Start Listening To: Tramhaus
Discovering the raw and raucous sound of Rotterdam's rising stars.
In this exclusive Q&A, we dive into the minds behind Tramhaus as they share insights about their upcoming debut album The First Exit, the serendipitous encounter that led to their single "Once Again" being premiered on KEXP, and the fascinating concept behind their latest music video. The band also reflects on memorable touring experiences, the evolution of their sound since their formation in 2021, and what they hope listeners will take away from their music.
For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?
We’re a five-piece indierock/postpunk/noiserock band from the city of Rotterdam. Our names are Lukas, Nadya, Julia, Jim and Micha. We make music that is fierce but danceable; music that feels threatening and explosive, yet simultaneously is here to celebrate life and love in all its forms. Due to the fact that each one of us listens to somewhat different genres, our sound can fluctuate quite a bit.
Congratulations on your upcoming debut album, "The First Exit"! Can you share the inspiration behind the album title and its significance to the band?
Lukas (singer) came up with this title, as it refers to his coming out as a gay man a couple of years ago. Lyrically that is an overarching theme throughout the album. Sonically for me (Micha, guitarist) it also refers to a situation of confinement, always looking for the first exit, a bit anxious and restless. I tried to implement that into my guitar playing. Tension and release kind of stuff.
Your new single "Once Again" premiered on KEXP. How did it feel to have your music showcased on such a prominent platform?
This story has a little run-up to it: around a year ago we were playing the Tremor festival on the Azores island. Our hotel had a sauna included, so one morning me and Elmo, our sound tech, decided to make use of it. It turned out Kevin Cole of KEXP had had the same idea. So we ended up talking with him for quite some time in the sweltering heat of the sauna. He told us he was already a fan of ours, but after our rendezvous in the sauna he would surely give us more airtime at KEXP, so he promised us. So yes, we are very grateful and honoured to be premiered on KEXP, and very thankful for the existence of saunas.
"Once Again" features a unique music video utilising random, untitled YouTube videos from lockdown. What inspired this concept?
This idea came from the brilliant mind of Peter Marcus, a video artist with whom we worked with many times before. The music video is a testament to the absurdism of the digital age we are living in. An age where everything is captured, and potentially seen by millions of strangers. This idea fascinated us a lot. The video in itself is quite non-esthetical and has no real narrative to it. It is wholly upon the viewer to make something of it. It solely exists on our innate ability to create our own stories with whatever we have at hand.
The tracklisting for "The First Exit" includes intriguing titles like "Semiotics" and "Ffleur Hari." Can you give us a glimpse into the themes or stories behind some of these songs?
Well, Fleurr Hari is a non-existent word that popped up when Lukas tried to write the structure down for the song in a hurry. We liked it, and stuck to it. It may or may not refer to a relative of famous boxing champion Badr Hari. Semiotics is about Lukas’ sexual escapades, I’ll leave it to that.
You've toured extensively across Europe, Japan, and the US. Do you have any memorable stories from touring?
So many… Japan was really something different, non-comparable to any other crowd. When they like your music, they’ll absolutely adore you. And we adored them, what hospitality and humbleness we’ve seen there… The touring the last couple of months has been quite intensive, but it makes you grow like a family really.
You've performed at major festivals like SXSW, Best Kept Secret, and Sziget. What have been some of your most memorable festival experiences so far?
Playing different bigger festivals throughout Europe is lovely as you get to see your befriended musicians again in the (often quite luxurious) backstages. It feels like a sort of homecoming after months of touring abroad, where you were just with your own band most of the time. Like ‘we’ve survived another year, let’s celebrate together’.
Your upcoming tour includes a 28-date journey across 10 countries. How do you prepare for such an extensive tour, and what are you most looking forward to?
Buy enough underwear in advance. Looking forward most to the random moments in which you realise that what you are doing is really quite special.
Since forming in 2021, you've released several singles and an EP. How has the band evolved from those early releases to the upcoming debut album?
When we started mid-lockdown we were just bored and wanted to make angry punk music. We’ve moved to being more introspective and contemplating. The sound is still dangerous and threatening, but also more thought through. We’d like to experiment a bit more. Test ourselves and our limits.
What do you love right now?
The Kendrick Lamar-Drake beef.
What do you hate right now?
The Kendrick Lamar-Drake beef.
Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?
The Strokes - Is This It. I got the CD when I was around ten years old, couldn’t stop listening to it for weeks. Still gets me. It's the simplicity and honesty that does it, every song on the album is a banger. It reminds me of simpler times.
What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from "The First Exit" and your music as a whole?
I hope that people feel a lot, I don’t care too much what that feeling is, as long as it provokes feelings. We’re been force fed enough numbed-out industry products. Even if you hate the album I would be more content than if it would leave you blank.
