Interview: Tunng
Meet You At The Show: First off, is it true that both founders of the group, you and Sam Genders, met while composing musical scores for soft porn movies? If yes, how did it evolve into Tunng?
Mike Lindsay: Hmmm.. not exactly, that was just me really. For some reason I found myself composing music for cable channel porn. It was fun! And I need to pay the studio rent…So very separate from Tunng, which started when Sam wanted to record a demo of his stuff, but after working together and loving it we started to make our own wonky tunes.
MYATS: And yes, I have to ask, where did the name “Tunng” come from?
ML: I was really into electronica guys like Benge, Autechre, Isan. I like names that suggest a feeling or a kind of onomatopoeia… tunng
MYATS: Reading your different biographies, it feels like you’re all a bunch of friends mostly all participating in the creation of your albums. Is this the reality of the process that goes through the writing and recording of your music?
ML: We are a bunch of friends…very good friends…a strange collective of people from very different backgrounds, but that’s why it works. We do write together, although I produce everything so it has some unity of sound. Often I’ll write and record an idea then it gets twisted, ripped up and put back together again by everybody.
MYATS: Did you have a definite idea of this unique sound you have or is it something that has slowly evolved through the making of the first album?
ML: It naturally evolved from the 1st record which was a kind of experiment from the basement that seemed to take on a life of its own…ultimately wanting to achieve great melodies and lyrics in other acoustic and electronic worlds without either one being over powering.
MYATS: As I said before, you’re sound is definitely unique, but what are some of your influences (musically or otherwise)?
ML: Wevie Stonder for the wonk…Pentangle for the pagen gorgeous jazz folk, Isan for the electronica, Love for the epic, Tinariwen for other worldy jams and rhythms, Cormac McCarthy, Haruki Murakami, The wicker man. And ….. Iceland. Especially one person in Iceland.
MYATS: For your new album, was in a conscious decision to take a new direction or did the evolution happen naturally, as a form of adaptation to your new situation as a group?
ML: I think we wanted to make a record that captured the vibe of recent live shows. There was always more power and joy in the live shows than perhaps on the records. Also of course Sam wasn’t involved at all which was certainly a challenge for us. He has such an amazing tone and way with words. We didn’t want to try and copy that so we had to find our own way. So we took the essence of everyone (especially Becky) mixed it up with Simmonds drums and synths and electric guitars… layers of voices and made (in my opinion) a very bold tunng record.
MYATS: Would you agree that your fourth album might be described as a bit more “pop” then your previous work? Do you think you have given up a little of the experimental side you had before?
ML: It is more pop. Pop is good! But it feels twisted and a natural progression. There’s plenty of wonky layers you just need to listen a few times…
MYATS: How did your collaboration with Tinariwen come about?
ML: We firstly did a radio show together for BBC 3. it was a collaborative session where we had a day to try and play each other’s songs. This went really well so we decided to turn it into a 10 day tour round the UK a few months later. It was a fantastic experience very eye opening as to how we (tunng) work and play. They can just produce pure groove and emotion instantly and run it for hours.
MYATS: You also went to Brazil to take part in a more art oriented event. Could you tell us a little bit more about that event and how it went down?
ML: It was an event on Sao Paulo in the museum of image and sound. We got invited to play in the theatre for a couple of nights and generally just hang out. The whole event went on for 2 months with artists and musicians collaborating and drinking, it was wonderful. The shows went down really well. I wish we were there longer than a week…LETS GO BACK!
MYATS: You’ve had a few of your songs used in TV and advertising. How does it feel to hear your music on TV?
ML: Well I think its an exceptable way of being able to survive as a musician, as long as the tv is not too awful, but honestly these days this is the only way to earn a living so I feel great when I hear one of our tunes on TV.
MYATS: Finally, what is the one thing you can’t live without while on the road touring?
ML: Bobby Buttons…. Hes a monkey!
Interview Conducted by Camille Gervais
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We would like to thank Mike Lindsay of Tunng for taking the time so chat with us and urge you to check out the band when they roll through Montreal this Monday, November 15th at Casa Del Popolo. Tickets can be purchased right here for $10.00 or at the door for $12.00. Better to buy in advance because this show will likely sell out. Adam & The Amethysts opening.
