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Interview with
TOMMY SHADES
from
BOMBS AWAY

(16th September 2021)

Interview by John Pryde (Behind The Lyrics)

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The first thing. I really love that baseline in it, and it actually made me get super jealous of like, when things open up, I think your fans are gonna really love it. it made me want to be behind the DJ booth seeing the crowd react to that.
Well, that’s sort of the reason why I’m trying to go back towards the more bass driven stuff, because hopefully, sooner than later shows start coming back, and I want to have material to play, rather than just mashups of other people’s music.

Listening to the lyrics, there does seem to be a bit more of a deeper theme behind it. So I was wondering if you could talk me through what was happening in your life when you wrote it?
Yeah, personally, I’m really enjoying writing from the heart a lot more, and this one itself was, I was going through a big breakup and I think that I found a bit of a unique perspective on breakups, because I was pretty much over it at this point. But then I was getting contacted, and everything was coming back in those moments, when someone reaches out to you, and you kind of have a choice, leaning into it or saying, Don’t you dare contact me, after all this? I’ve spent so long getting over it. So don’t you dare contact me? I actually had those words, go through my head in one of the moments. And that’s where the song came from.

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I wanted to talk about this line. “Don’t you dare say that you’re scared. I think that you just want to make sure that I’m broken.”  So I mean, how did that kind of resonate with you?
That line itself is, I guess, you never know what the other person’s motives are in that situation. But after it happens a couple times, it sort of seems like that they’re just there to kind of squish you down a little bit more and rub it in, I suppose. But I think personally, writing about it, and getting it out is a great way to work through it, to get all those thoughts down on paper, and it’s also really fun writing songs. So yeah, the lyrics finished themselves in about 40 minutes, when I sat down and started writing it, which was great, but I mean, every line of it is directly from real life, which made it so easy. I just wrote down all the things and then the puzzle solved itself essentially. There is about three times the lyrics worth of lyrics that didn’t make it into the song. But that’s always the case, maybe maybe another song?

So why did you want to share this with your fans? and give them that like insight into your life?
It’s a good question. I think, because at first I didn’t, at first, I sat on this song for about six months, until I found new music to accompany and that gave it a little bit less of a dark delivery. it’s a lot different to how it was originally written. It was like just this piano and vocals. That was it. And it was a lot more emotional. But I really like to be able to express myself. So regardless of what I’m going through, I like to write. Even when I’m writing party songs, and there is some more coming out. There about actually having a party like I don’t write them unless I’m in that mood, like you have to be in that mood. But I think it’s good to put stuff out like this, especially because everybody goes through a variation of this at some point in life and, hopefully, the uplifting sort of taking back the power message in the song can inspire people to take back their own power, I suppose.

Yeah, that really neatly kind of comes on to this. So you said, “but it took multiple experiments in the studio to find the right energy and really give the song a feeling of empowerment, which was found in the driving baseline”. So can you talk me through why this feeling of empowerment is so important to bring into that song into a song like this really?
Yeah that’s very important. It is important because it could have been perceived as being a victim, being a woe is me, sort of victim so and there’s nothing wrong with that everyone’s got to go through their grieving processes. And I think that’s sort of where the song did start out for me. But as I personally evolved through the situation, I turned myself into someone that had used that experience for the benefit of the lessons and for the benefit of growth and I think the song itself evolved with me as well, because I’ve put the song aside, then went and worked on other music, and then I found this beat, and then it fit together with the old lyrics. So yeah,  I think it was important to find a good way to deliver it. Also, but also for the brand itself, because, I mean, it would be pretty weird if a techno DJ released an acoustic piano song.

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Let’s move onto the Bombs Away, so you’re taking over this, this is your baby ?
Yeah. It’s always been my baby. Doesn’t mean I’m not grateful for everyone that’s been involved. I’m so grateful for how the journey has evolved, and it’s been amazing But I’m more excited than ever, to knuckle down and keep pushing and keep working on different projects and getting out there into the world.

What are some of the challenges, and how have you grown as an artist now that you’ve taken on this project?
Honestly, the new challenges are pretty boring, it’s stuff like talking to the agency, talking to record labels. But it excites me, it’s really exciting for me, because not only do I have more things to spend my time on, but when I know what’s going on in the other side of the picture, in the logistics in the record label in the planning, it kind of gives me more inspiration in the studio to get things that are going to kind of fit in with these people and these teams, and there is different pockets and different facets, of genres, almost that fit in with different people behind the scenes.  I’ve actually found myself in a really good position because I’ve got different groups of people that want to work with me on different styles of music. So I can pretty much work on, like big room, emotionally driven ballads with one team, and I’ve got party stuff going on with another team and they’re all they’re all sort of working together. Of course, obviously the schedules have to align. But yeah, I’m finding everything to be really inspiring at the moment to the point where my biggest problem is, I just don’t have enough time in my day to keep working.

