Interview: Times Neue Roman (June 2009)

From Left to Right: Clay Jones and Josh of Styrofoam Ones, with Alexander The and Arowbe of Times Neue Roman

This interview is part of a series of interviews conducted via email with a bunch of Vancouver/Victoria bands who will be heading out to Toronto in mid June for the NXNE Festival (North By North East Festival). They were selected to play at NXNE by applying via their Sonicbids account. A friend of mine read this interview and thought TNR were dicking me around with non-sensical answers. Nope looks pretty legit to me.



Please identify yourself(ves) for those reading, what you do in the band, and who else plays in the band

Arowbe: I'm arowbe arowbe arowbe in recognition of my many selves. I usually do all the writing and vox and right now I feel like Tupac walking out of court spitting on the paparazzi like "thats my new style!" No offence. I'm feel like a two thousand dollar and one cent bill. There actually is one of those.

Alexander The: No dots please. Just a solid line across the face. I do the beats and belly chants in honor of our ancestral folks that led me to believe in wall smacking for the gods that created The Hype.


Tell us a little bit about the history of your band.

Arowbe: There were great chemical reactions when we met in 2007. Everything felt slightly creative, but because Alexander The and I were each signed to different record labels, we were prohibited from recording together. Still, we felt that this was too important of a project and proceeded with our unauthorized collaboration. The formal group, Times Neue Roman was originally established by The British Parliament in tandem with then-Canadian Governor General, Adrienne Clarkson. Her Excellency first heard us on one of our canoe tours across Eastern Canada (We're doing one again this August - http://www.methinkspresents.org/). She was gracious enough nullify our contracts and acquire sponsorship for further voyages.


How would you describe your sound?

Arowbe: Polka-dots and paisley.

Alexander The: I connect the dots.


You'll be traveling to Toronto to play at NXNE in the middle of June. What makes this festival worth crossing the country for or is it just another show?

Arowbe: We make all our band-decisions based on the new science of demographics and the Consumer Confidence Index. There's no room for error in these matters. You have to strive to be perfect. A festival in Toronto is currently the logical market to conquer.

Alexander The: I've studied Actuary Science in University. I have to say we are very close to finding the truth. We've been in the lab for months by minimizing the standard deviation within our product. We can never know the truth but at least we find every variable necessary to increase our means to get to it.

Arowbe: That means we have to play at NXNE.


What's your favourite song from the 80's?

Arowbe: Plastics - "Copy."

Alexander The: Pumpkin Belly by Tenor Saw


What's the coolest thing you've ever bought?

Arowbe: You make me feel unusual when you ask questions like that.

Alexander The: A Kulintang Set from Cotabato City, Philippines. Usually passed down to you if you're lucky. I had to go to the war-torn area of Mindanao to find the brasserie to pick mine up. I passed through evacuation centres and refugee camps to get it.


For the people who've downloaded your album, tell us why they should check out your live show.

Arowbe: Times Neue Roman are a sufficiently stable, electrically neutral group of at least two people in an indefinite arrangement.

Alexander The: Exactly.

Arowbe: I suppose its not so much of a live show as pack of Koi fish swimming in a whirlpool, struggling for life and appearing as hypnotic as a pair of spinning tops.


Thanks for doing the interview. You have the last word, say what you want to say.

Arowbe: There are many things happening in The End Studios: Styrofoam Ones, Santa Guerilla, Broadway Sleep, The Gorgeous Concern, Alexander The's solo project. We dont do side dishes. It's a big buffet in here. We are like a big Wu Tang Social Scene in the city right now. All over the court with a collective of queens and tycoons like MeThinks, Halo Halo, Makeshift, Gov. Gen. Tao Chkn, and Mr. Hands. We love Tonka Puma. Also, Kate Kai Mei Wong, Zaki Ibrahim, Lindo P, PSBEUYS, Sarah Shafey, The Gang of Two, DJ Mensa, all of Kapisananan. So much mob!

Alexander The: There is no exclusion really. We've up'ed our game with our corporation. You can definitely find our calling cards projected on large walls around the city. Just look out for us before and during NXNE around on the streets.


http://www.timesneueroman.com
http://www.myspace.com/timesneueroman