Music

What inspired you to put a live band together?

When you’re playing acoustic bass people tend to sit there and listen to your music. But I like the idea of people going a bit crazy and having a dance. Getting freaky and shit. Putting a band together is the best way.

Why play the acoustic bass?

Well, I can’t play guitar so I started playing on an electric bass and then my friend gave me an acoustic one and it’s kind of got a guitar sound. Really trebly. I find it hard to play proper basslines and sing, so I just strum away. Feature continues

‘Do I like tea?’ Because of my initial.

You go by Jamie T because Treays is ‘unpronounceable’. Is it really that hard?

You’d be surprised [lists various mispronunciations]. I was going to come up with a name and be all clever but I couldn’t think of anything.

What’s the weirdest record in your collection?

I’ve got a John Betjeman record. It’s really twisted: loads of spoken word over all this orchestral stuff. It’s quite old-fashioned and features strange poems about the English countryside.

What’s your greatest non-musical influence?

My friends. Things they get up to, things they say, watching them have a good time or not having a good time, you know?

What’s on your iPod?

I put an album on there recently by the Gulag Orkestar. It’s all this mad gypsy music. I’ve been listening to Dizzee Rascal too and loads of old reggae compilations .

Your singing voice recalls the kids on the bus who veer between Jamaican patois and cockney.

It comes with living in London. It’s a fantastic place because it’s so multicultural. You can dip into different things and immerse yourself and that’s an important thing. That’s why I love The Clash. They were a band inspired by different things and not afraid to use them.

Who would you most like to support?

Tina Turner.

For God’s sake, why?

Have you ever seen ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?’? She’s a raw bitch, man. Hardcore. She punches Ike Turner in the balls with a stiletto. Right on. Tina Turner’s wicked.

What’s the most rock ’n’ roll thing that’s happened so far?

It wouldn’t be anything to do with me, more the members of the band. I’m an onlooker, witnessing all these awful things. Like the drummer sticking his finger out of his fly and prancing around on the dancefloor. It doesn’t even look like a dick. It’s horrifying.

Jamie T is the new...

Jamie T is the new what?