Tango in the Attic combines Vampire Weekends sing-a-long with Strokes-style riffing topped-off with a real emotional edge. Stream their new single and read their interview below:

What are you up to at the moment?
Well, right now we are locked away recording out first album. We’re lucky because we’ve been able to take our time so far to get it like we want it to sound. Its good to have room to experiment with sounds and structures n stuff because it just give better results. Were pushing on to get it completed and we intend to release in early 2010.

What are your main musical influences?
We take influence from all over the place, we all have different musical interests and we try and work them in where possible. We take a lot of inspiration from Paul Simon and the Velvet Underground, there’s a million other bands that affect our moods when we write, some which you can hear, others which you probably cant.

Do you think your music should ‘belong’ or ‘fit in’ to a particular musical family or genre?
I think it helps people when they can compartmentalise music. Half the fun is hearing people trying to place your band; listing genre’s or other bands or eras. We sort of enjoy that-at least people care enough to be trying to place you. As for writing music or developing a particular style, we don’t think it’s all that important. We just do what comes naturally and what we think sounds good. Like I said, we leave it to other to find where we fit in to be honest.

You are releasing records in a difficult time for the music industry: how do you see the future for it?
Orange. I think everything’s kind of in the pooper just now, but like everything, it will get better. Music and entertainment’s been hit hard for a while now, but at least its still out there. It’s a lot more important for people to be getting into something that you’re doing because they like it, than giving you money for something they’re not all that fussed about. Music’s been around since the dawn of the dinosaurs. It hasn’t changed, but the business that surrounds it has. It’ll find a way to make good and we’ll all live happily ever after.

What do you expect from a label in 2009?
Boats and ho’s. Financial backing to get you out there a bit, and a bit of support to make sure you’re making the best of what you’ve got. I don’t think people can expect to be picked up by a label and the rest to be handed to you anymore-there’s just not enough money for that kind of thing these days.

Please could you let us know a bit more about your collaboration?
We put a lot of trust in collaboration. Our style isn’t any one of us, its all five. We know our own individual tendancies, but they don’t make for quite as interesting a listen as the stuff we produce togther. Literally every song is an equal effort. Its good because its never what you expected when an idea is first introduced, which keeps it fresh. But we do cry like babies at times when we don’t get our own way. Usually works out in the end though.

Could you tell us what is the most important source of income today ? Records, syncs, tours, merch…?
Syncs are great but hard to come by. We were very fortunate with Jackanory being picked up by Schuh and it was great to hear it played on the TV as you ate your dinner. As far as stable income goes, it has to be gigging. Gigs are the bread and butter, but they’re also the best way to see how the music is going down with fans. It costs a lot to be in a band, so gigging regularly is the only way to keep the negative number at a socially acceptable level. Gigs are up there with professional eating as the best ways to earn money.

As an artist, how do you use & see the web today? How important is it for you and how do you see it evolving in the coming years?
Its pretty important. Its just great for connecting you and your wee band with your wee tunes to a massive audience. We use Mysapce, Facebook, Twitter. We email and blog and flicker and all that stuff. For getting seen and known it’s priceless. It’s hard to say how it will evolve – I’m sure some genius somewhere is coming up with some new and exciting online craze, only time will tell what it is though.

What’s your favourite: digital and physical format and why?
Digital is great because its quick, easy and clean. Its also massive for bands like us who want to get stuff out there, but it’s a little cold. You’d be hard pressed to find a real music fan who didn’t prefer physical copies. Especially artwork. Its nice to have a tactile representation of the music. Look at vinyl, its still in production even though its comparatively slow, difficult and dirty. People like to put a bit of effort into the things they love. I’ll listen to digital and keep all my music backed up that way, but the stuff I really love takes pride and place in my CD rack.

Recommended music sites? And non-musical sites?
To be honest, anyone reading this would know any sites that we use…MySpace is still the best for hunting for new bands I reckon, and a good scathing pitchfork review is always a good read…have you heard of this one called youtube? There’s a whole bunch of funny stuff on that.

Best thing that happened to you recently?
Hank Mardukas. Our beloved tank of a van who carries us safely across the land. There’s a genuine love developing between us and Hank.

Number one junk food?
This question will cause an absolute riot in the Tango ranks. We know our junk food. There is no right answer to this question. It depends on day, place, weather and what position you’re on on the drunk/hung-over spectrum. KFC’s usually a shout though.

Best live venue? Why? Best gig of the year? Best gig ever?
There’s a place in Bathgate called Harley’s-it’s a room above a bar, the sound is usually terrible and the place is tiny but it has the atmosphere is something else-beats all the big venues up and down the country. Best gig has to be T in the Park last July, having all of our followers in the same place at the same time from all over was amazing.

A movie you would like to watch now, right now?
Fantastic Mr. Fox-were all big fans of both Wes Anderson and Roald Dahl so it seems like the perfect match.

Best TV shows (current and ever)?
That would probably cause a few fights too but it would have to be Curb your Enthusiams…Bingo!

Last book you enjoyed reading?
I could tell you the last one I didn’t enjoy reading-I had a stab at the Golden Bowl by Henry James and got about one hundred pages in…god it was boring (if anyone wants to enlighten me then feel free)
The Thesaurus is always a good read.

Last album you enjoyed listening?
I think were collectively going through a Beatles phase just now and were all just getting into the albums (bit embarrassing how late in the day it is) – magical mystery tour was pretty much incredible.

Fave night drink and morning beverage?
Does soup count as a drink?

2009 top albums?
I had the blues but I shook them loose by Bombay bicycle club was ace, think were all pretty big fans of theirs, primary colours was a great album too. Also these four walls by we were promised jetpacks is a great listen.

2009 top tracks?
Anything by the black eyed peas-its really hard to think of what came out this year on the spot!

Visit Tango in the Attic Myspace

Share