Remember when we interviewed Andrew Maley of the Real Experts? Well two years have since passed and he is back with his new solo project, Tame Genius, brand new music and musical objectives. We got a chance to do a little Q&A with the artist. Read on...
1. With Real Experts evolving do you think you’ll have time to manage both the band and your solo project, Tame Genius?
Well the timing of it all seems to work ok at the moment. The new Real Experts album is almost finished, so it’s given me time to crack on with Tame Genius. The beauty of solo material is it’s very low maintenance! Plus I’ve given up on sleep so that generates more hours in the day!
2. What is the hardest thing about going solo?
There hasn’t been anything hard at all! It’s supposed to be a little more fun, and helps me have an extra outlet. It’s the easiest thing in the world!
3. How is the process different from working as R.E.?
It’s not too different but obviously I don’t have to tell anyone else what to do! Usually I will start with a demo and a guide vocal for Real Experts, so in this case I’m just bypassing that. So the process from the start of an idea to the finished track is quicker as I don’t have to wait on anyone else to fit it into their schedule. But also the other difference is I find I write the lyrics and the music at the same time for Tame Genius, whereas for Real Experts it’s usually a case of the lyrics already in place but with the music in my mind. The solo material is more of an experiment!
4. How has been the support after the last R.E. single?
It’s been great, especially as Lemon Is Lemon is quite different to Disco Tears. And it’s a stand-alone single, it won’t be on the album as it has a different vibe. So it’s been nice targeting listeners who are more into their EDM rather than just pop. And because it’s slightly quirky in its lyrical content I think people remember it. It’s unique if nothing else! But generally whenever anyone hears a Real Experts track they say nice things, without me even having to make them.
5. Are you happy with the public’s reaction to your work?
I am indeed, it feels like we’ve been a kept secret for a while and people are surprised at how big the back-catalogue is, and the diversity due to the range of guest vocalists. It’s like with everything in the music industry, we just want more and more people to get the opportunity hear it. The genre is obviously not always to everyone’s taste, which is fine, but I think we write catchy songs that stick in people’s head, and that is always a nice feeling.
6. Do you want R.E. and Tame Genius to be on the same synth pop road or take different paths?
Haven’t really thought about it too deeply! But in reality I think they will sound more different in time, especially as with Real Experts for the live shows we are heading in a more all-encompassing and sometimes acoustic direction. I want it to be ultimately totally ‘live’. And more of the Real Experts studio recordings have a variety of non-synth elements. As Tame Genius is just me alone I can make that the Synthpop extravaganza. I think it will sort itself out naturally.
7. Which artist you think would be the perfect Tame Genius contributor?
Ooh, I’d have to think about that, seeing as it’s supposed to be a solo project! There are a few favourite vocalists of mine that would be a dream to work with, like Billie Ray Martin or Aggie Peterson from Frost. But a lot of people are contributors without even realising they are!
8. What/Who has been the inspiration for the side project?
A mixture of things really, some by accident. I think it evolved from doing the demos for Real Experts, as I was singing the guide vocals, over a period of time it felt like I was singing them better, my voice seemed to improve. So some of the songs stayed with my vocals on them. And then I started thinking about songs I could just do on my own through laziness as much as anything! A lot of the time the ideas I have are too weird for Real Experts so I started to make a list of tracks I could do on my own. When I created the name Tame Genius it was for social media purposes but I figured it was a good artist name too. Just seemed to work. I recorded MegaKiss a while ago but knew I’d come back to the songs eventually. But as with most things the lyrical inspirations comes from daily trivial topics and phrases that I hear people say or use online.
9. You also have your record label Black Towers records as yet another side project, which artist would you recommend us from your label?
We’ve been lucky to have some amazing talent so far, particularly in the vocal sense. I would say, not just because he is on Disco Tears, that everyone should check out the solo material from Daniel Angelus.
10. Which song and artist have been your favourite so far in 2015?
Whenever Hot Chip come back with an album it always reminds me of how good they are and how big an influence they are too. In terms of an individual song, it’s one from the end of last year but I only recently heard it, which is Oliver Koletzki featuring Leslie Clio, No Man No Cry. Amazing track.
Well the timing of it all seems to work ok at the moment. The new Real Experts album is almost finished, so it’s given me time to crack on with Tame Genius. The beauty of solo material is it’s very low maintenance! Plus I’ve given up on sleep so that generates more hours in the day!
2. What is the hardest thing about going solo?
There hasn’t been anything hard at all! It’s supposed to be a little more fun, and helps me have an extra outlet. It’s the easiest thing in the world!
3. How is the process different from working as R.E.?
It’s not too different but obviously I don’t have to tell anyone else what to do! Usually I will start with a demo and a guide vocal for Real Experts, so in this case I’m just bypassing that. So the process from the start of an idea to the finished track is quicker as I don’t have to wait on anyone else to fit it into their schedule. But also the other difference is I find I write the lyrics and the music at the same time for Tame Genius, whereas for Real Experts it’s usually a case of the lyrics already in place but with the music in my mind. The solo material is more of an experiment!
