OiP: Describe your music.
Tomas Ford: I make bad arse punk disco music – like Iggy Pop covering the Paris Hilton album. But more self involved. Maybe if Paris was a bit, I don’t know, nastier? I mean she’s pretty nasty, but I think if we faced off in a nastiness competition to be judged by Destiny’s Child, I would definitely take home the crown of ‘Nasty, So Trashy, Put Some Clothes On’. It’s fun, whatever I’m doing. I jump on speakers! I wear spectacular outfits! I jump on people! I make sure they’re OK! We all dance to 80’s Bowie songs! I hurt myself! But I’m OK! We all get a bit sweaty! It’s lots of fun, is what I’m trying to get at here.
OiP: How does your music draw on gay culture? How does it push audience boundaries?
Tomas Ford: This is kind of a hard question because there’s bits of gay culture in so much of what I do. It’s obvious when you see my show, but hard to put into words. Musically, I’ve always been drawn to the constant thudding of gay house. It’s always fun music that never outlives its welcome. A lot of it comes out in the way my songs are structured, and they draw on the dirty side of it a bit. I really love the early 80’s stuff, like Frankie Knuckles and all that, and Kylie is a massive inspiration for my work. I went to Showgirl last year, and I’m in awe of the way Kylie’s massive shows flow and fit together. My version of that is solo, has less costume changes and is very dark, but a lot of people can still see where I’m coming from when I say how influential she’s been on my work.
My engagement with the audience can be quite homoerotic. Most of the time I’m performing on the band scene, and I’m all about pushing people to do something during my performance that they’d never expect out of themselves, whether that’s physically or mentally. I operate a bit like a dominatrix – I get a sense of where my audience’s boundaries are and push them just a little bit further. And I don’t think there’s anything more fun than making straight boys question their sexuality. I have that power… you should see backstage after my shows, it’s crazy, some of the bears I get…
OiP: How did you get started (in music)?
Tomas Ford: I used to be in a band called Descend Here while I was studying theatre at Uni. I’d throw big Morissey-style moves and croon vaguely comic songs. That somehow moved into me doing spoken word with glitchy bedroom beats and having quite a lot of success with it. But then there’s only so far that will take you, and I could hear the disco calling – so at the moment I’m making this disco punk stuff. I’ve just picked everything up as I’ve gone. Perth’s electronic music community has been really supportive, and I’ve learned a stack of stuff off them too.
OiP: What do you want people to takeaway from a performance?
Tomas Ford: Hopefully some merchandise, a CD or two… It’s open to whatever people are going to feel. I like to think people feel like they’ve just been on a thrill ride afterwards. If my show hasn’t got your adrenaline pumping somehow, it must not have been a very good show. The more you give me permission to play, the more fun we can have because I will go there. So if you come in ready for anything, you should leave with the biggest grin on your lips since your first blow job.
Tomas Ford launched his new single on Good Friday in a show he describes as ‘definitely worth avoiding your family over Easter for’ at the Artrage Bakery. There is an all ages show on Saturday the 14th from 2-5pm. Tickets $15. For more info, downloads, and sassiness, hit www.tomasford.com.
