An interview with “The Polish Ambassador”

THE DIRT MOPPER: DO YOU GO BY DAVID ANYMORE, OR IS IT JUST “POLISH”?

T.P.A.: I ALSO GO BY DAVID, OR POLISH, OR “AMPLE MAMMAL” IS MY OTHER NAME. IT ALL WORKS

THE DIRT MOPPER: WELL TO START OFF, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON A GREAT SET TONIGHT. IT WAS RAD.

T.P.A.: THANKS MAN, I LOVE EUGENE. I LOVE THE CROWD HERE. YOU GUYS COME OUT, YOU THROW DOWN PRETTY HARD, SO PLEASURE ALWAYS.

THE DIRT MOPPER: DO YOU DO A DIFFERENT SET EVERY TIME? DO YOU WEAR THE SAME SUIT?

T.P.A.: YEAH, IT’S THE SAME SUIT. I’M LOOKING AT ADDING SOME NEW CLOTHES, BUT THE SUIT IS JUST THIS BEACON OF LIGHT. PEOPLE JUST DIG IT. IT’S GREAT FOR BRANDING, AND EVERYBODY LOVES IT, SO, YA KNOW. PROBABLY COME UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE OR MAYBE SUIT VERSION 2.0, WITH A FAT HOODIE. OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT YEAH, IT’S ACTUALLY A DIFFERENT SET EVERY NIGHT, BECAUSE I BUILD EVERYTHING OUT OF THE CORE LOOPS OUT OF ALL MY DIFFERENT TRACKS. SO YA KNOW, LIKE I’LL START WITH THE BASS LINE FOR THE SONG, AND THEN I’LL BRING IN DRUMS, AND THEN VOICE. AND THEN I’LL BRING IN DRUMS OR VOICE FROM A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TRACK SO EVERY NIGHT I NEVER HAVE ANYTHING PLANNED AND IT’S ALMOST ALWAYS AN ORGINAL SET.

THE DIRT MOPPER: EVERYTHING ON THE FLY. DO YOU EVER MAKE ANY TRACKS WHILE YOU’RE ON THE ROAD WHILE YOU’RE TOURING?

T.P.A.: WELL, YA KNOW I DON’T. MY PRODUCTION LAB IS BACK HOME IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, SO EVERYTHINGS DONE THERE. BASICALLY THE REASON I HAVE NOT STARTED COMPOSING WHILE I’M ON THE ROAD IS BECAUSE I’M PERFORMING ON A MACBOOK, AND MY PRODUCTION SOFTWARE IS ON A P.C. SO BASICALLY IF I WANT TO START PRODUCING TRACKS ON THE ROAD, I’M GOING TO NEED TO GET SOME PORTABLE LAPTOP, SORT OF P.C., STYLE, WINDOWS BASED SYSTEM.

THE DIRT MOPPER: DAVID, THE MUSIC INDUSTRY HAS SHOWN AFTER THE RELEASE OF “IN RAINBOWS” THAT MOST REVENUE DOES NOT COME FROM SALES, AND IT’S ALL ABOUT THE LIVE SHOW. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE LIVE SHOW EXPERIENCE OF “THE POLISH AMBASSADOR”?

T.P.A.: THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE I WORK WITH, THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THEY BRING TO THE SHOW. FOR INSTANCE, WITH TONIGHT, MICHAEL BOWLES OF RENAISSANCE RAVEN. WE SORT OF HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE NIGHT, AND HE SAYS “ I WANT TO DO THIS AND I WANT TO DO THAT.”  AND WE BUILD THE SHOW FROM THE GROUND UP, AND THAT HAPPENS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH DIFFERENT PROMOTERS. DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST IDEA PEOPLE, AND WE SAY “LETS DO THAT AND LET’S DO THIS.” SO IT CHANGES CONSTANTLY FROM CITY TO CITY.

THE DIRT MOPPER: ON THE SUBJECT OF PROMOTION, YOU DID MENTION RENAISSANCE RAVEN. HOW DO YOU PROMOTE YOURSELF?

