.

Q. How hard do you think it is for you’ll to breakthrough and get to the top considering Electronic music has taken India by storm and everyone seems to be playing these tunes? What’s your take on the current situation in India as far as independent artists in India are concerned?

Blah: Breaking through is always a challenge especially when the industry is small (and small enough to encourage unhealthy competition and nepotism). As the industry grows, making place for ourselves will not be as difficult. It’s like an expanding economy. Growth = opportunities! As far as getting to the top goes, is there a top? Can there be a “top” in anything to do with the arts? It’s all quite subjective, I’d say.What is happening now is the perfect example of society responding to a “trend”, and while this is not a bad thing, there is always a fear of things being overdone and becoming redundant. Independent music is growing and must continue to do so without getting caught in a rut.

Fuzz: I wouldn’t really know how hard it is to break through until the break through really happens. I’m sure it doesn’t just come served on a platter although that would be nice. I do know that we’re not riding any wave or storm, we’re just doing what comes naturally and that is to come up with tunes that make an average person sway, if not move. Everyone is skeptical of the independent scene in India. I just say it doesn’t matter what the scene is. Priyanka has, as always, summed up accurately what is in my head.

Q. Blah, always been a poet? Who.what inspires you to write songs? Is there a pattern you follow or is it spontaneous writing?

Blah:  I wouldn’t dare call myself a poet! It takes more than rhyming skills and the ability to sound intellectual to make a poet. Always fond of writing, yes. It’s been a constant in my life and by far the most effective way to communicate. And given my inherent love for music, the two coming together as Tempo Tantrick is more than I could ask for. I don’t have any particular inspirations as far as writers go but have been a fan of Eliot and Ted Hughes…and of course Irvine Welsh. Much of my inspiration for writing music stems from bands and musicians like Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Frou Frou, Prodigy, Radiohead, Bone Thugs n Harmony, Tupac and others.

Q. Who are Arfaaz’s influences?

Fuzz: From Led Zeppelin to Michael Jackson, Soundgerden to Prodigy, 2 Pac to Massive Attack. And everything from here, there and everywhere….in between also…. like some of that really embarrassing stuff from the 80’s. Oh and the Beatles started it all!

Q. When can audiences expect an album?

Blah: An album is not top priority. Quality is. Working on new material, putting it out for people to hear without having to make them pay for it. Right now, it’s about the music reaching as many as possible as well as reaching out to each listener.

Q. Tell me a little about ‘Dirty Game’. Brilliant song.

Blah: Hypocrisy is, in my opinion, the problem that pervades society. A society based on a belief system only because someone decided right from wrong and labeled actions so. A society based on unwarranted biases, falsehoods, lies and extremely dodgy notions of “morality”. All in all, the song speaks of the dirty game society plays and how we’re all players of the same dirty game.

Fuzz: Our music and lyrics come together from the common emotions that we experience and argue about. It could be destructive, dirty, cosmic, sweaty, whatever…!

Q. How important do you think it is for artists to use effects wisely? Overdone/ underplayed, how does it reflect in a song?

Fuzz: Wisely

Q. How would you react if someone said you guys were a Shaa’ir n Func/ Sridhar-Thayil rip-off?

Blah: I’d reserve my comment when it comes to people who make the sad mistake of putting musicians into boxes and stereotype them. Comparisons between artists are never fair. Each is unique, just like everyone else! If someone has the misfortune of nurturing such an opinion, my only reaction would be to hope better sense prevails. Music lovers (if one may call them so) need to be more responsible than making off-hand remarks about musicians without taking into account the finer nuances of the art. Respect the artist; don’t make it your business to draw parallels. I’d much rather read an honest review no matter how bad it may sound.

Fuzz: Fact is we hadn’t even heard of either until we had finished writing quite a bit of our own material. It’s only once people started comparing us to them that we made an effort to check them out.

Q. Also, what’s your take on these two acts?

Blah: Monica’s stage presence is a magic potion and Randolph is a true artist. As for Sridhar/Thayil, I haven’t seen them live and therefore can’t comment. What I’ve heard of their music has come across as good songwriting. Jeet is a lyrical shaman.

Fuzz: I’ve always been a fan of Randolph’s production and guitar skills.

Q. What’s your take on Electronic music in India as far as quality of music played is concerned? What according to you, does the future hold for artists like yourself, within the same genre?

Blah: I’m no one to judge quality. But in my opinion, electronic music in India has redefined how the classic Indian rocker perceives music (Arfaaz and I once fit into that “mould”). Bands like Teddy Boy Kill add a whole new dimension to the genre (if it can be limited to being called one) and their music sounds so organic, it’s almost ironic. The intelligence that comes through in the music speaks volumes about the musical maturity of these guys and their ability to break away from stereotypical notions of how and what music “should” be. The future is bright, the future is light, the future is electric.

Fuzz: See? As always… right out of my head!

Q. Who came up with Tempo Tantrick? I like!

Blah: It was mutual. We thought of options based on what defines us, what defines our music and what drives it. Tempo Tantrick seemed like the best option also because it felt humble yet not self-deprecating, earnest, yet not boastful. Also, it has two things essential to electronic music: Tempo and Tricks!

Q. Why aren’t you’ll gigging as much as you’ll should be?

Blah: Ask the club owner! Maybe it’s because people are too used to hearing what they’re used to. There’s a comfort zone within which people like to function and they’ll put their money on the safest and most familiar bet. The problem is that not many people are willing to give “newbies” a chance. Recession doesn’t help and unfortunately has become everyone’s excuse to save money. I think once people become more accepting of change, a change like us will be more welcome. Until then, we’re doing well working on quality rather than quantity.

Fuzz: Yeah… What the F*$K??!!

Q. Tempo Tantrick in one word would be…?

Truth.

http://social.chordvine.com/artists/tempotantrick