You were talking about how you’re now doing the more admin side with music. Say either for your fans or even artists that might necessarily be taking on that journey, what would be your advice for them?
I think the biggest piece of advice is just start doing it. it’s hard, but a lot of people say, Oh, no, I can’t do this. Because of this. I can’t, I don’t have a manager. So I can’t email such and such, there’s a lot of needing one thing to do another thing and people become sort of gridlocked. And I know because I’ve been there myself.  I actually watched a bass clef masterclass class, and he talks about it a lot. He’s an absolute boss genius at producing music, but more so at working within the music machine, getting things done and working with other people. It is a sort of a complicated process. But if you just start doing it, you get the experience and you learn about the process itself. Yeah. So I think my advice is to get going, and keep going. There’s always setbacks, and you got to push through them.

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You talked about being gridlocked, how does that affect the creative process?
Yeah, it definitely does affect the creative process, because they’re different mindsets. They’re completely different mindsets. I think I’ve done a good job compartmentalising the different mindsets and being able to be like, okay, now I’m in this mode, now I’m in that mode. I don’t really experienced much writer’s block, because I have so many different genres that if im not feeling one thing, I’ll work on something else.

What can fans expect in the future from yourself ?
I want to do a lot more content, a lot more videos behind the scenes stuff, explaining how songs come together. I’m working on one that explains how the music video came together. I’m trying to keep it pretty brief, but it gets complex very quickly. Music wise, I really want to go back towards sort of festival music, but I want the lyrics to be from the heart. Whether they are party lyrics, or I’ve got some stuff that’s about some really obscure stuff as well. I want it to be from me, I think I really want to express myself. I’m also trying to get some collaborations going, there’s a few people in the works. I’m talking with some big international DJs that really suit the new sound . I think I’m trying to go for more like the big European festivals, I suppose like, but they’ll always have my own twist on it.

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AMNPLIFY – DB

Press Release 20th August 2021 (below)

Australian DJ / Producer
BOMBS AWAY
drops first solo single
‘DON’T YOU DARE’

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Buy/Stream HERE

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ARIA award nominated, multi-platinum selling artist, Bombs Away kicks off a new era for the Act, with the electro-house banger: ‘Don’t You Dare.’

The single marks the first new material since Sketch (Matthew Coleman) left the DJ / Producer duo, with Tommy Shades (Thomas Coleman) now taking over the project as a one-man team.

Over the last twelve years, the world-renowned Australian duo landed platinum records, topped the charts and toured the world with some of the biggest names in dance music.  With Tommy going solo, ‘Bombs Away’ shows no signs of slowing down.

“I’m really excited to show our fans what’s next for BombsAway,” states Tommy. “I’ve got so many projects, singles, videos and ideas everywhere and I just can’t wait to start this next chapter.”

Tommy starts off this new solo chapter with a bang as he delivers the heavy hitting: ‘Don’t You Dare.’ The track blends the heavy electro and slap house sound Bombs Away is known for, with an emotional and infectious hook delivered by Tommy.

“The creative process behind this project was over a year long and hit after the ending of a very serious relationship.  The lyrics basically wrote themselves, but it took multiple experimentations in the studio, to find the right energy and really give the song a feeling of empowerment, which was found through the driving bassline.” – Tommy Shades

Supported by an upcoming music video entirely shot by Tommy, ‘Don’t You Dare’ shows a new side to the Bombs Away sound and perfectly follows up their 2021 singles ‘Love Magic’ and ‘In My Head.’

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About Bombs Away

Bombs Away have had a stellar career to date, since their 2010 break-out hit and certified Gold record: ‘Big Booty Bitches.’ They quickly followed up with the Platinum records: ‘Party Bass’ and ‘Super Soaker’ and the Billboard charting ‘Better Luck Next Time.’ They have over 350 Million plays on their videos and music across all socials, streaming platforms and they hold down five concurrent Top 10 tracks on ARIA, Billboard, iTunes and Beatport charts.  Over the years the duo collaborated with some of the biggest names in the business, including Mr. Worldwide himself – Pitbull and the likes of: Krafty Kuts, The Potbelleez and Luciana.  Additionally they have been voted #1 Artist in Australia and #32 Worldwide on THEDJLIST, #1 State and #4 National DJs at the INTHEMIX DJ awards.

Most recently they released a remix of Maddox Jones’ ‘Can’t Wait for the Summer’ and the reimagined take on Des’ree’s 90’s hit: ‘You Gotta Be’ the latter of which broke onto the Billboard Dance charts.  Tommy Shades also recently joined the American / Australian production group RIP Youth, working on their recent hit single ‘Fake’ (feat. Ranger).  Tommy has a lot of music and collaborations in the works, as he takes over Bombs Away as a solo project.  Be sure to follow him on social media and get ready for the next bomb to drop.

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About Radikal Records:

Established in 1990 and based just outside of NYC, Radikal is one of the United States’ leading independent record labels.  In business for more than 25 years, Radikal is focused on promoting and distributing artists – not only to U.S audiences, but also on a global basis to partners world-wide.  Label artists over the years include: Kristian Nairn, DJs From Mars, Salt Ashes, Bimbo Jones, Klaas, Tony Moran, Bombs Away, Maddox Jones, 2 Unlimited, N-Trance, Zombie Nation, ATB, Yello, Scooter, Schiller, Blank & Jones, DJ Molella and more.  For more info visit: http://www.radikal.com.

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AMNPLIFY – DB