T.P.A.: I USE THE INTERWEBS IN A VERY SERIOUS WAY. I USE FACEBOOK. I USE TWITTER. ON FACEBOOK I GIVE AWAY LOTS OF FREE MUSIC, BUT THE THING IS, YOU HAVE TO TUNE IN. ALL THE SUDDEN I’LL POST “IF YOU DO THIS, I’LL GIVE YOU MY ENTIRE DISCOGRAPHY.” BUT YOU HAVE TO BE TUNED IN.

THE DIRT MOPPER: YES, YOU DO MAKE A LOT OF YOUR FACEBOOK POSTS CONTESTS. WHY DO YOU MAKE THEM CONTESTS? DOES THAT ENCOURAGE FANS? DOES THAT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO YOUR SOUNDCLOUD? WHAT’S THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THAT?

T.P.A.: SO I POSTED ALL MY MUSIC FOR PURCHASE. I HAVE LIKE 15 SONGS THAT ARE FREE DOWNLOADS, AND THEN ONE ALBUM, “HOMEBOYS IN OUTERSPACE”, THAT’S A FREE 5 SONG EP. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, EVERYTHING IS FOR PURCHASE. SO AS FAR AS GETTING INTO BRANDING AND MARKETING, A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL TELL ME HEY, YOU’RE REALLY GOOD AT THAT. THAT’S ONE OF YOUR STRONGPOINTS. AND IT IS, BASICALLY THE REASON I THINK THAT’S SO IS BECAUSE I’VE CREATED VALUE FOR MY MUSIC. PEOPLE WHO ARE TUNED IN AND SEE THAT SAY “WOW, ALL THE SUDDEN HE’S GOING TO GIVE US THIS FOR FREE.” SO I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT FOR ME RIGHT NOW, AT THE LEVEL I’M AT, SO HAVE STUFF FOR SALE BUT THEN ALSO TO ENGAGE FANS AND BE LIKE HEY, IF YOU HELP ME OUT AND SPREAD THE WORD THAN I CAN HOOK YOU UP BIG TIME WITH A TON OF FREE MUSIC. YOU HAVE CATS LIKE PRETTY LIGHTS AND THE PEOPLE ON HIS LABEL WHO JUST GIVE IT AWAY FOR FREE. I’M SORT OF WORKING WITH A DIFFERENT FORMULA RIGHT NOW, AND THING’S ARE WORKING OUT GREAT. THING’S ARE PICKING UP BIG TIME.

THE DIRT MOPPER: SO WITH ALL THE FREEDOM OF THE INTERNET, PEOPLE TWEETING AND RETWEETING, HASHTAGS, FACEBOOK, WITH ARTISTS HAVING SO MANY FREE FORMS OF MARKETING, DO YOU THINK MUSIC IS BECOMING MORE OF A SELF-MARKETING CONTEST?

T.P.A.: WELL, UM, I THINK IT’S MAKING PEOPLE FOCUS MORE ON BRANDING, FOCUSING ON COMING OUT AND SEEING THAT ARTISTS PERFORM IN THE LIVE SETTING. I THINK TODAY IT’S ESSENTIAL THAT ARTISTS GIVE AWAY AT LEAST SOME MUSIC FOR FREE. YA KNOW, MY ALBUM SALES, I CAN NOT GET BY ON ALBUM SALES. I NEED TO BE OUT ON THE ROAD PERFORMING. AND, YA KNOW, WHEN YOU GIVE STUFF AWAY FOR FREE THERE’S SYSTEMS IN PLACE LIKE SOUNDCLOUD AND BANDCAMP THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO OFFER DONATIONS. SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE STRAPPED FOR CASH CAN GET IT FOR FREE, AND SOME PEOPLE WITH A LITTLE MORE CASH WHO ARE LIKE “THIS IS REALLY DOPE” CAN BE LIKE OK, I WANT TO GIVE THIS GUY YA KNOW, A FEW BUCKS FOR THIS FREE DOWNLOAD HE JUST GAVE ME. IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF FANS IT CAN REALLY ADD UP. IT CAN ADD UP TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN MAKE MONEY AND TOUR, AND PAY YOUR AIRFARE, AND THEN BASICALLY THE BIGGER MONEY COMES WHEN YOU’RE DOING THE BIGGER SHOWS LIKE THE FESTIVALS. AND GOING TO BIG CITIES LIKE PORTLAND FOR THE THIRD TIME, OR NEW YORK CITY, AND IT SELLS OUT AT LIKE 500 PEOPLE. THAT’S THE BIG SHOW, THAT’S WHEN THE BIG MONEY COMES.

