Multi-Instrumentalist James Pain, aka tameBERSERK, is preparing to unveil his dreamy new single, Favourite Years. The track is taken from forthcoming debut album Super Thinking, out now via Poster Boy Records.
One of the first tracks written for the new album, Favourite Years is a kaleidoscope of arrangements and themes that strays into literate, cerebral psychedelia. The track centers around a maniacal doctor experimenting on someone with supernatural powers and tackles themes of control, jealousy, love and hate. The result is, like all good pop songs, a single that deals with kidnap, imprisonment, torture, psychotic doctors and squandered dreams.
Favourite Years is both quirky and playful while being reflective and dark; a description that fits perfectly with tameBERSERK’s fractured, often, complex style of music.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with tameBERSERK about the latest music, challenges, technology and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
Well it wasn’t a conscious choice to make weird pop music, it just happened, you write what you write don’t you? I’ve always been a fan of more left-field indie/alt stuff like The Go! Team, TV on the Radio and Yeasayer so i wanted to incorporate some of the values of bands like that. I really didn’t want to get sucked into one genre or style though, which is why i have songs that sound pretty different my album. It can flick from slick synth pop like on ‘Ari Atoll’ to ballsy kitchen sink and all instrumental indie on ‘Single Point of Failure’. Not having a live band initially meant i did whatever i wanted in the studio. Thankfully the vocals tie things together though so it doesn’t literally sound like 4 different bands.
What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?
Hard to say really, i didn’t have musical friends or family massively so i probably just though The Strokes were cool as fuck i wouldn’t mind having a go at that! That was a long time ago though. Once you make something you think is good, why wouldn’t you want to put it out into the public, it would be just plain selfish to keep great music to yourself. I put out a fair bit of crap, painfully under produced music in my formative years so i guess i’ve never had a problem with getting negative feedback. Now i have something that feels like an accumulation of my life as an artist and i want as many people as possible to hear and enjoy it.
Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?
Most things i listen to, books, films, TV shows, crazy news stories, life in general. It all melts into the pot really. For sure things have changed a lot over the years, i think as you become older, more mature and more confident in your ability as a songwriter, you don’t pick on specific influences as much when starting new tracks. In my early 20’s i definitely heard a great track by whoever and tried to write a song similar, usually comparing it as i went and being disappointed it wasn’t as good (obviously). That method rarely yields good results. Now songs just seem to pop up and whilst i have a base of overall influence, i can’t really point to a certain artist that inspired a single track.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
I think it was just an opportunity to create music without any limits of playing it live. I wasn’t attached to a band for the first time in my life so i COULD have multiple layers of effect layden drums, vocal samples from old TV shows, 10 keyboard parts at the same time. It’s been a liberating time for me personally but as it progressed i really just wanted to make well written songs at the core, despite all the bells and whistles on top. It’s something thats annoyed me in recent years with certain bands. People get tricked into thinking songs are good because of production and fancy sounds and samples and things, but when you boil it down, there’s no real substance there.
What was the last song you listened to?
I just finished the latest Kanye album. He’s one of my all time favourite artists but yeah, not sure on this yet. I think he really like Jesus now though.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
I have about 300 vinyl singles from bands between 2001 and 2006 but thats it. I was the guy who bought CD’s a LOT, (something i inherited from my obsessive, music bargin bin loving father), way after most of my friends stopped. Then i became lazy and started downloading albums on itunes. Now, predictably, i have a Spotify premium account.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
As a fan, Spotify. It’s not without it’s issues but the best out there still. Apple put me off for life with itunes, awful software. As an artist, you kinda have to put your music in as many places as possible to make it accessible for people.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?
I haven’t played live much, due to logistical restraints with personnel, so that’s been tough, not connecting with people that way. It was always intended to be a studio project though, i just got to a stage where i felt the songs really deserved to be played live.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?
You can’t do it all right? I barely find time to run 2 social media accounts so i’m on facebook and instagram. My album will be on all major streaming platforms though so you won’t have to look hard to find me.
Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?
Nashville Tennessee, damn, what a place. Spent a few days there in 2012 and boy did we have fun. If you were there you know.
