Interviews
Ronan Boothman
Tantrum

Q. Does Tantrum have any recordings out or coming out?
Can you tell us about the name, release, tour, experience while
recording it, etc?

We recorded what was to be a demo last year and released it in
November as an ep/cd. We go in to the studios at the end of
September this year to record our next release, going in this time
around with a much more serious approach and a better understanding of the whole recording process. We plan to release it in January of 2004 and hope to tour the east coast after that. I think this next CD will be a positive step for the band.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about the band and its history? Has the band changed since forming?

Tantrum formed in January of 2002 and has maintained the same line up since then going on to play about 100 shows. The drummer and I met in high school but never formed anything serious until we met the other guys through various mediums.

Q.  What is the songwriting process for the band?  Do you write the lyrics and music together or one first and then the other?

It’s a collective process for sure. Usually we all just stand around the room at the end of a set and someone will play something that another thinks is cool and we just fool around with it. Usually our best songs are written almost fully within one or two hours while other songs are written by individuals at home etc. The lyrics always come second with us; we usually have the music complete and then the lyrics just flow from the tunes.

Q.  When playing live shows, is it important to make every show a spectacle or does it just happen naturally.  Do you feed off the crowd's reaction or do you try to create a reaction?

I think our songs and style demand a huge live show but we don’t put it on, it always just seems to come to us and when it does I hope that the crowd thinks it’s a spectacle. We always get psyched before a show and it’s what we all love doing so it’s just natural to us and I think the crowd recognizes that. When the crowd reacts to an energetic band it amps you more when you are playing and no one likes to pay for a ‘show’ and not get one.

Q. Is there a story behind the name Tantrum?

Not really, our drummer Dan just thought it was a cool word and we all agreed on it. I guess it kind of suits our style and it’s a catchy and easy to remember.

Q.  There is a lot of interest in Perth bands and Perth music at the moment, do you think there is a particular Perth sound and is it very different from bands from the Eastern States?

I think the whole ‘indie’ scene in Perth is getting noticed and yes I defiantly think Perth has a distinct sound probably because we are so isolated that you have to be a little different to get noticed.

Q. What bands have had the greatest influence on you and who are your favourite bands at the moment both from Perth and from elsewhere?

We have very diverse tastes in our band with everyone liking completely different styles. Perth bands like Gyroscope, Last year’s hero and Jebediah are inspiring because they are all touring and doing what we at the moment are only dreaming of. International and larger Australian acts are always inspiring us just as long as they rock out. Bands like Incubus, Further seems forever, Atari’s, Deftones etc are all big influences but they don’t reflect hugely on our song writing style, that seems to just be a TANTRUM thing.

Q. What is your favourite live music venue in Perth?  Do you prefer small pub shows with a small audience or bigger shows with lots of people cheering you on?

I think the Amplifier Bar has the best sound. We played at the quarry amphitheatre for the finals of the Ampfest band comp to around 500 people which had a huge sound too. You always start off to small crowds so it is a cosy thing but I think we would love to show off in front of a huge crowd.

Q. Do you have any gigs coming up that you would like more people to come along to?

We are playing in the Semi’s for campus bands on the 19th of September at the Swan Basement and with Antiskeptic on the 26th at Bar 120 in Hillarys. Shows and all other details can be found on our website www.tantrummusic.com

Interview by Justin