Being
from other bands and eventually forming Team Spirit, were you worried
about how people who respond to your music?
Not at all!
Team Spirit is the polar opposite of our previous bands, so much so
that it puts it in a totally different genre. And most of the people
that even make the link usually find themselves pleasantly surprised!
The
bands live shows pack a serious punch and are a total blast, how
exhausted are you when you get off the stage or does the momentum carry you?
Oh man! Fronting
a show is such a physical experience; after our first ever
performance I was on the floor writhing in agony trying to grasp air! My body
since become more acquainted to the feeling, but I usually need
a lay down and a rest to recuperate from flailing around on stage!
How
much fun are you having in this band right now?
On a scale
of 1- 10? Like 13! We all love playing shows and rocking out so much,
that its hard not to always have a blast. We certainly know how to
get into mischief on the road too - it kinda lands in our lap...
What
is the songwriting process like? It seems that you guys just have a
ton of fun making music, after all you did write a song called, “Fuck
the Beach.”
I usually time travel to the past and hang out with some rad rock n roll
dudes. I report back, usually stealing a Frankie Lymon Demo or two
and re-work them into Team Spirit songs.
Although the
songs are fun, in all honesty it is an arduous process! I write /
record / produce (I have a studio in BK) so there can be a tendency to
fall into the dark abyss of "does this shit sound good? what am i
doing!"
But we've
made it this far.
The
band has a mix of just about everything, from soul to garage rock and
even R&B, who are some of your influences?
I think you
nailed it on the head! Most timeless rock n roll merges these
elements
I'm an
Iraqi-born, England / Bahrain raised dude living in America for the past 8
years, so everything I work on ends up being an amalgamation
of my past, be it musical influence to mashed up experiences.
Here is a
list of musicians that particularly pertain to Team Spirit: Thin Lizzy,
Frankie Lymon, Frankie Valli, Everclear, T Rex, Exploding Hearts,
BeeGees, Count Five, Metallica (pre Black Album DUH), Nirvana/Foo
Figter (DAVE GROHL, what a guy!), Taylor Swift, Gun n
Roses................
Being
a band from New York City, and the amount of bands coming from this
city, how do Team Spirit stick out?
Being an
actual Rock n Roll band! AND GUITAR SOLOS. We can shred, and aren't
ashamed to do so, in harmony and in the faces of those who watch! We
are pretty pretty damn loud too (I've yet o find a sound guy that doesn't
ask us to turn down). Most people aren't accustomed to loud ass
rock n roll. Veteran venues with real crew (like Bowery
Ballroom)
welcome it with open arms!
What
has been the best experience about being in Team Spirit this far?
Eating at
Five Leaves.
Given
that the name of the band is such a popular term, have people ever
confused it with another popular term – “Teen Spirit?”
Here is a
twitter conversation between us and Bbrooks99
“@Bbrooks99:
anybody ever post and say that this smells like team
spirit??
#original”
@goteamspirit
nah, mostly smells like BO & Balls
So we'll be
cheeky in response. Otherwise, I politely correct them if
it is a
genuine mistake!
Being
a band that has members that come from various parts of the world, you
all bring different things to the table, what does each member of
Team Spirit bring?
A little bit
of spice! I received English citizenship when I was around 12,
and Toby our bassist is English; whilst Comso and Mike are both Italian
Americans. Cosmo feels comforted that we are a half English half
American rock n roll band - so in the argument "Who has the best
bands of all time, USA or the UK?" we represent both! (Thin Lizzy were a
pretty trans-atlantic band too!)
And for the
record, the UK have better bands (Beatles / Stones) whilst America has
the better solo dudes (like Bruce Springsteen/Prince).
I know I
know! You're thinking "But Tom Jones is Welsh and hes the best artist
there is!"