TLC vs. Trouble Andrew: Trouble at Terminal 5

Trouble Andrew Backstage at Terminal 5, 6.9.09

Last June I chatted with Trouble Andrew after his set supporting Santigold and Amanda Blank at Terminal 5. It was a scene I’m not entirely used to, but it was cool hanging around with huge entourages backstage that even included Lil’ Jon. Trouble Andrew candidly opened up about touring with Santigold, classifying his music, social networking and keeping up with the blogs.

Since our interview Trouble Andrew has gone on to complete the successful tour with Santigold and Amanda Blank and lend vocals to Mick Boogie’s Peter Bjorn and John mashup album Re-Living Thing. Trouble Andrew’s debut album is available now in a Remastered and Remixed format, be sure to follow him on Twitter.

MP3: Trouble Andrew – Bang Bang (ft. Santogold) or zShare
MP3: Trouble Andrew & GLC: Lay It Down (remixed by The Kickdrums) or zShare

> I just saw your set but in your own words, how would describe your music and live show –
TA: How would you describe it? (laughs)

>How would you describe your own music and your set –
TA: (Laughs) I don’t know man it’s like a combination of early influences of punk rock, pop music and hip hop. I don’t know how to — that really is the fucking toughest question when people ask me that because I really don’t know what to say except that it’s music and I make it. It’s always different and it’s not consistent.

> That’s a good answer. So how has –
TA: …punk rock or douche wave!

> There ya go, ha! How has life been on the road with Amanda Blank and Santigold?
TA: It’s amazing man, it’s been like The Love Tour. Everybody gets along, all of our crews get along. It’s not like being on tour with a band that nobody talks to, you know what I mean? No weird vibes, everyone’s hanging out and going to the club afterward. It’s awesome for me to be able to travel with my girl, you know?

> I first heard you on Santigold’s I’m a Lady and here you are with your first record. How has that journey been?
TA: It’s been interesting. I didn’t plan it, it wasn’t my dream to get into music. It’s been amazing to have something new in my life that I love and with which I can support my friends. It’s great to just continue the ride of being on the road and being creative.

> I read that you were a pro-snowboarder, how did that come about? Did you get a lot of flack when you started to do the music thing?
TA: I think for sure people assume that it’s some kind of gimmick shit but that comes from not really understanding the culture of skateboarding and snowboarding and how it breeds art. It is an art. It’s not like I’m a pro-tennis player or something that was like ‘I have a  fan base and I can do music!’ I just happened to hurt myself snowboarding and the guitar, the interest, and need to occupy my time was there.

I was bored and Santi got me a little 4-track recorder, so I just made all these little songs to kill time. She snuck the tapes out, gave them to producers and they called me and said ‘let’s make this happen.’ I figured I’d make this record and that would it it, I would maybe release this record and give it to the pro-snowboarding community and  friends to use it for video segments. I figured that would be it and I was fine with that.  From there it kinda just turned it what it is.

> I’m just curious as a blogger, do you keep up with what’s hot on the blogs – elbo.ws, Hype Machine. Do you read –
TA: Oh yeah I’ve been to the blogs. I always just go check them out and see what people are saying, it’s funny.

> Was that something you always did before you got into music or did you just –
TA: No never. Even with MySpace, I didn’t understand it at first but once I got it going it was the foundation of music as far as the kids being able to reach me. I try to keep up with what’s cool, I don’t know I’m busy right now…

> I saw your Twitter updates, you’re doing something!
TA: Yeah? You see that, dude that’s good put that down on the record because the label’s always like you need to Twitter! I didn’t really ‘get it’ until a couple of weeks ago. They put it on my phone so I’d be like ‘Yeah I’m doing a show or whatever.’ I didn’t really get how it all worked and didn’t know how to check my messages.

> I didn’t realize ’til months later that you just click the “@”
TA: Exactly, my friends were like ‘Dude you’re wack, I’m going to stop following you because you don’t ever respond!’ But now I’m just getting all this shit figured out. But like I said that stuff is extra, I just wanna be creative and I wish someone else would do it for me

> That’s always secondary, but you should definitely I’m just saying as a –
TA: No I feel you man, and you’re right you have to.  That’s like what I was saying with MySpace, I’m reaching all these kids and they can reach me and now.  I’m getting how the Twitter things works now, at first I was hating on it like who gives a fuck that I’m at lunch with so and so?

> I wonder what will be next! That’s all I’ve got, thanks for your time and enjoy the rest of your night!