photo: Stephan Vercaemer
The first time I met this guy was during an interview with James Welburn at the Incubate festival in Tilburg (read more about Incubate 2015). Shortly after, both men would play a stunning set as Barchan. A while later, Tomas was announced as the new drummer for noise rock combo Zu. Now, a few days ago, I received an album from Aidan Baker and guess who recorded the drums on this one? Yep, Tomas Järmyr, the drummer behind some of our best-of-that-particular-year albums. That's plenty of reasons to invite him to join our Songs With Stories, no?
Tomas: Looking back at my journey so far I see that the most crucial musical experiences took place between age 8 and 16. After that it's been mostly about narrowing down certain areas while opening up others as well as defining myself in all this.
King Crimson - "One More Red Nightmare"
I must have been 8 years old when after some time with Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix and Tower of Power, my dad put on the Red album by King Crimson. Just the sound of that "cymbal" was enough! And the riffs, the rhythms, the melodies...It was like Disneyland or something, unreal and magical. I guess this is where my interest for odd meters, without really knowing what it was at the time, really started.
Marilyn Manson - "The Beautiful People"
1996. After my parents divorced about two years earlier me and my mom moved to a new town, a town that would show to be extremely important for my musical education and diversity. However, one day I meet this kid with headphones. I don't remember much than getting the headphones on my ears, he hits play on his walkman and I'm numb for three and a half minute. It was this moment where no other music in the world could better reflect your current emotional state. It was perfect, inspiring and loud!
Meshuggah - "Future Breed Machine"
I was 13. During a lunch break in the café run by students at school a guy puts on this monster of a track. What can I say? I was hit by a truck, a train and dropped from a plane at the same time. After listening to a lot of metal and heavier rock music nothing could compare to this. Pantera, Slayer, Metallica... nothing of that stuff were even close!
Now it's time to mention that apart from listening to metal, punk, and rock music I attended the international jazz festival in town more or less every year from age 8 - 18, which will explain the next track.
Now it's time to mention that apart from listening to metal, punk, and rock music I attended the international jazz festival in town more or less every year from age 8 - 18, which will explain the next track.
John Coltrane - "Giant Steps"
16, first year in highschool. I'd been playing in a big band for a couple of years already and was now studying jazz music for real. The jazzfestival I'd been attending for years was mostly focused on traditional and fusion jazz (!). Wilder and more experimental stuff were not, and still aren't, represented. Anyway.. one day my drum teacher introduces me to Giant Steps by John Coltrane (w/ Elvin Jones on drums). This track blew my mind! I could feel the same kind of energy and tension as in "Future Breed Machine", the same feeling of resistance, and it totally got me on my toes.
The rest is history...
The rest is history...
