We listened to Chaos, Tommy Yaman album for you. A groovy jazzy album , with many instrumental parts and a voice that recall Foo fighters and Arctic monkeys.

Personally my favorite song is Wild, and I think it fully describes the whole record. All the songs are like a perfect travel, one piece after another, towards the end of the album and towards what the musician wanted to communicate. But now enjoy this interview!

In your album we noticed instrumental parts. How did you decide to let the music talks more then your voice ?

Music is something we feel. So I wanted to let the music do the talking. I love hearing a nice guitar rhythm, so at times I felt like adding words would ruin the vibe.

What are your inspirations?

From Nina Simone, to the Strokes, back to At the drive in and to most recently Stormzy, who I’m seeing live next month. My inspirations never stop growing.

How do you work on your music? Do you write music or words before?

I normally see what comes first, sometimes the words and other times the music. It depends, what matters is what I want to say and how I want to say it. Feeling or expression, whichever comes first.

Do you want to tell us more about the artwork and the collaboration with “The little needle”?
Every single one of my album releases so far all were made by hand and were all sold in limited amounts. I just wanted to continue the trend and because I find that it becomes more personal and nice to look at.
The picture of this album was inspired by one of my favourite children’s books ‘the little Prince’. It has a similar message to the topics in my album and I absolutely loved reading it as a child.

What’s your music for you?

Well I’ve been told by fans that it’s Punk rock and NME (the music magazine) placed it down as gritty blues rock, during an interview because of my track ‘Lost’ being featured in Peaky Blinders.

 

Why did you choose Chaos as a title track?

Because I believe London is very chaotic. My album also has a lot of different sounding tracks which expresses chaos and a lot about depression and anxiety. Mental health was also an unintentional close friend growing up in a city which has an ever growing number of suicides and people with problems with their mental health or / and health in general.
I find this chaotic, it makes me feel anxious and saddens me, makes me feel like I’m living on a different planet. I love taking care of myself, I love my life, the choices I make, make me happy. Unfortunately, in a city like London, it’s hard to speak on behalf of everyone because the many few are happy and free like myself. It’s chaos for the unfortunate majority and a selfish torture, track one from the album.

Why have you released another album when you are now a personal trainer and no longer a full time musician?

Because after my ex wife and I split up from our last band TOMMYANDMARY, we had songs waiting to be structured and rehearsed but we broke up. It devestated me, I couldn’t bare even the thought of picking up my guitar again. After two years I felt like I had to finish it, I needed closure. So I decided that I wanted to make it on my own and finish what I started properly. I know it won’t be a hit or that many people won’t even find the time to listen to it, but I’m proud of it and of myself for finishing what I started and that now I have closure. It was fucking expensive and a complete waste of money because it won’t make any profit , but I’m so so happy I did it and that’s all that matters. Although I have to say, I personally think it’s the best album I have ever written, because it’s got more balls than a Peaky blinders track