After two rings, Tom Fec picks up his phone, saying hello in a hushed,
humble tone. The man otherwise known as Tobacco is not screening calls, and I
seriously doubt he even looks at his phone to see if he recognizes the origin.
I introduce myself and tell him how appreciative we are that he agreed to do an
interview with EasternSurf.com. I
tell him how much we love his new solo album, Maniac Meat. I tell him he can cut me off at any time, so as not to
waste his.
This mad musical scientist and master of the pre-digital keyboard serves
as frontman for saccharine electro group Black Moth Super Rainbow. He’s a professional
musician of 13 years who’s worked with everyone and anyone of notoriety. Yet he
simply responds, “No, don't worry, I have plenty of time — it’s raining
here. Where are you?” I tell him I'm in a truck in Florida. “Is it raining
there?” No, I respond. Cloudy, though, and looking pretty ominous. “God, I know,
it's been raining a lot.”
I can hear Tobacco staring out of his window. Yet this is Tom Fec —
not the masked enigma that the music industry makes him out to be.
He's calm, wise, and insightful, whether he likes to admit it or not. And whether
music fans believe it or not, they want crazy tunes made by a regular guy who “goes
to the pool and jogs every afternoon,” as Fec says he does. If it sounds like I
have too much love for Tobacco, it’s because I do.
ESM: Tom,
thanks for taking the time to do this interview. Where are you right now?
Tom Fec: At home in
Pittsburgh just hanging out. It’s pouring outside like Portland, though.
ESM: I’m a
little confused about the information surrounding your tendency to avoid
interviews. A lot of press hypes the fact that you live in a shroud of mystery,
but I’ve read that you just weren’t in demand and the mystery became its own
entity. True or false?
TF: It was
funny, because the first couple of albums were just out there, and I wasn’t
being asked to do interviews or talk about my music. Then, after the last Black
Moth Super Rainbow album Eating Us, people
started working and outlets started to want interviews and I had this mystique
of being someone who avoided the press.
ESM: Do you
think that mystique helped bring about more attention?
TF: Oh,
absolutely. It’s funny, because the mystery actually discouraged people from
even trying to seek interviews, which I would have done if they had just asked.
ESM: How do
you feel about being hidden behind a wall like a musical recluse? You do wear a
mask at most of your live performances.
TF: I don’t
care — whatever works for people. I’m so far removed. I don’t have any
music friends, but people need something to hold onto in their minds. I’m
either a mad scientist in a music laboratory, or I’m some crazy druggie doing
something for that crowd. They need me to build it or do the drugs, because who
wants to buy an album from someone who jogs all day or is in the pool
all summer? I am not what my music sounds like.
ESM: Describe
your work with pre-digital equipment and analog synths. When you hear those Technicolor keys, you automatically think “Black Moth Super Rainbow” or “Tobacco.” How did it
all begin?
TF: That’s
another funny thing. I own two keyboards, and I wish they were digital. I wish
I could get something that sounds that good. It just so happens that these are
what I have, and they sound better then what’s out there. If I could get a digital
synth that sounded as good, it would be a lot easier. I just don’t care.
ESM: How much
time did you devote to your recent solo album Maniac Meat? Was it a
daily regimen or a series of sporadic sessions when you just engulfed yourself
in work?
TF: Well, with
Black Moth Super Rainbow, everything
was taken really seriously. It was painful, and it made me hate it. Maniac Meat was a jogging mixtape-turned-full
release. And it’s the only way I will ever work.
ESM: So which
would you prefer — releasing self-made jogging soundtracks or taking your
music more seriously?
TF: I did that
once [taking an album too seriously], and I don’t think it’s a very good idea.
I’m back to making music for myself. If bad press comes out it doesn’t matter,
because I still like it.
ESM: I hear
you got Beck to guest on Maniac Meat by
communicating strictly through e-mail. Have you ever met the guy?
TF: No, but it
would be cool to meet him. I think he’s probably a really cool guy. But I
wouldn’t want to talk about music. I don’t like talking about music with music
people. I also liked the long distance — it allowed me to work on my own
time.
ESM: Why the
distrust of music types?
TF: I just
don’t like to talk about music with bands — about how they write songs or
whatever. It has nothing to do with them; they’re all very nice, I’m sure, but
talking about music just isn’t for me. I get to the point where I completely
shut down. I remember being on tour last year and hiding because I didn’t want
to talk music with anyone.
ESM: Where did
you hide?
TF: I would go
for a walk or something. I don’t really remember, but the last place you’ll
ever find me is in a band room.
ESM: I hope
this interview isn’t too annoying.
