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Tom
Barman interviewed by Steven A.J. Beijer Steven: Firstly I would like to ask you what you’ve been up to lately, since the tour ended? Tom: Basically I’ve been at home a lot, spent some time in Spain, and have been djing about 3-4 times a month, in Belgium, Holland, and sometimes abroad. I have also been working on a movie, which I hope to film sometime in September. S: Have you already finished writing it? T: The script is almost finished, yeah. S: Can you tell me what it’s about? T: It’s hard to say…it’s not really one story, it’s 8 stories that interact…it’s a bittersweet urban comedy about 8 people on one day, it’s kind of an interaction, it’s not really one straight story, but that’s the idea…it’s with 8 main characters. S: Are you going to act in it or direct it? T: I am going to direct it. S: Do you have any actors in mind for it ? T: Yeah I’ve chosen all the actors, and we were planning to do some try outs this month… S: Did you write the parts with people in mind, or did you write the parts and then find the people ? T: I wrote the parts with people in mind…well first I had the 8 characters in mind, but before I started really working on them, I said ok, he or she would be fine for that, and then I filled it in with what actually happened to them, and what they said…and that’s really the way I worked, yeah. S: So that will keep you busy for this year? T: Yeah, pretty much the whole year… (laughing) S: And are you doing anything musically, apart from djing? T: Well, I just had a meeting with the other guys from dEUS, and first thing next year, we’ll start with a new album. S: So, what kind of music have you been listening to lately… I heard that your taste has changed more towards dance oriented music. T: Well, I have been listening to a lot of dance music lately, but I’ve also been listening to a lot of old music as well. Basically, to make a long story short, I have been listening to A LOT of music. That’s something that I haven’t done for years, cause I was always on tour, or making music myself. So, its been a great four months so far since we’ve been off the tour, and we’ve been at home; and for me personally, for my head, it’s been great. I haven’t touched an instrument in four months, except for one song I wrote, for a documentary. So, basically I have just been filling my head and emptying it out again, and filling it up…this djing thing is definitely part of it, but being at home as well…I’ve bought shit loads of old Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and some jazz…I’m just buying and buying every week, and it’s just an exiting time for me now. S: So, what do you think that the new album will be influenced by? T: Well, I can’t really say, cause I am really not busy with that at the moment. Everybody is a little bit dispersed and doing other stuff. I am working on it in my head, but it is still very abstract, nothing I wanna share with anyone yet. But its definitely gonna follow in the footsteps of all our work, just like all three albums have been different, I think the fourth one is going to be completely different again. S: I have a quote here, from Will Oldham: “By creating a new name every time, I escape from the routine, and make every new album my debut.” How do you feel about that? T: Well, I think I have said that in a different way about us, but then about changing the line-up of the band, you know…I mean in the beginning it’s not fun when somebody leaves you, but if this happens time and time again, you take the bad and try and make something good, and from the necessity you make something interesting. That’s definitely one of the reasons our three albums have been so different from each other, and I think the next one will follow the same pattern. The whole atmosphere of changing line-up and taking a break is definitely gonna have a big influence. S: So it’s refreshing right? T: Yeah, so I can definitely relate to good ol’ Will… S: I also read in an interview that when you were in Spain, in Ronda, making the last album, you considered just quitting everything at a certain point, and I quote, “ raising rabbits with Filip (dEUS manager)” . T: (laughs) Well…sometimes you find yourself in a situation, where you’re tired of the rat-race. But I am old enough to know myself now, and know that I strive on city life, business, being busy and meeting people…so, definitely I enjoy being on my own, and being in a relaxed environment, but not for too long. S: Do you feel that people see you in a certain way, and that you are treated and approached accordingly? People like to label, and they put you in this one box, and you are left there…do you feel that in any way? T: Definitely,…(pauses, and there is silence for about 10 seconds)…well first I need to say that I think that is a bit of a heavy question, I thought this interview was just going to be about the gig in Athens, but to get back to your question…I definitely think that happens, whether you like it or not…I just read a very good quote that has to do with what you are saying…”people that just make one kind of music or like one kind of music, well, they must just have a problem with their ears”, and as silly as this sounds, it’s the truth, you’d be surprised in this whole alternative or dance scene…it’s amazing how limited people sometimes are, and what they want their favorite artist to do…and basically I’ve just learned to not give a shit, and if you’re gonna frighten people with the next album... however it’s gonna sound, cause I don’t know how it’s gonna sound…then so be