Five Fits With: Genre-Defying Singer-Songwriter Tamino
I don’t mean to perpetually gush in the introduction of my subjects, but there’s a reason we decide to feature them: I think they’re some of the coolest people in the world, and not just because they dress well or interestingly. That said, this week’s subject, Tamino, happens to also be a supremely talented musician with killer style, a smooth demeanor, and a devastatingly handsome face. Bonus points to him for being incredibly kind, too.
In preparing for our interview, I read up on Tamino. Yes, there’s a lot of focus on his identity as the grandson of a famous Egyptian singer, Muharram Fouad, and while he might have been influential to Tamino, who among us prefers to be boiled down to a single talking point or association? Tamino would rather carve his own path, and let his music do the talking. On the subject of Tamino’s music, it’s hard to describe, and I’d rather not attempt to distill it with a genre tag, but it’s hauntingly beautiful and sharp. I was able to see him perform some songs at Public Records last month, my favorite being a dark, soulful new track played entirely on the oud, from his upcoming album releasing in September.
Below Tamino and I discuss the Western media’s focus on his identity and why it’s reductive, identity politics, falling in love with music at home and abroad, meditation and how it impacts his perspective on getting dressed, his favorite brands, his upcoming new album, and plenty more.
I read an interview in which you said you think Western media might focus on your identity too much. But I do want to ask where are you from and how has that impacted your career.
I grew up in Belgium, but I have Egyptian and Lebanese roots. Even though I grew up with my Belgian mom mainly, she always thought it was important to also let us be in touch with that side of our roots. We had always had Arabic music around the house, but also classical, and the pop stuff; the Beatles, all that good stuff. So, I have always felt like I had a connection to those roots through music because I don't speak the language, but somehow I always understood the music. It was like a language that I understood. Music in general, but also Arabic music; learning to play the oud has brought me even closer to it.
Why do you feel that the focus on your identity might be an issue?
As much as I appreciated myself—my roots and everything, it's of course clearly an influence in my music—I don't think it should be the main thing, you know what I mean? Like it could easily become a gimmicky thing, "Oh yeah. That dude with the Arabic thing." In a way I understand the importance of being able to quickly describe an artist, and if you can do that in one sentence and get people interested, that's quite good. If people ask me, "What kind of music do you make?" I usually say, "Well, it's sort of melancholic singer-songwriter music with some Arabic influence." Just to give a quick answer, you know? And then maybe it will spark an interest to check it out. I do think that in general, there's a whole movement of identity politics. And I think in music, in arts, in how we look at artists, sometimes there is a tendency to care more about who the artist is instead of what he makes. And that is something that I personally don't agree with or really connect to. I always think the work comes first. I'm not going to name names, but when I see famous people on television or in interviews, I love them. They're a great personality. They're so good at being a celebrity. But I don't like their work.
Had you always felt connected to your Arabic roots and your family's cultures, or is it something that you found later in life?
It is something that I found a bit later, as a teenager. It was always around, but I never really paid attention to it. The moment I started paying attention to it was around 15, 16, when I found my grandfather's guitar in Cairo. That's what made me want to learn to play the guitar. That visit to Cairo, that was our first visit back and just to see where he used to live, I just felt a connection. That made me pay attention to it way more.
Can you remember how you first fell in love with music?
I don't remember like a specific moment.
But there was always music playing in your house?
There are a couple of images that come to mind. There’s my mom who played classical piano, so coming downstairs, and waking up to the sound of her playing, that was cool. It was a hobby, but still, she's a huge music lover. I think that's a huge influence when there's a big music lover in your house. As a teenager, the first time I wrote a song was at 14. That was a big moment because I remember sitting at the piano, writing the song, and feeling something that I'd never felt before… like a feeling of ecstasy, almost. I made this and I expressed myself in it.
And is it a song that's out in the world?
Praise the Lord that it is not—oh, man. No, it was a horrible song. But it sparked the fire, you know? I've been chasing that feeling ever since. And every time I write a song, it's a similar feeling. And there's nothing that can beat it, honestly.
Does your style on and offstage differ?
