Tony Cummings pitched some questions at TRIFLESKY's Choo.

Triflesky

Tony: Who or what is triflesky?

Choo: Triflesky began in September 2000 with myself and my brother 'Q'. He agreed to help me record and perform the material and has been a real blessing. We released our first album, 'a taste of triflesky' at the Cross Rhythms Breakthrough festival in July 2001. Since then we have been playing around Britain, mainly in the South Wales region, where we've established quite a following. Stevey joined triflesky in January 2002, bringing another four instruments to the lineup which now includes lead guitar, saxes, flute, keyboards, electronic and acoustic drums, percussion and electronic devices.

Tony: Your first EP had a song called "Blue Sky" which amazingly, despite featuring a howling dog, made the Cross Rhythms playlist. Were you surprised by that and are there any future plans to feature family pets?

Choo: I was surprised (despite Tottydog's appearance on "Blue Sky") to get on the playlist purely because of the quality of the recording; "Blue Sky" was our first attempt at recording in Q's Bog Sounds Studio and the results were very lo-fi and unlike the expertly produced material that usually gets airplay. Of course, Tottydog thinks it was his presence that made the song so popular. A different version of "Blue Sky" will feature on our next album, this time without Tottydog. We've recorded a gang of children singing the chorus lines, but may change this for yet another version by the time the album's ready. I'm sure Totty will get his nose through the studio door in time to feature somewhere on the album. He hates being left out.

Tony: How is your Christian faith reflected in your music?

Choo: I frequently use the Bible for lyrical inspiration. Triflesky is a melodic history of my walk with God, my experiences and the way I perceive life in general.

Tony: Your music's pretty hard to classify. What have been your major creative influences?

Choo: Hmmm...This list could be huge, so I could simply say from Abba to Zappa. I grew up listening to my brothers' fave sounds, which included Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Boston, Beach Boys, Deep Purple. My first major love was Stevie Wonder's 1970's albums, followed by Blondie, B52s, dub reggae, punk; Van Morrisson, Courtney Pine and other contemporary jazz, jazz funk, Bizet's Carmen, and lots more. I'm also influenced by visual things. These include flowers, fields, creatures, people and manmade items such as roads, cars, good design, art....

Tony: I understand this new EP is a taster for a full album. What will that be called and when is it likely to come out?

Choo: 'Consumer' is the title of our next album, which will hopefully be ready by late August/early September 2002. This title depends on whether I can get my packaging idea carried out or not; if not, I might change the name of the album to 'Blue Sky' or simply 'triflesky'.

Tony: Tell me about a couple of the songs on this EP. What inspired them?

Choo: "Thirsty" is the title track and is based around the Bible verse "What should it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his own soul?" This statement begins and ends the track and lyrics used inbetween relate to the thirst of a man's soul that cannot be quenched by material gain. "Give" was written during a time of shaking and upheaval in the local church. The lyrics are written to remind us of the need to give ourselves wholeheartedly to God's will and that anything less will open a door for bitterness, criticism and other human conditions to enter our lives. It also acts as a reminder that we are saved not through our works but through the mercy and grace of God, without which we are no different to unbelievers.