INTERVIEW: TC TENET discusses origins and influences alongside debut EP ‘Breakaway’

Having already made his mark as one of the more innovative names on the rise, London-based artist TC TENET is now looking to cement his dynamic legacy to date with his eagerly-awaited debut EP ‘Breakaway’.

Bringing back more of that raw and driven indie-rock energy he has become synonymous for, ‘Breakaway’ sees him continue to ascend with passion and flair at every turn. So with the new EP available to stream now, we sat down with him to discuss his origins and influences over the years.

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What was the first rock song or artist that made an impact on you?

When I was 6 years old one of my older cousins gave me a mix tape with Paradise City and a couple of other tracks from Guns n’ Roses’ Appetite For Destruction. It was a defining moment that changed everything for me. I was so blown away by that sound, that raw power, these melodies and guitar riffs, that I got instantly glued to it. I took the tape away and never gave it back. I fell in love with the band and many other rock artists from the 90’s. It was only after a while that I started grasping the message these bands were sending and what they were (and were not) standing for. I guess I’m more critical now, but every time I listen to these tracks, they still send me right back to my childhood.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences within the rock genre?

90’s rock bands, like Stone Temple Pilots and The Black Crowes, are part of it. The rock classics, such as Beatles, Rolling Stones, Who, Pink Floyd, Free, and Led Zeppelin are tattooed in my DNA. 

I am constantly in love with Jeff Buckley and that dark angel feeling he emanates. Radiohead completely blows my mind. Every album they put out, it feels like a new galaxy blooms out in my universe. 

Queens Of The Stone Age it’s definitely part of my sound. I love ‘Like Clockwork’ in particular.

On a more mainstream side of things, I was a big Oasis fan back in the day, and I really like some albums from U2. They are a very unique band.

There are plenty more, but I guess these are the ones that come to my mind.

Are there any non-rock musicians or genres that have also influenced your music?

Oh yeh. I grew up in Brazil, so I was immersed in a lot of Brazilian music. Clube da Esquina, which is a record from 1972 made by Milton Nascimento and Lô Borges (local heroes) had a real strong impact on me. I love Tom Jobim and lots of other names from Bossa Nova. Chico Buarque is a songwriter who always blows my mind with his melodies and amazing lyrics.

Other than this, I love old school Soul and R&B, like Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, James Brown and Ray Charles.

I’ve listened to a lot of Jazz and Classical music and some of them stuck with me, like Woody Herman and Tchaikovsky.

What is your main inspiration when looking to write new music?

Music comes to me. I don’t say this in a magical or spiritual way, but it’s just constantly in my mind. If the washing machine is on, I start thinking of drum grooves with that beat. If the car’s windshield wiper is on, I think of a bass line. I really can’t help it. So every time I get my guitar I end up creating something new. 99% of the time it leads nowhere, but there’s that 1%… ‘Uh this looks really interesting’. Then it kicks the purposeful side of me: ‘I need to make something with it’ otherwise I won’t be able to put my mind at ease. I tried to ignore it on some occasions, but unfinished songs haunt me like zombies and ghosts in a nightmare.

Beyond melodies and guitar riffs, there’s an unsettling part of my personality that cannot cope with certain things. We live in an unequal world where few have nearly all resources and opportunities and most people have close to nothing… There’s also the environmental degradation (driven by that very group of rich people) that drives me mad. There’s a quote often attributed to Leo Tolstoy that really resonates with me: “There are those who pass through a forest and only see firewood for the fire”. I see life and beauty. Thoughts like this fire me up to write lyrics that could be used as a wake-up call – whether is for an individual or society.

What do you enjoy most about performing live and do you have any memorable live performance experiences you’d like to share?

Playing live is great. I love the feeling that I have to go up and take people’s minds and hearts away so they can be immersed in that moment. I also love feeling that is for real. It is not a practice, ‘this is not a drill’, as they say in the movies, it is all or nothing and happening right there, so you better give everything you got.

I do have a fond memory of one particular gig. One of the first ones I did, actually. It was the moment I learned I could really impact an audience. I was around 15 years of age and played at a school festival along with other acts. Before we went up to the stage, there was a quiet atmosphere and the mood at the venue was a bit dead… We plugged in our instruments, and started playing covers from Kiss, Led Zeppelin and other rock bands. The venue started to warm up, and people gathered at the front of the stage, to a point where when we finished the place was on fire! So, to me, it was that feeling of “wow, I didn’t know I could create so much energy with music. Give me more of that, please!”

What has been a particularly rewarding moment in your musical journey so far?

I’m not sure if there was a particular moment… I’m very happy for all the bands I’ve been part of, all the songs I wrote – by myself and with music partners –, all the gigs I played, all the people I met through music. It’s an amazing (but tough) journey, where you bond with people in a very deep way. It’s your band, your tribe, against the world, so you must have each other’s backs at all times. Most of my closest friends came to my life through music – and for that, I am very grateful.

If I have to think of a moment, I think is that very second you realise you stumble on something grand. You might be playing your instrument by yourself or jamming with your band, and then something happens… with no further notice or logical explanation, something sounds amazing! It feels like your body is elevated an inch from the ground and for a couple of seconds, you can fly. I can’t think of something better!

How would you define success as a musician?

Tough question. It depends on what gives you the chills… If your thing is the relationship with the instrument, perhaps it is all about playing with great musicians to an audience that will stop and listen properly. If you have a mainstream vein, it might be all about commercial success, playing for big audiences, getting famous and all that jazz. I’m a music creator above all things, so to me, success is to have the opportunity to create and record amazing music – and this requires knowledge, time, effort and the right gear – and find out that this resonates with other people. Creating to yourself only is a bit insane, you have to have that connection to close down the cycle. 

What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out?

My thoughts might sound cliche but I think there’s a solid truth behind them.

It’s a marathon and not a sprint. If you want to take this forward, put your head down and work. Sometimes people will look at it and love it, sometimes they won’t. When that happens, it’s frustrating and heartbreaking, but it is not the end. Write another song, play another gig and you might hit the jackpot against. If that happens, celebrate but don’t get too excited – tomorrow it might be different.

It’s a journey – not a destination. Give in to the process and enjoy it as much as you can. Treat the rest as a consequence.

Follow your gut. Deep inside we all know what is best for us. This often gets silenced by other voices in our head: “what will other people think”, “Am I completely insane for doing that?”. Try to turn down these voices and listen to yourself. The last verse of the last song of the EP says, Take It All says: “Maybe, if you let it all go, what will remain is good enough to make you feel whole now and then”. Maybe that summarises a bit.

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Listen To TC TENET’s debut EP ‘Breakaway’ below.