We catch up with Lisandru Grigorut, guitarist and vocalist of Dunedin's TFF.
Been around since?
Since 2005 really. Rory and I made a band and we decided to call it “The Fucking Fuckers”
Current line-up?
Lisandru Grigorut – guitar, vocals
Harley Jones – guitar, vocals
Miki Treadwell – Synthesizer, organ, saxophone
Rory Macmurdo – drums and percussion.
How did you get together?
I was in a band with Rory in second form called “Electric Fetus”. I quit that band because I hated the name and it didn’t even really exist. We had a conversation about making a new band over the telephone. So at the beginning, it was kind of a joke. We recorded terrible songs onto some tapes on a Dictaphone.
You could say that TFF fit into a few different genres, but which would align yourself with?
Post-Noisecore
Can you elaborate?
It’s kind of like avant-garde, noise rock post-hardcore.
Do you think being a band somewhere with such a rich musical heritage, such as Dunedin has, is a help or a hindrance?
Dunedin? Nothing happens here. Perhaps once, many grand, amazing bands roamed the hills, but nothing happens nowadays. Arc café is closed. Backstage is also closed. Chicks is in Port Chalmers. it’s safe to assume that standard venues suffer (in Dunedin at least, unless you’re some shitty venue with a shitty covers band playing deep purple). I think each conglomerate of people will undergo sine wave processes of artistic interest. You could argue both ways, help and hindrance, but I prefer to leave it at “the only real help is yourself and the motivation you manage to conjure”
You recorded a split EP with Auckland band God Bows to Math. Tell me a bit more about it.
We successfully recorded the EP a few months back after two failed attempts. I ended up in the hospital with a mystery kidney stone just as I was about to leave. The next time (about a month later), our sound engineer got lockjaw right before we started recording and I had to take him to the hospital, so that wasn’t on. Luckily, no one got stabbed or electrocuted the third time. Nick Graham recorded it on a Tascam 8 track tape recorder (I think) in Rory’s basement. Vocals were dubbed over later at Nick Graham’s house.
Do you have any plans for further recordings?
Our debut album “Irregardless” will be out soon. We’re quite happy with it. We have plans and material as well for a new mini-album to record which we want to title “Surplus Bargains”
How do you go about writing new material?
We all just throw ideas around and compile them together.
What are you listening to at the moment?
I’m really into The Brian Jonestown Massacre at the moment, but I can’t really ever get tired of them. Animal Collective are a huge one as well. I’m also really enjoying New Wave at the moment (Talking Heads, New Order etc.)
Do you enjoy discovering new music, or find yourself drawn to the old?
A bit of both really. Discovering new music is exciting, but old favourites never cease to fail.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learnt musically or otherwise this year?
The people of Madagascar are divided into two racial groups. One migrated from Africa, the other migrated from Asia. There is not much mingling between the two..
What’s the best concert you have ever been to?
Too hard
Best or most memorable gig TFF have played?
One time at backstage opening for Die! Die! Die!
What was your experience at Camp A Low Hum 2009 like?
Way too hot. It brought us down and made us lethargic. We could have done way better. I had a really fun time though anyway.
If you could share the stage with anyone (band or person) who would it be?
My Bloody Valentine
What’s your Dream Collaboration?
Anton Newcombe (Brian Jonestown Massacre) – Guitar, Vocals
Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine) – Guitar, Vocals
Jaco Pastorius (Weather Report) – Bass
Ravi Shankar – Sitar
Panda Bear (Animal Collective) – Percussion, Vocals
The future holds…?
Either a drastic change in western society or the death of it as we know it.
The state of music in NZ is….
Could be way better. I mean a lot of underground music that’s coming out is really awesome, but I think that there needs to be a more “loose knit” community among the people involved. A cultural goal is easier to reach for a movement when all groups are aiming for more or less a similar point.
