TANTRUM ZENTRUM
... writes short and shambly no-wave songs and plays them with European precision and grandeur. It’s as if Krautrock pioneers Neu! and Faust moved into a gothic apartment with no-wave experimentalists Sonic Youth, Glenn Branca and Theoretical Girls.
Tantrum Zentrum was started by multi-instrumenalists Vaat Dafuq and Sabine de Rousseau as a post-punk Krautrock project. The pair like their guitars with a sort of Velvet Underground slacker-jangle that inspired the no-wave. Their synths are analogue and wobbly - which is where the Krautrock element comes in, although they’re more Faust and Can than Kraftwerk. The next element is simple hypnotic drums - played with Devo-esque precision. Finally, they add Vaat’s murmured lyrics inspired by kitschy Serbian folk songs about alcoholism and marital infidelity - perfect graveyard material.
Who are "TANTRUM ZENTRUM" and how did you come together?
We are a 4-piece post punk band from London. TANTRUM ZENTRUM is a product of the lockdown years which saw multi-instrumentalists Vaat Dafuq, Sabine de Rousseau and Valhalla Schimmer come together online over a shared appreciation of classic No Wave, New Wave, Post Punk and Krautrock acts. More recently, the group has been completed by drummer Kür Putchnik.
Even though we started as a lockdown project, soon enough decided to turn it into a "proper" live band. Playing live is our passion and is so much fun.
"Der Leiermann" (originally from Franz Schubert, 1827) sounds extraordinary, what's the story behind your version of the song?
For our first professionally produced single, we wanted to do something that people may be familiar with and as we're all fans of the 2008 Martin McDonagh-directed film, "In Bruges", we decided to take the music from one of the most emotionally charged scenes and turn it into something unique and our own. The original poem used for "Der Leiermann" is about a freezing, starving street musician who is totally ignored by the public - a theme that many musicians and other artists can identify with.
Any chance to see you somewhen/somewhere live on stage?
At the moment, we have a show confirmed for February 4, 2023 at the legendary Hope And Anchor in London. But, we're working on more shows in the near future.
Social Media ... great tools to promote yourself or more a necessary evil?
It can be a great tool if you don't take it too seriously and try to have some fun with it. It's just another tool in a musician's arsenal - just keep it light, informative and don't overdo it, and it won't turn into something evil.
What's in your opinion one of the most underrated songs?
There are so many great bands and solo artists around the globe, making incredibly exciting, innovative music. One just needs to spend some time finding it. However, there are many outlets, like yours, that help with the discovery. We just wish more mainstream media would also focus on lesser-known songs because the underground is where exciting things happen.
The hardest part of being Indie is ...?
Doing everything yourself: writing, production, advertising, booking, social media. It is hard work, but when you see a full room of people dancing to your music, you know it's worth all the effort.
....and last but not least, what are your plans for 2023?
We have two more singles to release, both in Dolby Atmos and the usual stereo. There may be an EP or two by the end of the year. Our focus has, however, always been on playing live, so we'll be gigging as much as possible, with some (unconfirmed) small festival appearances and a small German tour in May.