THE DIRT MOPPER: DID YOU LIKE PLAYING IN NEW YORK?

T.P.A.: LOVED IT. LOVE PLAYING IN NEW YORK. I’M DOING MY THIRD SHOW THERE MAY 28^TH, SO SUPER STOKED ABOUT THAT. IT’S MY FIRST HEADLINING SHOW IN NEW YORK CITY, SO I’M PRETTY PUMPED ABOUT THAT.

THE DIRT MOPPER: DO YOU PREFER THE FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE, OR THE INDIVIDUAL SHOW?

T.P.A.: UM, YA KNOW, THAT’S A TOUGH QUESTION. I THINK I HAVE LOVE FOR BOTH OF THEM. AT THE FESTIVALS IT’S REALLY DIFFICULT TO JUMP OUT AND SAY HI TO THE FANS, BECAUSE THE NEXT ACT IS COMING ON AND INSTEAD, YOU GO BACK AND CHILL WITH THE REST OF THE BANDS THAT ARE HANGING OUT. IT’S ALMOST TOO INSANE TO WALK OUT IN THE CROWD. AT THE SMALLER SHOWS IT’S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY CONNECT WITH FANS. PEOPLE COME OUT AND THEY’RE SUPER INSPIRED BY WHAT YOU’RE DOING, AND YOU GET TO HEAR A LITTLE ABOUT THEM AND HEAR THEIR STORY. FOR ME THAT’S SUPER FUN. I LOVE TO HEAR A LITTLE ABOUT MY FANS AND CONNECT WITH THEM, HOPEFULLY MAKE THEM MY FRIENDS. SO THEY’RE FANS AND FRIENDS. AND THAT ENCOURAGES THEM TO COME OUT EVEN MORE.

THE DIRT MOPPER: TELL ME ABOUT A TYPICAL POLISH AMBASSADOR FAN.

T.P.A.: HAHA. HA. TYPICAL, THEY DIG THAT I BRING A LOT OF VARIETY TO THE TABLE. I DO A LOT OF MULTI-GENRE STUFF. I’LL START OFF WITH SOME SLOWER TRACKS. IN THE 70,80,90 BPM RANGE. IT’S SLOW, A LOT OF BASS, SUPER FAST PERCUSSION, AND PEOPLE LOVE THAT. THEN I GRADUALLY MOVE UP TO HOUSE MUSIC. THOSE PEOPLE WHO COME OUT ARE FANS WHO LIKE MUSIC IN GENERAL AND THEY DON’T GET STUCK IN ONE GENRE. THEY SORT OF ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE THAT MUSIC CREATES FOR THEM WHEN THEY COME TO A SHOW.

THE DIRT MOPPER: I HEARD YOU’RE VEGAN, AND THAT YOU LIKE TO DO YOGA. ARE THE RUMORS TRUE?