Not really. I've noticed day-to-day, what I feel comfortable with wearing. I could be wearing a specific outfit for three days straight and then suddenly I'll think, "Oh, now I have to change." Suddenly it hits me. I am a bit of a creature of habit, though. So I do like to stick with certain type of outfits for longer times. So now I'm really into just jeans, boots, and then a shirt or t-shirt. I'm always into the simple stuff. I've been into bigger pants for a long while and it depends. Usually, it's just whatever I feel comfortable with wearing that day. I already have it on and I will wear it on stage.
Does clothing mean anything special to you?
It actually really does. I don't see it as merely a superficial thing at all. We both meditate—if you do it with Sam Harris’ app, he often repeats that in the end, you're just a consciousness. You're just in a moving body. And when you remind yourself of that, you realize identity is also just an accumulation of all the things you've been through, experiences and memories. But in the first place, you're just a consciousness. So, I wouldn't say it's to express my identity. It's rather to feel good in this body and to feel when I'm moving around, I feel good with whatever's on my body. It doesn't necessarily represent me, but it's also just a bit of taste. When you want to wear what you like, you want to feel good. You want to feel confident. When you feel confident, you're more in tune with the world. You're more in tune with the people you meet. You don't want to be thinking, "Oh my God, why am I wearing this?" when you're meeting people because you just want to feel comfortable and you want to be open and receptive to their energy.
What are some of your favorite brands and why?
I will definitely mention Jan Jan Van Essche. He's a friend. I love his work. I love his universe. I love Yohji Yamamoto. The original! That guy is just on another level. I love Hermes. I don't really own anything apart from perfume, but I just think they're really cool, classic stuff. It's just class. I'm really into selvedge jeans now. I really got into it after visiting a store in Antwerp where they were telling me about it. I was so intrigued by the Japanese having bought all the old machines. That's something that I really enjoy. But I don't really have a favorite brand of jeans, per se. I just like to explore and wear different ones. And shoes... I like these, they're a French brand called Adieu.
Do you have any pre-concert rituals or essentials that you can't perform without?
I wish I had. I guess meditating, but that's something I want to have done somewhere in the day, not necessarily right before the concert. It's an important one in my general routine. I do like to read, actually.
What do you read? Anything?
It depends. It calms me. I'm quite the introvert. One-on-one, I do really well because I feel like I can connect with people. I can have a meaningful conversation or have fun or whatever. In groups, I become a bit shy. And sometimes when you're on tour, you're in a big group. You’re with your crew, with your band. So to be able to dive into that inner world again, I like reading because it's what someone else wrote down, but you're still imagining it in your brain, in your mind. And I love disappearing into those worlds. I read a beautiful quote about reading, as well. “When you read, you are able to live multiple lives,” which I thought was really beautiful.
When you're not making music or touring, what do you do in your downtime to unwind? What's a perfect off day for you?
I can be the laziest person ever. I can really just hang out on the couch and watch movies. What I used to do back in high school, and what I still love to do, is a Sunday afternoon movie. You pick a movie that's three hours. And you just lie on the couch. Recently, I did that. I tried to recreate the situation. I did that with Lawrence of Arabia, which is so long. but I really enjoy that.
You’re releasing a new album in September. How does it differ from your first album?
It's quite different. I think people will notice that as well. It's quite difficult to pinpoint exactly, and to do it myself is also a bit strange because the record isn't out yet. I don't know. For some people it will be this thing that's very different. For others, it'll be that thing. For me, I guess it's the lyrics I feel different.
They're more mature?
They're a bit more mature. They're also in a different space, apart from just being better craftsmanship. They’re not in this melodramatic teenage angst, not to talk down on the first record because I love that still, but they're more in a reflective state of mind. If I envision the album, it's like a storm has passed and you're in the aftermath of that, and you're reflecting on what happened. You don't even know what happened, but something happened. There are dust particles in the air, which I really think I can hear. In the record, there's a lot of noise interweaved between the songs. For me, visually, that's like the air between is not clear. There's stuff, there's an aftermath. Something happened. I think it's an album that makes you think. It makes you reflect.
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