Tenek

What's coming up then for 2009? 

Pete - We are currently writing and recording new material for our next album and are making good progress with the new tracks. We are also playing as many gigs as possible and looking forward to going to Holland in August for the 'Summer Darkness' festival in Utrecht. There will also be a new tenek club/remix promo soon featuring new mixes of 'If I Should Fall' and 'Stateless'. 
Geoff - Well, our main aim is to promote our current album, 'Stateless' and ourselves as much as possible via gigs/magazines/e-zines and radio shows. The album has been available since March and we're working to continuously build the momentum. 

If you could play anywhere in the world that you haven't played before, where would you choose? 

Pete - I would like to play in the USA as we've had loads of requests to go over there so fingers crossed it will happen in 2010. Would also like to play in Australia, fantastic country! 
Geoff - My favourite venue would have to be the one where the most people have come to see you play :)) Actually, I've recently been to the Eden Project and Kasabian were playing there that night. You're right in the middle of the whole site and as a backdrop you have the Biomes lit up. Super cool and futuristic methinks! 

If you had to describe yourself as an animal, what animal would you be? 

Pete - I would probably be a terrier as I'm a tenacious little bugger! 
Geoff - I would be a cat for various reasons. I like my comfort and my food, although I'm not too keen on eating birds or mice! I also like to do my own thing, so I'm independent, except when I'm not. I think Pete would be a Lemur! 

Where is your favourite place to play? where do you think you get the best crowd? 

Pete - I loved our recent gig at the Pluswelt Festival in Germany, we were new to the audience but won them over in the end which was very satisfying. We also had a fantastic crowd at Bedsitland in London, another great night and a brilliant audience for us. 
Geoff - It's still early days for Tenek to have a favourite venue or place to play. When gigging with mesh I've always found the European audience to be the best. When Tenek played in Krefeld at Kulturfabrik back in April 2009 we were really pleased at how the audience responded to us. Merch sales that night reflected that as we sold out of albums within the first hour or so! The Human League support slot in Buxton in February of this year was a memorable one too. I'd say there was over 800 Human League fans watching us that night and the response indicated that they liked what we were doing. We thought it was going to be a really tough one. 

When writing lyrics do you have any 'must needs' like lots of coffee? 

Pete - We do drink gallons of tea (not particularly Rock and Roll I know!!) and often there may be a cake involved. 
Geoff - When we write lyrics it's generally done in silence so the ideas can flow. Initially we'd have some rough vocal ideas recorded that fit the vibe of the track, these can trigger other ideas so we'd refer to them occasionally, but generally we'd work on them between us, firing ideas back and forth until we get something we both agree on. The only stimulants we use are tea and inspiration! 

I see you already have tenek t-shirts for sale, in the future do you have any other merchandise ideas? 

Pete - Yes, there will be much more tenek merchandise in the coming months. Watch this space! 
Geoff - Yes, we're looking at getting some other bits of merch made. We just need to research a bit more as to what people would like to buy. Safest bets would be hats, bottle openers, that kind of thing. I was always quite keen on tenek condoms! 

If you were allowed any band to support you at a gig, who would you choose? 

Pete - Now that's a difficult question. Probably one of my favourite artists like Gary Numan, Ultravox or maybe Thomas Dolby as I'd like to have a good chat with him, very interesting guy. Depeche Mode would be cool too! 
Geoff - Tough one! I don't know - er - Shriekback! 

Do you have anything to add? 

Pete - I'd just like to say a big thanks to everyone who has bought our album and singles, we really do appreciate the great feedback we've had so far. It's also fantastic to have such a supportive label like Toffeetones to work with who generally leave us to get on with our music and don't try and change what we do! If you haven't bought the album yet (and why not!!) it's available worldwide on i-tunes and also from www.toffeetones.com with full UK distribution coming soon. Oh yes, and we'd love to see you all come down to one of our gigs too. 
Geoff - Don't ever give up.