In a musical genre that continues to explosively expand globally, but particularly in the US as of late, Tommy Trash preserves the genuine creativity that separates real artists from crowd pleasers. His boyish zeal and passion for his work provides an incredibly inspirational perception of how anyone can make it if they stick to their guns and love themselves for who they are. In speaking with him directly, you can tell that he can easily be the happiest DJ on the line-up; never taking a thing for granted and always having fun.
I had the chance to sit down with Tommy for a few moments to discuss his upcoming work and releases. I expected a great dialogue, but got much more than expected in terms of an artist’s inspiration as well as self-identity. It’s not often that a music interview can provide such an unbeatable philosophy for living life in general. Tommy is that great, happy go lucky DJ on the block who would be the most approachable down to earth guy, without the added arrogance that usually comes with the success he’s achieved. There’s a lot to learn from this guy, but his amazing creativity in music is the real reason to check him out. Seeing him live is a must, but until then, check out the upcoming 'Inspired' compilation, because it’s the best way to get to know the real Tommy; and trust us, you’ll want to get to know him.
You’re set to release your highly anticipated 'Inspired' compilation in just a few weeks after giving us a glimpse of things to come with your Minimixes. While discussing the different styles you’ve incorporated into the set, can you elaborate on the idea behind the production as a whole? Let me start with the idea of the compilation because I think that’s a really good starting point. Basically I was approached by Ministry of Sound to mix a two-CD compilation. The whole premise behind it was that this one would be tunes that inspired me in the early days of me as a producer and/or DJ. Actually, most of the tracks off the first disc come from a time when I wasn’t DJing, but just a fan in the nightclubs, lining up at the clubs…
Just like one of us, one of the normal people! Yep! Dancing for six hours, then the going home and staying up for three days straight kind of thing. It was just some really good times, and that’s what disc one was all about. Disc two was sort of the aftereffects of all of that. It’s a lot of the music I’ve made in the last couple of years. Not every track from the second disc is a super new track or whatever, but they’re some that I think really resonate with me. They’re songs that I think are a direct link to the past. For example, the Tom Starr remix of Dave Spoon’s “At Night.” Back in the day, I was listening to and DJing the original mix of “At Night.” So for me, the original could have been on disc one, but I obviously did the Tom Starr mix instead because it was like a bridging track between the 2 CDs if you will.
Yeah, it definitely feels like your first disc has a lot of funky and electro influence while CD two seems to be a real echo of what you’re doing now. Yeah, and that’s intention behind it. Of course, in the later part of minimix one though it gets pretty bangin’. It’s not all just funky house.
Oh, without a doubt! It seems like both mixes work perfectly in tandem as a steady crescendo. Yeah, I mean look, I wouldn’t say I tried to build disc one chronologically, but there is definitely some of the super early shit at the start of the disc and some of the later stuff towards the end. It’s definitely not meant to be like the oldest track is the first track. At the end of the day, the mix has to flow and it has to work. Yeah! It was a fucking amazing process to go through, that’s for sure.
We recall in another interview you had that you always wanted to play Coachella as part of a band. Fast forward some years and your career has skyrocketed to the point where you’re a major name at Coachella all on your own. Seeing that path you’ve walked, how have you viewed yourself as a musical artist, regardless of the instruments you’ve used? How do I view myself as an artist? Well, first I think it’s kind of awesome you dug up that thing about me wanting to play Coachella. It’s weird to hear someone say that, but it’s 100 percent true! I don’t know though, I always knew I was going to do music, but I was never sure how I was going to do it. For me, music was the only option I ever had if I was going to have some glimmer of being happy in life, you know? But how do I view myself as an artist? I just, I don’t know! Fuck, you’ve actually got me lost for words!
In some ways, Tommy, that’s the best answer you could have possibly given! Well, to be honest, I don’t really think about it. I mean obviously, sometimes I think about how new music is going to be perceived. As an artist, I know what I don’t want to be perceived as, and there’s a whole list of things, but I just want to be myself. Fuck mate, you’ve stumped me! At the end of the day, I definitely don’t try and be anything for anyone or anything that I’m not. With me, it’s pretty much what you see is what you get.
Well that’s refreshing in this genre, especially! You know, I’m not a carbon copy of anyone else, I’m not trying to model myself or be the new Tiesto or the new Swedish House Mafia or whatever. For me, I am who I am; if you fucking like it good, if you don’t fuck off. That’s the closest answer I have to that question!
That should be applied to life in general wouldn’t you say? Yeah man! I spent so many years trying to be something I wasn’t and making music to please other people for whatever reason, whether it’s insecurities as an artist or whatnot. But over time, over the years, you just realize that’s just all bullshit. You are who you are and you should be proud of it and go out and champion yourself! The minute I did that was when everything started falling into place and that was with “The End.” Pre-“The End,” I was always trying to please the label and I was trying to impress my peers, but that’s all white noise around what is the real thing that should be going. I don’t know, I feel that’s the best way I can explain it.
If you met someone who never knew anything about electronic music, name five artists that you’d strongly suggest them to follow. Woah, well let me have a look at my fucking iTunes. Why are you doing this to me mate?! Hmmm, Vitalic, Armand van Helden, Felix da Housecat, Paul Avery, and Jamie Jones.