Of all the blues trash and primitive rock'n'roll one-man bands in the world today there are a dozen or so that really set the bar, musically speaking, and set it high. One such artist, Swiss singer/songwriter Chrisian Buehlmann, who goes by the one-man band moniker Tongue Tied Twin (often stylized as TTT), owns a sound that consists of dirty six-string and occasional slide parts, together with hi-hat, tambourine and kick drum percussion, blues harp, and vocals alternately fed through clearn mic and megaphone rigs.
Tongue Tied Twin kicked off 2011 with a six-song EP release, Blues Trash One Man Band, strictly on compact disc format from Noisegames Records. As far as the recording goes, it is exactly the kind that Twin's sound requires, and it offers up his bluesy rockers as they are meant to be heard -- loud and dirty. "Goodbye K," the EP's opener, has a sharp, catchy early rock'n'roll sound to it, while "Drinking with My Eyes" is an arrangement of fuzz-drenched notes and little bottleneck slide bits and an explosive vocal delivery. "Close to the Line" is all note patterns and wailin' blues harp, with steady hi-hat and kick drum work driving the rhythm. If ever Twin wrote and recorded a blues punk song, "16 Miles" is it, with heavily distorted chords, jangly tambourine percussion, and gruff vocals. Then again, almost the same can be said of the very short "Mr. Talker," which clocks in at just under two minutes. But it's the last song, "Come Home," that has become my favorite on the EP, with its raw, garagey blues trash freakout and busy, fired-up vocals.
To put it plainly, Tongue Tied Twin's sound is mostly stomp n' holler, along with six-string stumming and picking and sliding. But like most good blues and rock'n'roll fusions, it's also full of heart and soul. And he plays each instrument himself simultaneously, without loop machines and other such devices -- a pure sound based solely on his musical abilities and human capabilities. And really, who could ask for more?
Buehlmann's Blues Trash One Man Band EP is his first official release, though he has a 7-inch vinyl release due out in the near future on newly established independent German label called Stencil Trash Records. Still, for a new label, Stencil Trash has given us vinyl-only releases by such great artists as Chuck Violence, Mr. Bonz, Two Tears, and now Tongue Tied Twin. Another great independent label releasing records of international one-man band artists. In addition to the 7" release, Tongue Tied Twin has been gigging a lot, sharing the stage with well known one-man band long-timers from France and Switzerland, like Urban Junior, King Automatic, Sheriff Perkins, Thee Asthmatic Avenger, and Eric Bling, to name a few. Not too shabby for a relatively fresh presence in the scene such as Tongue Tied Twin.
Recently I had the opportunity and pleasure of interviewing Mr. Chrisian Buehlmann, or Tongue Tied Twin. What follows is that interview in its entirety.
In the interest of providing the readers of this interview with a better understanding of the artist, I would like to start out by asking you: Just who is Tongue Tied Twin, not just as a singer/songwriter but also an individual, as a human being of this mad world in which we live?
I'm a working man, trying to make a life for me and my family. I have a three year old son; he is good as gold, and I'm trying to be the best father I can be. I am constantly balancing family, my music, and work. If I can't play music for a while I get grumpy and unhappy, so music is just something I've got to do...it's a passion and a desire which comes from the inside out. My family means the world to me and I would do anything for them, and they are sort of my partners in my one-man band adventure. My work, on the other hand, is just something that has to be done to earn enough money to survive in this world.
Why did you choose the one-man band route over the full band way?
Now it is all about freedom. I'm totally free on and off the stage. It really suits me to make quick decisions and to react to things happening around me, and I can just about do whatever I want. But I didn't really plan this one-man band thing to happen; it just started when I was able to use a room in an old factory, where I could make a lot of noise all around the clock. That was back in 2004, at which time I bought myself a secondhand drum kit to learn to play, and so I could record some rhythm tracks on my four-track recorder.
Very soon after, when writing songs on the guitar, I started playing the rhythm with my feet. I had only one chair, so I was sitting behind the drum kit anyway. I messed around like this for years, just for fun, with no real ambition.
In 2008 I started to do this more seriously. Since I started gigging I haven't really looked back. And it feels like the most natural thing for me to do.
I don't miss playing in bands at all. I don't need no group therapy anymore. And I can still go for a beer with my mates anyway.