TF: No, I think
having it written about on a surf magazine’s website is cool, because it’s not
about critics or people completely consumed with music. I mean, I could die
after we hang up the phone and it wouldn’t matter.
ESM: You make
some crazy, trippy, and fairly psychedelic music. Do you feel like your live
performances bring in a very specific crowd?
TF: Actually,
the crowds are pretty random. I hear from friends we have a lot of the drug
crowd, but I’ve been noticing a lot more of the “bro” guys, too.
ESM: “Bro”
guys? Tell us what that means — in the surfing world it denotes a very
specific stereotype.
TF: They’re
the frat bros, but they’re just there to enjoy the music. It’s nice actually
— they aren’t standing there with their arms crossed judging every
technical element of the music. They dance and enjoy it for what it is.
ESM: Aside
from conquering the pre-digital musical world, what else are you into?
TF: I really
enjoy hanging out with my friends and just bringing myself down. With so much
time devoted to music and touring, there isn’t much left over for many hobbies.
ESM: You’re about
30, right?
TF: Yeah, I
just turned 30.
ESM: Did you
ever get caught up in the raging party scene that comes with a music career of
length?
TF: No, I
never had the rage time. I missed those sorts of things and I wish I could have
experienced them. Since high school, it’s been music full time for me. If I
could get back to the way it was right out of high school, that would be
awesome. That’s why I like Maniac Meat —
it’s a step towards that.
ESM: Can you
give me a mantra or life philosophy you wake up to every morning? Or maybe just
a limerick you like?
TF: Hah
— I don’t have one. I’m not that wise. I wish I did, because I probably
wouldn’t waste so much time. But I’m getting there I think.
ESM: Being
from Pennsylvania, did you grow up with any notable Keystone State influences
like Ween?
TF: I love Ween,
but I didn’t even know they were from PA until two or three years ago.
ESM: I know
this is exactly the kind of question you find cliché, but bear with me. What sort
of driving force or inspiration brought you to your standards of music today?
TF: Before, the
music wasn’t for me, and it is now. It’s kind of a “fuck it” sort of thing
— I don’t belong [in the music world] and I don’t know why I’m here. I
feel like I’ll just be here until I get a real job.
ESM: Ever had
any interesting ones?
TF: I did
software work. I lucked into that, just like I lucked into music. All I knew
about was Photoshop, so I designed screensavers basically. Whatever is next,
I’ll just find myself doing it.
ESM: If you
could have any job, what would it be?
TF: I’ve
always wanted to make pizza. It seems like such a meditative job. It’s the only
job I ever actually applied for, and I wasn’t hired. I have some money saved
now, so I might just open up a pizza joint when I move away from music.
ESM: You
mentioned earlier that you wanted to go to the pool as much as possible this
summer. Do you go for laps or leisure?
TF: Oh, leisure
definitely. Last year I only made it to the pool once because of touring and
the rain. It was like 11 degrees cooler here than any summer before, too. But I
just go to the pool to hang out. I might have to find an indoor pool this year.
ESM: I always
ask what an artist's favorite hand fruit is, excluding bananas, apples, and oranges.
TF: Blueberries
— I eat an entire package a day.
ESM: No way.
TF: Yeah, I
used to get three colds a year like clockwork. But since 2007, when we were on
tour with The Flaming Lips, I started eating blueberries and I
haven’t had a cold since.
ESM: Did you find
out that they were a good fruit for your health? Or did Wayne Coyne from The
Flaming Lips just put a health spell on you?
TF: I just
heard somewhere that they had all the best shit in them. Can Wayne do that?
Maybe, but no, I’m serious blueberries everyday — a full package.
TOBACCO TOUR DATES:
7/23 Bushnell Park Performance Pavilion ........................Hartford, CT
9/9 DC9 .....................................................................Washington,
DC
9/10 First Unitarian Church.............................................Philadelphia,
PA
9/11 Ottobar..................................................................Baltimore,
MD
9/16 Iron Horse..............................................................Northampton,
MA
9/17 Higher Ground........................................................South
Burlington, VT
9/18 Middle East............................................................Boston,
MA
9/23 Mickey Finn’s........................................................Toledo,
OH
9/24 Blind Pig...............................................................Ann
Arbor, MI
9/25 The Strutt.............................................................Kalamazoo,
MI
9/29 Artistika on UNCG campus....................................Greensboro,
NC
9/30 Local 506.............................................................Chapel
Hill, NC
10/1 Square Room.......................................................Knoxville,
TN
10/2 123 Pleasant Street..............................................Morgantown,
WV
For all things Tobacco, visit
www.myspace.com/tobacco
