You just said that if you having something to say and it feels true, putting it into music is what comes naturally to you. How does it feel performing songs that were true then, do they still feel true now?
Well that gets to an interesting area, the only way I can explain it, because I was thinking what it was to me not that long ago, is that it’s like acting. If you can put yourself back in that timeframe then yes it does. When I’m singing a song I need to put myself back into the mind of that person that wrote the song, and in this case of course it’s you but at a younger age so you put yourself back into the position of where you were and how you felt at that point in time, otherwise it’s just not really genuine and you’re just becoming a cover band. But yeah I still feel a deep connection with pretty much everything we’ve done.
It’s interesting the way you put that, because it reminds me: I’ve read that the concept and the name of TFF were influenced by primal theory, if that’s correct? And that was all about re-living and re-experiencing difficult events in your life. Would you say you’re kind of doing that again, in a way?
I guess to a certain degree. Primal theory really concentrated on moving through traumatic experiences to exorcise those demons, but I don’t think I’m exorcising demons now, as far as music goes. I think if anything, you’re putting yourself back to a time when you were more innocent, which is also a good thing. I mean music is a kind of therapy no matter which way you look at it, both for those listening and those playing, and you have to embrace that part of it.
You’ve probably been asked this before but, well, I don’t know, to be honest it was really difficult to find good questions to ask you because you must have been asked every single question EVER.
[laughs] Well yeah but sometimes you get a curve ball thrown at you, and sometimes, to be honest your answers can vary depending on what mood you’re in.
That is true… well, what are your thoughts today on your song “Mad World” – is it more valid now than it was before?
Well that’s another interesting thing about singing old songs, because then you don’t have to put yourself back into that situation because it is still valid now and all you’re doing is thinking of different influences. They’d be the same lyrics, but if it were to be current, it would just be influenced by different people. Back then it was influenced by what was going on in the world at that point in time. Same shit different day! You know it’s the same kind of stuff, only you interchange the actors involved.
Speaking of current times then, you are releasing and have released some new music. When I was listening to “I Love You But I’m lost” it echoed the electronic, anthemic tone of your early work. Would you draw any parallels between the two albums?
Well you try not to, but the case is inevitable as it’s the same people making the same music. What you’ve done in the past is going to influence what you’re doing now, but I don’t think we really think about it when we go to a studio. Normally when we record it’s just about trying to make the best that we can do at that point in time. We’re not really looking for influences or anything else, it’s about what feels right, but in general it’s always going to end up sounding like us, because it is us.
I didn’t mean to say that was a bad thing or anything!
No not at all, I think that’s TFF and that’s a good thing, for us. We do have a style, and a voice and that’s not a negative, that’s a positive.
I’m sorry - but just playing on the band name a bit here, would you say that the fears that you had then are the ones you have today?
A little bit, which I appreciate!
I guess they’re the same but in a weird way they’re for other people. So I am worrying, but it’s about the future for my children, not for me. So in that sense it’s slightly different. The worrying is still there but I’ve made peace with the fact that I may not change it, but I am then concerned for my children, and I hope they can change it. You sort of pass your fears down to the next generation, because there’s not much we can do now, for us, I mean.
Aw well, that’s a nice sentiment… just pass the fears on, down and down!
But also all the plus sides, you’re also passing on the good things that happen.
Thank god for that! Since you both don’t live in the same place anymore, I assume you bring different influences to the table, whether there were any clashes, and how you worked with that?
Well there are always clashes, that’s the nature of two people working together. I guess we have more influences, which can only be a positive. Roland brings all the influences from Europe that I don’t get to listen to everyday and I bring others he doesn’t get to listen to every day. But I also think the world is a much smaller place than when we were growing up, and it doesn’t tend to be that different anymore. You know 50 years ago travelling through different countries was absolutely a different experience. Now it’s more homogenised which I think is a great thing, the barriers aren’t as big as they used to be.
Is this homogenisation not to our detriment in anyway?
To our detriment? No I don’t think so. I think the only way we survive is to become more homogenised. I mean I say that because of what is going on in the world right now, and I think that the only way that ends is if we’re all kind of one, and there is no us and them. They’re playing on people’s fears when the cause of all your problems is “them”, and that is refugees, that is black people and that is white people, that is Muslim people and “them”. It’s them, the problem is them and when there is no them, and there’s only us then that shit will end. So is it a bad thing when things get more homogenised? No I think it’s the only way we survive… not to get too deep.
I think we’ve surpassed that point, but I love it when things get deep! I would love to carry on chatting but I’ve already surpassed my allotted time and I don’t want to keep you any longer but thank you so much for speaking to me it’s been really lovely!
You’re welcome, and thank you, take care!
Tickets for the show at Neumünster Abbey on Tuesday 25 June are on sale now (see below link). Doors are at 7pm.
Read part one here
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