https://www.thezineuk.co.uk/single-post/2016/05/18/Future-Picks-tomppabeats
Future Picks : tomppabeats
May 18, 2016 | Interview by Ameila Donovan
Music is forever moulding into different shapes, and Tomi ‘tomppabeats’ Lahtinen is
changing the game. With over thirty two thousand subscribers on Soundcloud, and a
presence on Vine, tompabbeats has created an ageless sound that soothes the
masses. His music has been described as ‘what love sounds like’.
I caught up with the Helsinki-based artist;
So, how did you get into music?
I think ever since I was a little kid and my dad took me to my first show, I was like 6
years old and it was guns n roses playing. Ever since then I’ve wanted to make
music, but didn’t really do it until I was 15.
When I was 15 I had problems with serious depression, but with that I stumbled to Nujabes.
Would you say that Nujabes has had a big influence on your music?
Definitely. He is the sole reason I got into this scene. Something about his music
resonates with my soul.
Who are your other influences?
That is a hard one, there are so many artists that have inspired me along the way –
but more recently, Shlohmo, Flying Lotus, Julia Brown and MF DOOM have been
really big inspirations. As far as my samples go, I like to keep some things a secret,
but mostly just digging through thrift shops for old vinyl.
How would you describe your genre?
It’s really hard to fit yourself in a genre. I feel like if I only settled with one, I would
put myself in a box. Sometimes I like to make some lofi indie tunes, and sometimes
really lazy slack beats. It’s definitely a combination of bunch of genres, I like to take
all these little things from things I enjoy and put them into one track; jazz, electronic, I think it’s up to the listeners of my music to define my genre, not myself.
Vine is one of the bigger platforms for your music. What role does Vine play in your
success?
Vine is a big reason I am what I am today. It was a great step for my music but also a bad for me; it was never meant to go to that level. I always wanted to keep it very
low key, just share these cool visuals on a limiting app. But it became what it
became. I had enough of it, and basically just dropped it in a heartbeat.
Do you still keep track of who is using your music on Vine?
No not really. It’s not that I don’t want to, but it just stresses me out.
You released the Harbour EP on vinyl earlier this year (link below). Have you got any
plans to release a new album?
I’m hoping to make lot of music during the summer. I think I’ve been slacking lately, maybe a new EP, maybe a whole album. Who knows?
Lately I’ve been just into making these indie folk songs, just guitar and singing. Maybe I’ll come out with stuff like that sooner or later. My collective and I are hoping to tour a little bit of USA this December; Portland, Seattle, LA.
Any plans for the UK or Europe?
If someone wants me to play the UK, I’d love to come! There has been some talk of
possibly going to Belgium, and me, olli, df5k and bunch of other cool dudes are
playing a show in Helsinki this summer.
Excellent. Well we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks for having me, this was rad haha.
Check out tomppabeats on https://soundcloud.com/tomppabeats
tomppabeats’ EP is available now via http://vinyl-digital.com
