LIVE AT WONDER - FRONT Q&A WITH TOMMY GUALA
Paul Gutierrez and Andre Cristofi — the bandmates, roommates and best friends that make up the band Tommy Guala. This past May, they made their duo debut at San Diego’s, multi-band, music festival, Wonderfront. In this brief Q&A interview we can share in their joy of taking music to the next level, playing live, words they live by and the fun of celebrating Paul’s birthday weekend.
Paul Gutierrez (RIGHT) and Andre Cristofi (LEFT)
Photo by Rebecca Gottbetter
What is it like performing at Wonderfront this weekend? Were there any stand out moments?
Paul: It’s awesome, I’m very excited. There is already enough attention on us from the fact that we are playing at this really amazing festival and having this cool opportunity. It almost feels like too much attention— like the extra birthday ontop feels like I’m eating my dessert before my dinner. I think we both are really enjoying embracing this whole thing. Maybe in years past, I sort of didn’t want to admit that I wanted to go all out and try as hard as possible to do the whole thing—but we have sort of had a dialogue where we know this is what we want and we aren’t hiding any of our feelings about it. We are going for it.
Seeing Anderson .paak play deep cuts off Malibu was the greatest birthday gift, I’ve never related harder to the memes about how great summer 2016 was. That album came out right around when I started learning to produce, pretty surreal to have played a set the same day as him.
What are some sources of inspiration for your music in your lives?
Andre: I always find that the other parts that aren’t immediately music are more informative than music itself sometimes, so anything from like movies or paintings or writing. There is so much you can draw from there into your music, whether its a process or whatever and I think it goes both ways as well
Paul: I agree with that. as I mentioned earlier, we both connected through our love of movies and music as it relates to movies. SO I think just being able to understand the context — everysong can be good if it’s in the right room, right place.
Andre: I think all art, specifically movies have impacted my life the most. Lana del rey as well. She’s great.
Paul: +1 for movies. Also my girlfriend, dreams , & reddit.
Are there any quotes or references that have impacted your work or mentality?
Andre: “A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” - Don Vito Corleone
Paul: “there is no try, only do” - yoda
Tell us about the band's path to now.
Paul: I produced all my music solo in my bedroom, classic bedroom pop story. Every live show was with a new group aside from Andre was which stressful. After playing with a 7 person band at wonderfront 24’, I was ready to try something a little smaller and the electronic/dance sound just came naturally from that. Andre was game for the new direction.
The first time Andre played with me was cause my bass player bailed the day of the show … we already lived together so I was like, ‘Hey you kinda know my songs, I’ll teach you like six of them and you’ll play tonight,’ and that was the first time. We’ve sort of gained each other’s trust through doing shows.
Andre: We met in college, started playing together and collaborated on some films as well— afterwards it’s kinda ramped up a little bit and especially now I feel like its taking a new shape which is exciting.
How has music impacted your life?
Paul: I’ve been going to see my older brother play rock shows since I was like 6 years old which was around the same time we got the rock band game on Xbox. Lethal combo for an impressionable child.
Andre: I grew up playing classical piano and only discovered synths after college…… which changed everything.
What difference does it make playing live?
Paul: Every time we play live we learn so much about what we like about our music. I think this current rendition of music is very much catered towards a live setting. We want energy, we want people dancing, we want it to be something where you don’t really know what to expect. Live performances heavily influence our creative process making music in the last six months
Playing live exposes what I thought was cool in the studio and what is usually actually cool in context.
Andre: I feel like our process revolves around how our music will be experienced live more than anything. Music like all art is a communal experience and should be accessible, not just to a specific group of people but to all types of people.
What is your process like for song creation?
Paul: The second I think I have a consistent process—I start to doubt or hate it, which might be a good thing
Andre: Long
What is something you guys do for fun—away from all of this?
Paul: I play paddle, I work at a paddle club. There is an awesome community, it’s a very social game- you have to play it with 4 people. I kinda just do music though
Andre: I’m like a serial hobbyist, this guy knows, but probably like fly fishing is my favorite.
Paul: He won’t say it but he also did a triathlon last year— so anything where you have to put yourself through some sort of outdoor torture.
If you could give your past self advice or any words of wisdom, what would you say?
Andre: Your parents know more than you and you probably shouldn’t quit piano lessons.
Paul: Learn your daw (me if I was Andre).
Where do you hope to see yourselves in the coming years?
Andre: On a ranch, with a few goats. Maybe making some music for runways as well.
Paul: Scoring movies and ghostwriting sickenly sugary pop songs.
Thanks to the band for chatting with me! And Happy Belated Birthday Paul!
For more details about their work follow Tommy Guala on their social media and streaming platforms — @Tommy.guala on instagram and Spotify
Check out Tommy Guala’s new song TANG below on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/album/6NiMlK0eUJqPdN2D0HplO2?si=trKhNWKXTzqEtp2Xkc9daQ