URB: Were your parents pushy stage parents?
THOMAS: The only way to stand out from the crowd is to go nowhere near them. That’s what they taught me. Sometimes you have to remind yourself there’s no need to push, because what’s meant for you will never pass you.
URB: Do you still do TV?
THOMAS: I don’t even watch it these days. For years I couldn’t sleep without the television on, but a few months ago I decided to put a stop to that by selling my television for a guitar and a cowbell.
URB: What was the transition from acting to music like?
THOMAS: Organic. Nothing worse in life than carrying the burden of an untold story. I’ve realized that people will often forget what you said or what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel. I want to make people feel.
URB: Any films upcoming?
THOMAS: Yes, I have plans to direct a music documentary next year.
URB: Do you all write the songs together?
THOMAS: I wanted this album to be personal, I had ideas and I wanted to share them. So I chose to write, produce and perform the material alone. The album is about having the audacity to step outside the circumferences of what you’ve been expected to be in life. Chances are I’ll only have this audacity while I’m young, so I might as well use it.
URB: What are their names and ages of the other band members?
THOMAS: Well, the army keeps growing, so in total there are now twelve of us, like the twelve tribes of Judah. They are: Geki The Great (guitar), Mr. Mendiola (drums), Angie Blu (b. vox), Barry Bones (trumpet), Dr Heptinstall (keys), T-Bone (trombone), Lola Funke (b. vox), Lex (Cello) Macky D. (saxophone), Charley Sax, (saxophone) Sir Lain (violin), all ranging from 18 to 83 in cat years.
URB: How did you find your band members?
THOMAS: I believe in magic, and I believe whatever I put out there in the universe I will attract. Somewhere along the line I must have asked to meet these strange individuals… Ironically, when we became friends, I had no idea how talented they were. They were just bedroom musicians who’d never been onstage. Fate and timing are funny things. I keep thinking of all the amazing people I’m yet to meet. From Japan, to Mexico and Nigeria… Most of the band members are not from London.
URB: Any remixes in the works? Who’d you like to do your re-rubs?
THOMAS: Todd Rundgren, Bowie, Quincy Jones–but I can’t afford them, and they don’t do remixes.
URB: How are the festival dates going?
THOMAS: Magical. I feel really blessed and I’m overwhelmed by the response the live shows, as well as the album have received, despite not being released in Europe nor the U.S. yet.
URB: Do you design your clothing?
THOMAS: It’s all a bit DIY, so I design the band’s costumes and sometimes collaborate with friends. It’s all about embracing the ridiculous. Generally people prefer to repress themselves, to shrink so that others will no be threatened by them. But it doesn’t serve the world to play small. I’m so bloody bored of seeing boys in skinny jeans, black t-shirts, and guitars. Trying hard not to try hard has ironically become a uniform. It’s changing people’s perspectives.
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