Your sound fits in well with the other blues trash and primitive rock’n’roll artists of the international one-man band scene. What prompted you to adopt that particular sound? Or did it just sort of work out that way without much forethought or direction?
No forethought and no direction at all. This is my sound.
If anything, I imported a little bit of sound from some bands I used to play in, but then that has probably a lot to do with that I was always the only guitarist and I'm still using the same gear now.
Once I put myself out there on the web I was very happy to discover that there are so many like-minded people scattered all around the globe. I met some very nice people and made some very good friends along the way.
Why the moniker Tongue Tied Twin?
It was just after my baby boy was born that I decided to give my one-man band a real go. I needed a name, and while we were at the pediatrician's for a routine check, they discovered that my son has a tongue tie. Nothing too serious, but there was a chance that he would have speech difficulties later. Well, three years on he is perfectly fine, and he has no trouble talking. Actually, he talks all day. But that's how I decided on my name.
I myself don't have a tongue tie, but I've stood tongue-tied hundreds of times. I was never a man of many words.
From what I’ve learned over the course of the past few years, Switzerland has a surprisingly impressive independent and underground music scene. What has been your experience as a recording and performing artist there? Are the other artists supportive or competitive? How are the local venues for the artists who purposely exist on the margins? Etc?
I have experienced mainly good things around here. There is a healthy competition between artists, but most of them are friendly and helpful as well. The overly competitive bands are often the ones who are not that good anyway...that's just what I think.
But yes, here in Switzerland there are many passionate people that help to make up the underground music scene. What I don't like is, money is always an issue. I know that small independent venus are often struggling to make money to survive, and they rely a lot on individuals who are basically working for free. Sometimes I think bands should learn a little bit from that spirit.
What have been some of your most memorable touring/gig moments to date?
Apart from all the usual and enjoyable drunken bullshit everybody gets up to, there was one moment I will always remember right before my first proper gig as a one-man band. I was at the side of the stage waiting to go on. The DJ signaled me, “You're on after that song.” I stood there and was all alone and suddenly realized that I was about to break into new ground. I was never in that situation before, as there were always bandmates joking around and I was just one piece of a band. This time it felt so different, like I was a boxer about to get into the ring, like a warrior. I felt completely alone. I stood there for the duration of that song in complete silence and completely calm. There was no fear. I went on to play a real good set that night, and from then on I really started to treasure that little lonely silence before the storm, just before I go on to perform.
So far, to my knowledge, you have a few EPs. Is there a full-length in the works? And if so, are planning on self-releasing it or seeking a label to put it out?
Next out is a one-sided 7” on Stencil Trash Records from Germany this summer.
The recordings are all done. Three songs are gonna be on it, and I'm really looking forward to holding that vinyl in my hand.
After that there will be another 7” on a Swiss label, probably around Christmas.
Then maybe a full-length after that. Who knows?!
What bands and/or singer/songwriters have served as influences for you over the years?
I'm always struggling to answer that question...
The first record I bought from my own pocket money was AC/DC's Highway to Hell, and the record I bought last week was a Fat Possum release by Charles Caldwell titled Remember Me. In between were so many others. I used to listen a lot of rock music -- a lot of Led Zeppelin, Kiss, ZZ-Top, and that stuff. Later on, Henry Rollins, Rage Against the Machine, Sonic Youth, Beck... PJ Harvey comes to mind. Pete Townsend from the Who is one of my guitar heroes. Who else? T-Bone Walker, Peter Green, of course Jimi Hendrix. All great blues guitarists.
Most of the stuff I like has got guitars in it, that's for sure. But I listen to all kinds of music. For example, when Adele sings "Rolling in the Deep" I get goosebumps every time.
Is there anything of note going on now or in the near future for either Tongue Tied Twin project or any other musical endeavor you may be involved in?
I will just carry on doing what I'm doing and see where it takes me. I have those two releases coming up, and then I'm planning a European tour for the winter. Also, there has been talk about Mexican and Brazilian tours, but we will see.
I want to improve my blues harp playing and master some more complicated rhythms with my feet.
I like to take it one step at a time...keep the free spirit and stay independent.
Lastly, if there's anything I failed to cover, or if there's anything you would like to discuss or express, please feel free to do so now. The floor is all yours, Twin.
To everybody... get up and do it, whatever it is you wanna do. Don't be afraid to get knocked down.
Thank you, James.
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