Staying fairly anonymous as a band, Female First got the opportunity to chat to the elusive Tryptamines and their member Chemical Callum about their music, future plans and much more in a new and exclusive interview. Read on to find out what they had to say...
For those who may be new to your music, how best would you describe your sound?
Retro, electro, psychedelic, ambient, space rock. Classical, trip hop, experimental. Also a little touch of everything between jazz and lounge!
What challenges have you faced in the music industry so far?
It's been difficult to book gigs as well as pushing for interviews and getting our music out there. We are starting to get our music a bit more exposure now, so radio play and gig opportunities as well as reviews and interviews are definitely most welcome at this point, as we are very excited about the music we are creating.
How difficult would you say this career path is in terms of making a name for yourself?
In this day and age it's hard to get your name out there unless you are constantly gigging and gaining exposure through airtime. Tryptamines are an underground group who believe that the art speaks for itself. We believe the rest will follow as a result.
How important is it for you to have creative control over the work you produce?
I am an aspergian and a composer so an element of creative control is normally my decision, but creative freedom is welcome around the musicians I work with. They have creative freedom to contribute to the sound we try to create but, to an extent, they have faith in my final decisions. We are all very mellow and like the natural approach to sound and visual art.
Where do you draw influence and inspiration from for your work?
I am a writer and a doric poet. An artist, a visual artist, classical pianist and composer. I am basically a lover of all art and all my walls in my house are covered in art. I draw so much influence from this. Also, living my life to its fullest, by my own rules, being my own boss and living a nomadic style allows me to draw influence from the world and the amazing fruits upon Mother Earth. I am constantly trying to create new music and new sounds so listening to any other artist who I know will influence me too much has to be avoided, as I don't want to feel like I am ripping off their sound.
If you could collaborate with anybody going forward, who would you choose and why?
Nick Cave or Tom Waits. These two guys inspire me greatly as they are walking, talking, living pieces of serial art which is how I try to live my life. Being a member of their group would be great. Also, Radiohead as they are the best outfit in existence when it comes to musical execution. Finally, Tool are one of the greatest bands ever.
Tell us a random, funny fact about you that not many people know.
I love to steal lighters and fill cigar boxes made of wood with them. The number of lighters in the box represent a letter of the alphabet - so for example seven lighters would represent the letter G. As you might be able to tell, I am an aspergian and I also have OCD and I pour these compulsive behaviours into my art. For many years I have buried these boxes as a hidden message so that once I am gone, if anyone can be arsed digging up all the boxes using the coordinates that I leave behind, they will discover a musical score. It's my final opus!
Do you have definitive aims or goals for your career?
Only to be able to record constantly. Last year I managed to constantly compose and recorded 26 albums. That's not even including other outfits I sessioned for. I am a man on a musical mission to Mars!
What should we expect from you in the coming weeks and months?
Touring. Travelling continuously and recording and performing. Chemical Callum is my solo project. Tryptamines is my outfit between the two and my art and visual art also plays a large part of the live show. This is Callum signing out. Funky as a monkey on acid in a bubble ship on its way to space. There are no strangers here, only friends we haven't met...