Thashil Ramdass (South Africa and Nigeria) – Interview – Thanks for Asking!
Written by Staff on January 20, 2025
Thashil Ramdass (South Africa and Nigeria) – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.
RRX: Every artist’s first song is a milestone. But so is the latest song. Describe the first song/album you recorded, and also the latest song/album you recorded; what are the differences?
TR: The first song that I actually ever recorded and released was something I’m still proud of to this day. It’s called ‘For Tonight, and it was quite a unique situation, in that I had been working on music for years before I actually finished that first single and put it out. Prior to that I had just been putting down ideas, bits of songs, sometimes even a full song structurally, that never truly felt complete. ‘For Tonight’ was the first time that something felt done. If I had to describe the sound I’d say it sounds like a modern take on an 80s synthpop tune, a bit like Phil Collins meets The Weeknd.
In contrast, the single I’m about to put out goes back to the roots of what made me a musician. A lot of that production is stripped all the way back, and at it’s core, it’s basically driven by just an acoustic guitar and vocals. I’m also featuring one of my favorite artists out there, J4CK, who chipped in with some killer vocals! So I can’t wait to get that out soon.
RRX: Music genres are difficult for some artists. Some strictly adhere; others not so much. What is your perspective on the genre you play, or the genres you hover around?
TR: I guess I would describe my music as indie pop, although I’m pretty flexible, especially when it comes to working with other artists. I’ve done songs with hip hop artists, I’ve done stuff that dives quite heavily into R&B, being South African, I just recently put out a single with an afrobeat artist that kind of merged afrobeats with my usual guitar driven pop sound. Ultimately I think producing the music myself allows me to keep somewhat of a sonic signature while venturing into different avenues.
RRX: What do you think is the most dangerous song to cover from the perspective of criticism? Who do you think is too hard to cover, and why?
TR: Maybe Jeff Buckley would be some dangerous territory… Something like ‘Lover You Should’ve Come Over’, comes to mind. I think Jeff was just such a unique talent, and he didn’t get to put that much music out in his short life, so I feel like what he did put out is something of a protected species. It’s very precious to those who truly adore it. I would be terrified to cover any of his songs, the vocal elasticity is just too difficult to replicate.
RRX: Our style comes from the extension of our influences. It’s like an evolution. We’re influenced, and it inspires us to influence. What can you say about your influences, and what you feel you’ve done with their influence as a musician or band? Have you extended their work?
TR: My range of influences is pretty eclectic. I think perhaps my two biggest influences are Ed Sheeran and John Mayer. They proved that a guy and a guitar can work, even at the very top of the mainstream music world. Owl City was also a pretty big deal to me. You’d probably not hear it directly in my music, but seeing the way he mixed electronic production with live instrumentation, and all by himself in a basement… That was mesmerizing to me. It’s what truly got me into music production. Then there were the influences that came from my parent’s car. Phil Collins, Bryan Adams, Lionel Richie, the stars of that generation essentially. From Mayer I took the idea of building a record around guitar parts, but that also served the songs first and foremost. From Sheeran I took his ability to hop between genres and be somewhat of a chameleon, from Owl City I took the blend of live instrumentation and in the box production, and from those 80s icons I took those catchy hooks. I tossed this together and did my best to blend it into a coherent version of it all.
RRX: Let’s talk about your next project, your next few. Just not the ones you’re working on now. The ones you have your eyes on for the future. What’s coming to us?
TR: When I write I tend to store ideas for songs in different projects, based on their sound. That means that song ideas sometimes get stored away for years before they’re revisited. So because of that I probably have the core of at least 2 or 3 more albums/EPs already stored away. I’ve never released a project before, only singles. So my plans for the future is to pair releasing singles with full projects. There’s an album I’ve got planned that’s a bit of everything I’ve done in terms of sound, all mixed together. There’s another that’s more typical singer songwriter stuff. There’s a lot to get out, so lots of music to come.
RRX: With the exception of singing, everyone has an instrument, an inanimate object that has the distinction of being a lifelong friend. Smooth or temperamental, these objects have a character. So pick someone to answer, can you tell us something special about what you play, your technique, your instrument?
TR: Well I can tell you about my favorite guitar, I call him Nicholas, an old Tanglewood acoustic… This guitar is extremely sentimental to me, I’ve had it since I was 14 years old. I’ve written nearly every song I’ve written in my life on it, it’s been with me through high school, through college, and everything after. I was that guy who sat on a public bus for 6 hours with a guitar case in my hands. A few years ago, when visiting my parents for the holidays, a strong gust of wind blew good old Nicholas right off my bed and the entire headstock snapped in half. Thankfully the luthier that repaired it told me that the break had happened in the perfect place for it not to affect the way the guitar sounds. I took that as a sign that this would continue to be my number 1 go to guitar for the foreseeable future.
Link to music: https://linktr.ee/ThashilRamdass