Tamarama – these guys have the life, they grew up playing music and surfing in Australia. They just released their debut album and we liked it so much we had to talk with them to get the inside scoop. Read on to hear all about Tamarama’s new album, why they like the Surf better in Australia, and what they think of Jack Johnson….
dailystoke.com: Tamarama – the name of the band – is also where you guys grew up. Tell us about Tamarama and whats the Surf like there?
Tamarama is a really small beach in Australia but depending on the banks there's usually a bunch of takeoffs lefts and rights. There's a little reef that works pretty well up to medium size and when it gets big there's usually a good left from way out that connects with the reef.. It's right in between two headlands so the rips can be pretty dangerous for swimmers. We called our band Tamarama as we figured it's better to have a name that is obscure to most people but means something to us.
dailystoke.com: So how did you guys get started in music and how did you guys meet?
We met through a mutual friend in Australia and both of us were about to go traveling. We hooked up in Tokyo and while hanging out we wrote a few tunes. That was how it started!
dailystoke.com: Some call your music Surf Rock, what is Surf Rock, and how would you describe your style of music?
Well coming from the beach we started by writing songs that lyrically related to our surroundings including the beach and I think anytime you mix rock, reggae and folk styles it has a surf sound. When we started out people were comparing our sound to Jack Johnson but I would say our sound got a little bit more rock since we moved to New York.
dailystoke.com: This album was produced by David Kahne, who has worked with some great artists (Paul McCartney, Sublime, The Strokes, Sugar Ray), how did you hook up with him?
We hooked up with David through our manager in New York. We had just signed with Motown Records and we were looking for a producer that could take our sound and add a little flavor. We are huge Sublime and Paul McCartney fans and love all the records he has done so it was a great fit. Working with him was great he gave us plenty of time and broke down some of our boundaries musically. He also got us away from always singing together all the time like we did on our EP, now we are trading off lead vocals now which is better.
dailystoke.com: The first track on the album, Lifetime on the Run, is our favorite and is such a great summer song, where were you when you wrote the song and what was the inspiration?
That song is basically about getting away from all the bullshit that we have to endure every day and just living free and following the wind. Basically every surfer’s dream is to just follow the waves around. We had just got back from a tour when we wrote the song and were going through a bit of a rough patch.
dailystoke.com: Let’s talk influences…I hear some reggae, folk, and pop, who influenced you as artists, what did you listen to growing up?
Growing up listened to a lot of Bob Marley, the Beatles, the Police, Rage Against the Machine, Millencolin, Pennywise, Nirvana, Tom Petty, Cypress Hill, Dr Dre a bit of everything! As artists, Jack Johnson influenced us a lot when we started writing and we kind of meshed that with some reggae and rock influences.
dailystoke.com: You guys just played Mountain Jam in NY — other than yourselves – who was your favorite band there…who were you guys stoked to see?
The Avett Brothers were sick!
dailystoke.com: So you guys left the surf mecca Australia and now live in NY City, do you guys still have time to surf?
Not much. The surf is better in winter over here but its fucking freezing! I get out there sometimes but not into the whole 5mm wetties and boots etc it takes a lot of the fun out of it.
dailystoke.com: What are you riding when you surf? and what are you playing when you are jamming live?
I ride a 6'2 rounded square that Cordell shaped for me, it’s a good versatile board. Playing live we use Fender Strat and a Taylor acoustic usually.
dailystoke.com: We'll see you at the shows, thanks for talking with us!
You can check out Tamarama at www.myspace.com/tamarama
the dont use a taylor acoustic, the use a gibson songwriter