LONG MAY THEY RUN: DC’S TRANS AM REDEFINE THE SEX CHANGE
Story: Ed.
For over 10 years, Trans Am has been a favorite amongst the staff of this Interboro Rock Tribune. 1997’s The Surveillance is one of the five best albums that Thrill Jockey has ever put out. And though since 1999’s Futureworld, the group has since leaned more towards the dance music that would’ve gotten their asses kicked all over the 9:30 club in their youth, they do new wave better than 95% of the reverse mulleted posers trying to live off the glory of the early 80’s. Sex Change is their latest album, and by far their most rave-ready release to date. We had the chance to interface with drummer Sebastian Thomson electronically shortly before the release of the new album. A great debt of thanks to Mr. Thomson and his publicist, the lovely Jessica Linker, for making this happen. Sex Change is available at finer record stores now on the always-dependable Thrill Jockey label. And just for the record, Trans Ams will NEVER be cooler than Corvettes. Sorry, guys.
IRT: What are the origins of the Trans Am name? Is there an actual cool car story involved?
Sebastian Thomson: The only car story involved was that Phil and I were chatting on the phone about muscle cars and sports cars and I convinced him that Trans Ams were “cooler” than Corvettes and the name stuck. We were about 19.
IRT: What is the impetus behind the new album’s title? Does it have anything to do with that funny horse illustration on the back cover?
ST: No, the horse has not undergone a sex change. Really it boils down to the fact that “Sex Change” sounds really good. I could talk about how the band has gone through a serious change because of our geographical situation but that would be lying.
IRT: What initially turned you guys on to dance music? Were there any particular artists or albums that inspired the move?
ST: I think it’s impossible to be our age and not have been into breakdance music. None of us knew each other at the time but I’m pretty sure we all owned Herbie Hancock’s Future Shock. I also grew up listening to Kraftwerk. And then in the late 80s early 90s there were people like Aphex Twin and Plastikman that we got into. I think it was just inevitable that it would creep into our music.
IRT: Were you guys ever big into freestyle and club music in high school?
ST: Not so much in high school… I think that might have been our rockiest phase. But before and after, definitely.
IRT: In 1999, when you guys did Futureworld, you had a verytiny minority of new new wave acts to compete with. Now in 2007, they are as common as rats in a Greenwich Village Taco Bell. Which of these bands annoys you the most and why?
ST:I think they are all really nice guys. But really, it might have been underground, but there has always been a continuity of bands using synths and drums, from DAF to Six Finger Satellite to Trans Am. It might not have been popular, but it was always happening.
IRT: Where do you guys feel the true future of music lies?
ST: New Rave. Freak folk? No, New Rave.
IRT: What inspired the addition of vocals and lyrics to theTrans Am palette?
ST: Being intsrumental was a reaction against late 80’s MTV rock. Using vocals was a reaction against early Trans Am. I believe it’s normal for artists to react against earlier phases of their careers.
IRT: What was the reaction to your staunch anti-Bush stance on Liberation, and how did that affect the lyrical oeuvre of Sex Change?
ST: It was the first time we made more money touring Europe than the US if that tells you anything. At this point hating Bush is completely mainstream and doesn’t say much at all. On Sex Change we have returned to our previously not obvious political stance.
IRT: Who do you guys like for 2008?
ST: Definitely not Hillary. She might as well be a Republican. Is Sharpton running?
IRT: What keeps you at Thrill Jockey? Have there been other labels who’ve enticed you to go elsewhere? Warp et al?
ST: Thrill Jockey pretty much let us do what we want which is great and they have a very fair business deal with the artists. What more could you want?
IRT: Have you guys ever played a rave or warehouse party?
ST: Yes, we once played a rave in a warehouse in SF in the late 90’s. I wish I could tell you a story but I don’t remember that night too well.
IRT: Being we are a NY mag, I would love to hear about your first time playing in NYC. Where did you play and what was the gig like? Who did you open for? What club?
ST: We played at the Cooler in the meat packing district in about 95 or 96. We played with Labradford. Some A&R guys were there trying to seduce us. They just confused us.
IRT: Do you have a particular favorite club here in NY, past or present? Which one and why?
ST: Pretty much all our shows here have been great, we do like the sound at the Bowery Ballroom particularly, but we don’t really have one favorite spot.
IRT: How did you guys link up with Oneida and what was it like working at the Orkopolis?
ST: We’ve toured with Oneida a bunch of times and now Philip plays with them so they are one of our sister bands. The O-cropolis was great, nice room, good vibe, some technical problems but we surmounted those.
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