4. How has been the support after the last R.E. single?
It’s been great, especially as Lemon Is Lemon is quite different to Disco Tears. And it’s a stand-alone single, it won’t be on the album as it has a different vibe. So it’s been nice targeting listeners who are more into their EDM rather than just pop. And because it’s slightly quirky in its lyrical content I think people remember it. It’s unique if nothing else! But generally whenever anyone hears a Real Experts track they say nice things, without me even having to make them.
5. Are you happy with the public’s reaction to your work?
I am indeed, it feels like we’ve been a kept secret for a while and people are surprised at how big the back-catalogue is, and the diversity due to the range of guest vocalists. It’s like with everything in the music industry, we just want more and more people to get the opportunity hear it. The genre is obviously not always to everyone’s taste, which is fine, but I think we write catchy songs that stick in people’s head, and that is always a nice feeling.
6. Do you want R.E. and Tame Genius to be on the same synth pop road or take different paths?
Haven’t really thought about it too deeply! But in reality I think they will sound more different in time, especially as with Real Experts for the live shows we are heading in a more all-encompassing and sometimes acoustic direction. I want it to be ultimately totally ‘live’. And more of the Real Experts studio recordings have a variety of non-synth elements. As Tame Genius is just me alone I can make that the Synthpop extravaganza. I think it will sort itself out naturally.
7. Which artist you think would be the perfect Tame Genius contributor?
Ooh, I’d have to think about that, seeing as it’s supposed to be a solo project! There are a few favourite vocalists of mine that would be a dream to work with, like Billie Ray Martin or Aggie Peterson from Frost. But a lot of people are contributors without even realising they are!
8. What/Who has been the inspiration for the side project?
A mixture of things really, some by accident. I think it evolved from doing the demos for Real Experts, as I was singing the guide vocals, over a period of time it felt like I was singing them better, my voice seemed to improve. So some of the songs stayed with my vocals on them. And then I started thinking about songs I could just do on my own through laziness as much as anything! A lot of the time the ideas I have are too weird for Real Experts so I started to make a list of tracks I could do on my own. When I created the name Tame Genius it was for social media purposes but I figured it was a good artist name too. Just seemed to work. I recorded MegaKiss a while ago but knew I’d come back to the songs eventually. But as with most things the lyrical inspirations comes from daily trivial topics and phrases that I hear people say or use online.
9. You also have your record label Black Towers records as yet another side project, which artist would you recommend us from your label?
We’ve been lucky to have some amazing talent so far, particularly in the vocal sense. I would say, not just because he is on Disco Tears, that everyone should check out the solo material from Daniel Angelus.
10. Which song and artist have been your favourite so far in 2015?
Whenever Hot Chip come back with an album it always reminds me of how good they are and how big an influence they are too. In terms of an individual song, it’s one from the end of last year but I only recently heard it, which is Oliver Koletzki featuring Leslie Clio, No Man No Cry. Amazing track.
And one extra question to finish...
What are the plans for R.E. and Tame Genius for the summer? Gigs? New releases? Festivals?
There are all sorts of things going on, I’ve been lucky enough to be asked to appear on various radio shows talking about the new stuff and musical influences. June 28th I’ll be on Synthesize Me www.radiosol.co.il , it’s a 3 hour special dedicated to Real Experts and the songs that shaped us. After that we are appearing live as part of the DMus concert in London on July 22nd. DMus is the film where we have a featured track, Let’s Go Viral.
The next Real Experts single will come out around the same time, ‘My Love Is Nothing More Than This’ featuring Eden. And then of course we build up to the new album, The Trade Off, out hopefully late August. And we have an acoustic gig on September 25th at Spice of Life in Soho, where amongst others Vivian Marie is flying back over from Germany to perform with us. If any festival wants to invite us to play in the meantime, we’re be more than delighted!
October 19th I will be guest hosting the Electronic Transmissions show on www.radiohappy.eu with a variety of blockbusting beats lined up.
And then finally, the next Tame Genius EP is already underway. You never know, maybe there will be a live performance sometime soon also.
What are the plans for R.E. and Tame Genius for the summer? Gigs? New releases? Festivals?
There are all sorts of things going on, I’ve been lucky enough to be asked to appear on various radio shows talking about the new stuff and musical influences. June 28th I’ll be on Synthesize Me www.radiosol.co.il , it’s a 3 hour special dedicated to Real Experts and the songs that shaped us. After that we are appearing live as part of the DMus concert in London on July 22nd. DMus is the film where we have a featured track, Let’s Go Viral.
The next Real Experts single will come out around the same time, ‘My Love Is Nothing More Than This’ featuring Eden. And then of course we build up to the new album, The Trade Off, out hopefully late August. And we have an acoustic gig on September 25th at Spice of Life in Soho, where amongst others Vivian Marie is flying back over from Germany to perform with us. If any festival wants to invite us to play in the meantime, we’re be more than delighted!
October 19th I will be guest hosting the Electronic Transmissions show on www.radiohappy.eu with a variety of blockbusting beats lined up.
And then finally, the next Tame Genius EP is already underway. You never know, maybe there will be a live performance sometime soon also.
Temporary Switch EP by Tame Genius is out now.