Meet TAMBINO

Slide into the sweet bliss of a Sunday morning with this terrific musician. Peruvian-born, NYC-based artist Kam Tambini pulls from a myriad of genres and experiences to create a sound that is unlike anything I have heard in some time.

Check out their latest remix and our lovely conversation in our latest interview.

‘Car Of The Year’ A fill in the blank by, TAMBINO

It's here, the all-new TAMBINI. The most luxurious CUP you'll ever drive! The only four-door KALEIDOSCOPE that comes equipped with dual air RAINDROPS, power STREET SIGNS, and contoured, plush leather HEADPHONES. And, believe it or not, it is the only car in its class that can go up to a hundred thousand CLOUDS without needing a MEZCAL change or a WORLD CUP TROPHY tune-up. Run, do not CRASH into your nearest TAMBINI dealer and feast your LIMBS on the car that Motor SUNLIGHT.magazine calls the DEFIANT '69 FNDER JAGUAR GUITAR of the year. As always, we save the best for last. When you see the sticker price, you are sure to shout, "STOP!!"

Would You Rather

be able to lift things a hundred times your weight, or have control over all of the ants in the world? Why?

Control over all of the ants in the world. ‘Cause they can do the lifting for you.

Some questions with TAMBINO

What is your ideal environment (including snack choice) when writing music?

I do most of my writing at night when most people are asleep. Before quarantine, it used to be after I'd gone to the bar with my friends, so I'd just have another drink at my apartment and write. I find that I can really zone in on things during those hours. For a recording session, I usually bring a bottle of iced green tea for energy and some Pop Corners or something.

Your EP Tambino blends a myriad of musical influences. How do you manage to balance everything while maintaining your original intentions?

All of the songs on my new EP were written on an acoustic guitar and can be stripped back down to that minimal arrangement of just words and guitar. I think that helped a lot when going into production mode because it gave them that solid backbone and kept their essence after adding new sounds. Whether deep bass synths or a hip-hop beat was added, they're still those simple acoustic guitar songs at their core.

How has skateboard culture influenced the music you are making if at all?

Skating has influenced not just my music, but my taste in music since I was a teen. Watching videos like Baker2G, Menikmati, Sorry introduced me to a wide range of bands that I hadn't heard at the time—from Bad Brains to Gray Matter to many more.

What are your favorite pair of shoes to wear? Why?

Right now it's Nike SB Stefan Janoski's cause they're really comfortable for walking/running around. During winter it's low Doc Martens.

Who are your favorite musicians active in NYC right now?

Sivan Jacobovitz, Tom Bass (Ghostpuncher) and Wes Black, who I play in the band Glass Gang with. And Michael Beharie, who produced the entire TAMBINO EP with me.

What does your family think of your music?

They’re really supportive. My mom prefers when I keep things more laidback/acoustic but she’s been sending the new EP to all of her friends and is really pushing it to her crowd on WhatsApp haha.

What was the collaborative process like working with Gracia Echeverria on your EP’s cover art?

It was a seamless process. Gracia’s been a friend for years, so I asked her for help and brought her some very basic ideas at first—some press photos and old photos I took in Lima and Cuzco (Peru). We then got together and she zeroed-in on using family photos, like the one we ended up using of me at 13 in my old bedroom. She then added her rasgados (tearings) which are meant to mimic scratched-up/torn-up and transformed NYC subway posters.

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

It’s important to mention, with everything going on, that without Black music there’s no modern music as we know it. No rock ‘n’ roll, no pop, no hip-hop. I’ve been doing my best to support and donate to Black Lives Matter causes & urge people to do so as well, if they’re able. This link will take you to places you can donate to like the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund and Justice For Breonna Taylor. Even if you don’t have money to donate, you can stream a Youtube video (without adblock) to help.