Fake Turins

Name, where are you from?
Dominic Rose of Fake Turins, and the harrowing heights of North East London.

What do you do?
Perform cabaret renditions of our own original material in front of dancing audiences.

Describe your style in three words?
Disco, Textural, Sentimental.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Darkside at Primavera 2016, Ray-Ban stage. It was the moment I realised all of my friends were surrounding me, coupled with the euphoria of finally seeing this band. They began at 1am as the full moon came out and their track 'Golden Arrow' pummelled the stone floor into whirling dust. The one and only time I have seen them.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history 
It would be inauthentic of me not to put forward Talking Heads, from their 1980 Remain in Light tour - with Belew on the guitar and pre huge stage show, it would be such an experience to see what made them tick. The second choice would be '60s era James Brown, because between his immaculate players and incandescent performance style there’d be so much to learn.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
The most immediate subculture that has influenced our project is disco and its re-emergence in underground music. The culture around disco was so influential in pop music, from pioneering electronic music production to the iconic style of the period that it’s hard not to be compelled to explore. The severity with which partying was taken and the commitment to movement/dancing as a part of our every day is nothing short of inspiring. All of this is without even mentioning the profound political impact and supporting role it played in the evolution of queer culture.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Emily Dickinson is someone whose enigmatic persona and beautifully playful writing I’ve always been a fan of. I wonder what an hour of insight would offer me. Alternatively, Pina Bausch is someone whose work I’ve been fascinated by - perhaps I’d finally learn how to dance.

Of all the independent venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Oslo and Paper Dress Vintage in that corner of Hackney Central are two very good independent venues within jumping distance of each other. They both have very powerful PA systems (appropriate to the venue sizes) and yet crisp on-stage sound. The main attraction is always good monitoring. An honorary mention must be given to the George Tavern as well, with Fran running the events and making sure the live spectacle massively outranks the size.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Hard to say what constitutes unsung as the internet has a proclivity to generate cult worship for all those that popular media forgot. However, if I was to say someone from the music canon that I think doesn’t get enough attention I’d certainly choose Donald Byrd. His fanatic trumpet playing and arrangements born from the bebop era of New York jazz transcend style, and with his ensembles including young players like Herbie Hancock, I think it’s very hard to ignore his impact. My nominated track is 'Change (Makes You Want To Hustle)' from his hit record Places And Spaces.