T.P.A.: HAHA! ACTUALLY, I’M NOT VEGAN, BUT I DO LOT TO EAT REALLY HEALTHY. ACTUALLY, ON THE RAOD IT’S TOUGH MAN. YOU’RE TOURING IN LIKE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES AND, ALL YOU SEE OUT THERE IS BOJANGLES AND BURGER KING. AND I’M NOT GONNA LIE, SOMETIMES I HIT UP BOJANGLES AND GET A CHICKEN BISCUIT. YOU DON’T HAVE MANY OPTIONS OUT THERE. TODAY IN SEATTLE, I WAS VERY LUCKY TO FIND A LITTLE SUSHI PLACE BECAUSE OTHER PLACES IT’S LIKE YEAH, IT’S LIKE BURGER KING. FOR ME, WHEN I’M HITTING THE ROAD NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, IT’S A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH CONSUMING FOOD THAT’S JUST GOING TO WEIGH ME DOWN.

THE DIRT MOPPER: WHAT ABOUT THE YOGA?

T.P.A.: HAHA! WHERE’D YOU HEAR THAT FROM? HA. THE YOGA. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO HAVE THINGS IN MY LIFE THAT KEEP MY MIND AT EASE. YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE MOVING SO FAST RIGHT NOW, AND YEAH, I GO OUT. I GO OUT AND DANCE. I GO OUT AND DANCE TO MUSIC THAT PEOPLE MAYBE DON’T NORMALLY GO OUT AND DANCE TO. IT’S SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS ME TO JUST SETTLE DOWN AND RELAX. I’M GETTING HIT UP LEFT AND RIGHT. MY AGENCIES TELLING ME “HEY, LET’S DO THIS SHOW, LET’S DO THAT SHOW.” AND YOU KNOW, TRYING TO WORK OUT OTHER STUFF LIKE GETTING MY MUSIC PLACED IN COMMERCIALS, IT’S SORT OF NONSTOP BUSINESS WISE. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO DO THINGS FOR ME. I’M NOT GOING TO SAY I DO, LIKE, TONS OF YOGA. BUT YEAH, TIME TO TIME, I’LL HIT A YOGA CLASS BECAUSE IT ALLOWS ME TO GET OUT OF MY HEAD AND INTO MY BODY.

THE DIRT MOPPER: YOGI AND A DJ. WHY’D YOU FIRST GET INTO MUSIC ITSELF?

T.P.A.: IT ALL STARTED AS A HOBBY. MY REAL ROOTS, LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MUSIC: I WANTED TO BE A RAP STAR. IT WASN’T FLYING, SO I MOVED ON TO DJING, AND I TRIED TO BE A SCRATCH DJ. THAT WAS SORT OF BEDROOM STYLE. I GOT OUT AND ROCKED A FEW HOUSE PARTIES, BUT WAS NEVER ABLE TO CUT IT. EVENTUALLY, PRODUCTION CAME ALONG, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING I COULD REALLY ZERO IN ON. I’VE ALWAYS BEEN MORE OF A TECHNICAL PERSON, AND IT JUST CAME NATURAL TO ME TO CREATE AND NOODLE ON THE INTERNET. FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS, AND HOW TO DO THAT. CREATE THESE RHYTHMS AND THESE BASSLINES, AND SEARCH ON THE INTERNET FOR THE COOLEST, WIERDEST, A CAPELLA THAT I COULD FIND TO BRING INTO MY MUSIC.

THE DIRT MOPPER: UPCOMING PLANS?

T.P.A.: DOING A FEW FESTIVALS. ONE UP HERE IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS IS THE REGENERATION FESTIVAL WITH STS9. STOKED FOR THAT. I’M PRETTY MUCH BOOKED OUT EVERY WEEKEND FOR THE NEXT MONTH, AND AT THIS POINT I NEED TO TURN DOWN GIGS SO I CAN HAVE THAT SPECIAL TIME FOR ME. THAT YOGA TIME. A LOT OF STUFF’S COMING IN AND A LOT OF STUFF IS GETTING PACKED UP. CHECK MY CALENDARS, I’M PROBABLY COMING THROUGH YOUR HOOD IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS OR SO.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE AUDIO OF THIS INTERVIEW, IT CAN BE FOUND IN THE “DIRT MOPPER RADIO” ARCHIVES.