Mika brings the brains, Simon has heart and Taylor bares his soul. Timber Timbre make dark, devilish music designed and directed by the red right hand.
They first met five years ago, coming from different creative communities but jamming the same kind of melodious magic. Each identified with the other’s individual sound and together they became lonesome soul trio, Timber Timbre. Engineered in Montreal, by Kees Dekker and Grammy winner Mark Lawson under the cover of a converted church studio, Creep on Creepin’ On is the band’s fourth album, a ten track compendium of shady melodramatic hymns, sinisterly woven together with devious intent to terrify and intrigue. Nominated for a Polaris Prize, this inspired slice of creepy genius took just seven weeks in total to produce and features instrumentals from acclaimed pianist Mathieu Charbonneau and saxophonist Colin Stetson.
Naming their reclusive, three man band ‘Timber Timbre’ after a significant, but humble wooden-framed cabin set in the wooded outskirts of Bobcaygeon, Ontario, the essence of T & T’s twisted gospel, blues rooted sound is intrinsically linked to their love of writing and playing music. Teaching themselves to play a plethora of different instruments from the viola to the lapstool, autoharp and many other odd precessional objects, if it makes an interesting sound Taylor, Simon and Mika will be be able to master it. Brandishing aptitude, ability and an epic sense of originality, the abundance of talent and fusion of cinematic sounds Timber Timbre create is unrivalled and unlike anything else about right now. i-D online caught up with the lads and lady to find out where they discovered their distinguished doo-wop beat feasts.
How do you describe the music you make? We make soul music. Dark soul and doo-wop.
Your sound is evocative and moving, how does it make you feel when you listen back? I never listen back to my own recordings, they are decidedly finished.
You have spoken openly about struggling with depression, do you find making music cathartic or can it drive you deeper into yourself? Yes, making music and work is cathartic. I think it’s beyond cathartic actually, as in fact it is necessary for survival.
How has making music changed you as a person? I think I’ve become a much more confident person, but also deeply paranoid and neurotic. Making music is a wonderful thing – my favourite thing to do. Touring and being a musician however, is another story.
What single track are you the most proud of and why? I don’t know how to pick a track. It’s like picking a favourite colour. I’m very proud of the record we made with Creep On Creepin’ On – I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. The title track works very well for me – the arrangement, the sounds and performances on that particular song are very satisfying.
Do you enjoy being on tour? Sometimes I really love being on tour. Mostly, I would rather be at home working on new music, rather than playing old music over and over again.
What is your happiest memory made whilst on tour? Happiest recent tour memory was in Dudingen, CH after a very sweaty show at Bad Bonn, we made our way to a nearby beach and swam until 4 in morning below castles with beautiful Swiss people.
What new music are you into right now? Demdike Stare, Colin Stetson, Battles, Barr Brothers
Who are your top 5 artists of all time?
1. Roy Orbison
2. Otis Redding
3. Bernard Hermann
4. Nina Simone
5. Neil Young.
