Interview Trouble Over Tokyo

Il suo lavoro è uno dei dischi più interessanti esemplari di angst-pop (ovvero "pop angosciato") o indie-lectro (se si preferisce chiamarlo così) che ci è capitato di ascoltare di recente, ossessionato dall'idea del fai-da-te e dalla buona musica, dilettato dalla sua grafomania (la sua matita è il medium tra il foglio e il cervello per l'artwork, il booklet e il sito), conosciamo meglio Christopher M.Taylor aka Toph, simpatico ragazzotto cresciuto nella sonnecchiosa perfideria di South-East London col pallino per la chitarra, il falsetto e la creatività musicale. Il suo Pyramides (captato e dato alle stampe dall'ottima etichetta viennese Klein, gente che di stile ne capisce...) ricorderà a tratti Thom Yorke, gli Stateless o i Turin Brakes, ma la personalità di Toph darà all'ascoltatore emozioni uniche nel suo genere... Conosciamo meglio il suo autore! Troble Over Tokyo "Pyramides" (Klein Records) 01.Start Making Noise 02.Save Us 03.The Liar 04.4,228 ft.Milly Blue 05.Eyes Off Me 06.Washing Away The Dirt 07.My Anxiety 08.No-Handed (Part III) 09.The Dark Below (Oh... My God) 10.Pyramides

First question! How much ink do you consume a day on average? ;-) A lot!!! I´m thinking of asking Uni-Ball for sponsorship!

Some lyrics seem to be a collage of strip-it..But I like the visual representation you give to emphasize your writings! Your beloved should have a rich collection of leaflets! Any self-portrait? Thanks! Yeah, it started out as just a bit of fun... it´s more fun to draw a heart than write "heart"... but now it`s become almost like a trademark of my work. No self-portraits, but let`s just say, anyone who recieves a birthday card from me doesn`t get one from a shop!

Could you tell us something about the birth of Pyramides? I remember perfectly the exact moment it was born, actually... 3rd January 2007; I was having a conversation with a lovely lovely friend of mine, Emannuelle, and I was telling her how frustrated I was feeling about trying to make this album. She said to me "Life is like building Pyramides - (she`s French) - "maybe you don`t know where to place the next brick, but sometimes you just have to look back to realize how high you`ve already built". I immediately saw the album cover in my head, then the next day I wrote the song "Pyramids", and making the album was really really easy after that.

How did you reach Klein guys? A long story! I`ll make it short... Almost 2 years ago I met a guy called Heli in a bar in London, at an open-mic night... he was from Graz... he said "Come to Austria! They`d love you there!". I went for a few shows in Graz, and it was a big success & then met the guys from InkMusic, who then became my booking agents... A few months later, their label, Schoenwetter, asked to put my record out in Austria.. they did... then we talked to Klein Records and decided to do the worldwide release in collaboration with them. They are VERY cool.

Who could that vampire threating life in Save Us be? Hmm, not sure.... it`s either Me, God, Apathy, or just Life.

According to a biographical note, you wrote your first song at the age of 5. What was it about? It was written on the top deck of a bus, and it was called "I can see the top of houses". I still remember it like it was yesterday.

What's your position on copyright matters? What do you think about the campaign behind recent Radiohead brand new album related to the possibility to choose the price? I think it`s great. It`s about time us musicians redefined what we are... no-one knows how the music industry will change yet, but it`s an exciting time. Just for the record, I bought the 60 box set!

You seems a proud defender of DIY policy. Let?s imagine you receive a phone call from a Yodeller or a Midget (!), telling you: "Hey man, I like your music. The entire creative staff is at your full disposal!"? Your reaction? Just a "no, thanks"? I am! I just can`t imagine not being in control of my marketing and design, and albums!! I have nothing big against the Majors, I`m just waiting for them to understand what I do!

What are your favourite musical matters? I´m afraid I don´t understand.

Any future plan on stage? Oh yes. I am currently getting a live band together for shows in Europe, to be ready in May. It is VERY VERY exciting, and I can`t wait for the first show!!

The info-sheet says your style is described as a blend of stylistical "influences" such as Bjork, Thom Yorke, Turin Brakes, Micheal Jackson? Michael Jackson? Is it a misspell or what? Your style in your own words? Haha, no, it`s not a typo! I used to LOVE Michael Jackson, when I was 7, it was the only thing I listened to until I was 8! My style is very simple to define: it`s Indielektro AngstPop.

What's your favourite song among the ones you included in the tracklist? Hmm, it`s difficult to say, it changes all the time... I am very proud of "4,228", though, a cross-atlantic-tragic-love-song, in which I duet with the amazing Milly Blue.

Are you going to keep Trouble Over Tokyo a one-man band or are you planning some collaborations? I think ToT will always be just me at the roots, but I already collaborated with an Italian Electro duo called "Presslaboys" a year ago, and would love to collaborate more with other acts and bands in the future!