I conducted a very brief but fruitful interview with the very talented and congenial, Nick Kent, the bass player/singer in the rapidly rising British pop-punk band, TAT. The interview was conducted immediately after the band’s high energy and hook filled set had won over the crowd at the 2009 Warped Tour show in Tinley Park, Illinois (near Chicago). He answered questions pertaining to himself and the lead singer, as well as the band as a whole.
Vittorio-Can you give me a brief history of the band?
Nick-Tatiana started writing when she was sixteen. She put the band together in 2004. We have been together around five years. I had known Jake from college.
Vittorio-Where did the name “tat” come from?
Nick-Well in England, it is a word for rubbish or trash.
Vittorio-What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of going on a big tour like Warped?
Nick-Well for us it has been positive. Warped Tour made us in the United States. We only got airplay here after we toured with Warped in 2008 (we played smaller stages in 2006), so it has been all beneficial.
Vittorio-What are some of your musical influences?
Nick-Well, I have always admired Guns N Roses and Metallica, but Tatiana was always more into punk bands like The Clash, Stiff Little Fingers, and Green Day.
Vittorio-Has it been hard to get radio play in the United States?
Nick-Well it was rough at the start. We put the first album out on our own label. HCTL started playing our songs, and at one point, we had the number three most requested new song. This spread, and we have gotten some airplay on Q101 in Chicago
