Artist Interview: TAHM
Meet TAHM, the emerging band bringing fresh energy to the music scene with their edgy alt-pop sound and captivating live performances. Discover their story, inspirations, and what drives their music. With new singles on the horizon, TAHM is set to make a lasting impact.
Q.Tell us about TAHM how did you come together?
A.We’d previously existed as a band (Streem) in the late 90s. A chance meeting with Tom Taylor (from indie band Kiwi) in 2022 ended up with us writing a song together. It was only meant to be one song, but we liked the end result so much we carried on.Then Tom went back to Kiwi and we had a re think and here we are.
Q. What's the story behind your name? TAHM - Pronounced like barn
A. When we first met Tom, he was VERY young. We were a little older. TAHM stands for Tom And His Mum as we used to joke about the age difference.
Q. You describe your sound as “revenge pop”. What does that mean to you, and how did you arrive at that style?
A. Katie wrote the first song (17 years) about an evil ex-boss and found the whole experience so cathartic, she wrote the next (Ghosted) about a friendship that had turned sour. She tried writing happier lyrics but it was generally agreed she did ‘revenge’ songs so well, she should stick with it and it became a bit of a theme.
Q. What does “Revenge” mean in your performances and music?
A. For Katie, getting a whole lot of unvoiced angst off her chest but for the rest of the band, probably enjoying writing spiky, edgy parts that suited the lyrical style.
Q. Can you share some themes or stories for your upcoming releases?
A. ‘Little Devil’, which is out on June 20th, is about navigating a volatile relationship and realising the dynamics aren’t sustainable. The musical dynamics follow suit with held-back parts and a contrasting chorus that kicks off. In September, we’ll be releasing ‘Say Whatever’ which although continues the theme of a failed relationship, takes a more wistful approach which I think is reflected in the track.
Q. You’ve been praised for “razor-
sharp lyrics and an unshakable hook.” How do you approach songwriting? Do lyrics or music come first for you?
A. Sometimes lyrics but more often music. We’ve taken a totally different approach to songwriting this time around and build up a song over days and days, weeks sometimes, often completely scrapping parts (or the whole thing). When you’re in that part of the process it’s super-frustrating but I think we’ve got better quality control now and the end results are stronger. Worth the agony of pressing delete on something you’ve laboured over for days! I think we settled for less the first time around and we want the chance to put that right and produce songs that are better crafted.
Q. What influences or artists inspire you the most when creating new music?
A. I think you’ll always be drawn to the sounds you loved growing up, so for us, that would be 90’s/2000’s alternative with some 80s elements (you can hear this more in songs we’ve written very recently). But we’ve been inspired by lots of different styles of music. We all like different things. Which makes for better song writing. From super poppy like Olivia Rodigo, to Black Honey or Haim… I dunno, as long as it has a hook or a tune it doesn't matter what your influences you.
Q. You’ve been described as “animated, fun, and addictive power punk.” Do you think your live performances bring that same energy?
A. Back in the day, we definitely had an energy on stage. We are currently in rehearsals with TAHM, so you will have to come and see.
Q. Tell us about the recording process, Where do you usually record, and do you prefer working in a studio or a more DIY environment?
A. We are super-fortunate to have a home studio so don’t need to leave the house to write and record. Many a track has been crafted in PJs and slippers. We normally start with a riff or a loop and work from there. We definitely write in a studio environment though.
Q. With singles dropping every few months in 2025, how do you keep your creative momentum going? What are your tips to avoid burn out?
A. Hire someone to do your socials for you ! Seriously, making decent content and getting it out every couple of days has been like a full-time job. There are many weekends where we’re desperate to sit down and actually write some music but have no time left after attending to the always-hungry monster that is Instagram. Saying that, it’s been fun being creative with the content and we have enjoyed ourselves too. We are also quite active so going out and doing something completely different than music lets you chill out a bit.
Q. What role does visual art or photography play in your music releases? How involved are you in the visual side of things?
A. 100% involved. Ian has a background in graphic design, photography and film-making so has the necessary skills to create nice-looking content. It’s amazing because we wouldn’t have the resources to pay someone else to do that on a regular basis. Saying that, we have occasionally treated ourselves to a photo shoot with an amazing photographer (Dave MacFarlane) as he really gets how we want to be presented and has the magic skills to somehow make us look good.
Q. You’re clearly focused on melody-driven alt-pop, but do you ever experiment with other genres or unexpected sounds in the studio?
A. As the songs have gone on, we have definitely used different styles. One we finished recently has some really 80s-sounding synth hooks which I previously wouldn’t have imagined using. For a bunch of people who have always been drawn to more alternative styles of music, it’s surprising how much unadulterated pop you can find in our songs. I think whatever the style, nothing beats a properly hooky chorus and it’s there you can hear some unexpected influences, from Tate McRae to Sabrina Carpenter.
Q. Can you share a note-able memory from your time together?
A. Taking to the streets of Kendal dressed in red 70s trousers, platform shoes and a rabbit head was certainly a memorable experience. As was throwing some mechanical moves dressed as a robot in the local skate park. Back in the day, the best memories were probably just having a laugh together, especially when we were supposed to be taking everything seriously. We had a blast back then and it’s so good to be doing all that again.
Q. Finally, what’s next for TAHM ? Do you have a full-length album, upcoming singles, or tour plans in the works?
A. We have singles scheduled for the next 12 months, lots of promotion campaigns were in the process of making or cooking up, rehearsals to have which may end up leading to more live shows and then somewhere in the middle of all that, hopefully continuing to write some new songs.
Disclaimer: All links and images are copyright of TAHM and their team and used with permission. This interview is copyright of TunezandTrendz. Intent to distribute for money is illegal.
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