Flowerblog: Interview with Chris T-T
Possible Communist, seasoned musician, and Flowerpot lovely Chris T – T returns to our humble stage this Wednesday, in what promises to be yet another memorable show for the English singer/song writer. Knowing the man’s penchant for voicing his views, Flowerblog decided he would be the perfect guinea pig for our new interviews section, so hounded the kind gentleman incessantly until he was forced to forward us some responses…via iPhone…how techy…
Hey Chris T-T, what are you up too?
Chris T- T: I’m on the road today.
Cool, relentlessly playing music as usual then! How long have you been playing now?
I’ve been making music all my life but my first 7″ single came out in 1998 and my first album ‘Beatverse’ in 1999, it was home-made DIY album. Before that I was in Magoo from Norfolk, in the mid 90s, they were signed to Chemikal Underground and a big Peel band, did 8 sessions or something. We were on the bill at Arab Strap’s first ever gig.
Amazing! Who do you count as your biggest musical inspirations?
Mostly writers like Ballard, Murakami, Geoff Dyer, Bruce Chatwin, Paul Auster, people like that. My biggest musical inspiration is Springsteen but apart from him I love English folk music and US underground punk and indie. Get Yo La Tengo to make an album with June Tabor and I’ll die happy.
Haha, I would love to hear that! One thing I wanted to ask you, as an aficionado of counter culture music in this country, What do you think of the independent music scene in london/uk at the moment?
We’re all running around like headless chickens trying to figure out where to go next – yet that doesn’t mean less brilliant creative music, it means more. I love the chaos and the unknown right now.
The business side is fucked for now, we’re all in duck-and-cover mode until the dust settles. The down side of that is too many bands are all about haircuts and business plans – tarty little entrepreneurs out of the stage schools – or mimicking those bands. But the up side is everyone else: the kids who ignore all the shit and build their own scenes are amazing. There is so much variety and quality out there, because people can immediately communicate their music to whoever might put the effort in to find them.
Who do you most respect of the artists touring/people playing in london?
That’s too tough. Tried to answer this for 20 minutes and the best I can come up with is, different people for different things.
What have been your highlights of the past year?
South By Southwest and driving across the American south west was unforgettable. Also playing on the 4th Plinth at Trafalgar Square – not a great gig per se, but I’ll treasure it forever. I’ve played a lot of piano over the last year and I’m back into piano in a big way.
From your time playing music in these parts, what have you come to expect of a Flowerpot crowd?
I expect allure and nihilism, beyond all else. Don’t let me down.
Alex Metric live tonight!
So, you should be used to the Flowerpot giving you exclusives by now, but this Monday sees us offering you another! Alex Metric is playing his first ever live show with us tonight, in preparation for his support slot with Phoenix at Brixton Academy on Wednesday. We’re expecting more high-flying bangers than an explosion at the Walls factory, so best get yourself down early to shake off those beginning of the week blues
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