it. I mean, it’s our life and it’s our band, and it’s our music, and I don’t think dEUS will ever be a high brow or intellectual…I mean I think there have maybe been hints, and there have been moments when we were a bit too “way off”, but on the other hand I think there’s beauty in change and I’m sure the next one is going to be a big step forward. S: Do you feel the conflict between making something that you really believe in, and something that will perhaps sell better ? T: Well we’ve been selling pretty good over the last three records, I mean we’re definitely not a million seller, but the number of people that come see us live by far outnumbers the amount of records we sell, which for me is a good thing. But I think that since we’ve never been a huge success there isn’t that pressure either. It’s just two to three hundred thousand people that know us and like us and I think they’ll follow us. Of course if we’re gonna make a record that’s full of bird noises, that might become difficult,(laughs) but I don’t try to imagine or picture what a typical dEUS fan would eat, look like, or behave…So that’s why I think it’s just good that we’re having this break, and just have some time for a normal life and then we’ll just fly back into it next year. S: I think that, especially British bands, seem to feel this need to “conquer” America. How do you feel about that? T: Oh no, I mean I think it’s a great country and we’ve toured there and we probably will in the future, but we’ve had so many problems with the record company there, that it’s just become a big joke. I mean we’ve had great reviews over there, and really everywhere, but we exist, and I think the fact that we exist is enough for me. There are people that know about us, and although it may not be a lot, they know about us, and if they want, they can find us somewhere, so for me that’s enough. And especially in Europe it’s going really good, so I think the only pressure we do have is to is to make a good record, and I think that’s the only pressure any of us should be feeling… S: Is that pressure towards yourselves personally, or towards your audience? T: Towards ourselves definitely!… and automatically towards the audience as well, because you are making it for yourself, but you’re making it in a way that you are a creator, but at the same time a listener. So basically there’s no difference, or at least I don’t see any difference. I’m a quite contrary person, but I also like pop music, and melody, and I think in dEUS you can find a combination of those two. S: Does it bother you that as soon as you’re in a band, and you do anything else, like for example paint, or direct, you’re immediately seen as pretentious or “arty”? T: If anyone thinks that, well, fuck ‘em ! The people that I know that are interesting, are people that don’t just limit themselves to one thing, and of course you have to see where your ambitions are, and I think it’s fine if someone that’s in a band paints, but it depends on how seriously you take that painting, or the band. I think it’s perfectly possible to combine them, and if somebody else says that’s arty then just fuck ‘em you know…I mean that’s just such an old fashioned way of looking at the rock and roll thing of having to be selfish, dirty, and wear torn clothes…it’s just so old fashioned. And that’s why it’s great when somebody like Beck just does the all round thing in a very credible and interesting way. I mean he makes collages, and videos, and music, and maybe he’s going to go into film... and why the hell not? S: But he’s often criticized for that as well… T: Well, that’s because those people are so sad they have nothing else to do besides criticizing somebody that’s creative. Even if his movies are not so good or whatever, if those are his ambitions…I mean, my ambitions for making movies might be bigger than for making music, but I don’t know… what do I know? I’ve never made a movie! And if I fall flat on my face, then that will be my share, and I’ll deserve it, because my ambitions are big, but I’m willing to take the risk. S: Do you see any other bands that are willing to take that risk, or do you see that less and less? T: Well in rock music, definitely not, its just so boring, I mean I only buy people like, Will Oldham, or Elliot Smith, and apart from that I only listen to electronic music, and the old stuff…I just don’t think that there is anything interesting in rock nowadays… S: Well, for example, when you see a band like pavement who have been taking risks and making great music for years, suddenly asking themselves whether they wanna continue or not, after getting plenty of critical recognition, but very little commercial support, don’t you think that’s a bit discouraging for anyone who is willing to take risks? T: I think that the general atmosphere is that many people are just getting tired of that, and we could talk for hours about this; it’s a very confusing situation…for pavement for example I think maybe its good that they are taking a break, and perhaps making some changes (like dEUS), rather than just slowly dying out like a candle, which isn’t a very sexy way to go… S: So, my final question, what can we expect from you and Steph ( Stephen Dewaele) in Athens? T: (laughing)…PARTY TIME!!! Definitely! We are going to have shit loads of music, I mean all different styles and stuff, and we are just going to try and mix it as smoothly as we can…so I mean…PARTY…don’t expect anything less…!!! S: Thanks for your time. T: Thank you too, I enjoyed it…I’ll see you in Athens!
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