Pointing straight at me wearing red Adidas high tops, is the co-producer to ZZT, actor and owner of Turbo records, TIGA. “Let’s go”, he says, before we rush into his changing room. Last night was the screening of Ivory Tower, a movie in which he plays ruthless jazz-chess cynic Thaddeus. The questions kept flying till 1:30 am but any fatigue has been replaced by an eagerness to see Zombie Nation play his DJ set at LED festival. Soon to be released in November is their co-produced track, Zzafrica as well as a full album. It’s one of his favourite tracks he’s made. Unfortunately rumours of a Thomas Von Party remix are false but his star turn in Gonzales’ new comedy, also featuring Peaches, is not. Don’t Panic spoke to TIGA about meeting childhood heroes, the importance of socks and turning his podcast to radio.

 

Yes, I would. At school I did radio for eight years, it’s fun. Especially now I have more that I want to say. There’s more and more good music but I think clubs and festival are getting quite segregated. So I’m finding it harder to integrate more music into my sets. Something like a radio show is a great way to play the music you want to play, explain it and build it up. You’re free from the tyranny of either making people dance or keeping everyone happy – which for me is my mission in life. Not keeping anybody happy is what I’m aiming for.

 

That’s pure Gonzales. Some people have said it reminds them of my lyrics, that it suits my voice, but for me it’s very different. I mean Sex o’clock was a little bit ridiculous but it made sense to me. Those I am Europe lyrics to me are crazy. I guess that goes to show you that what’s crazy to one person might be sane to another.

 

The parts that were fun filming don’t necessarily translate as the same. I mean what was fun filming was once you get more comfortable in the role. There was a lot of stuff that I improvised where I could be a real brat or obnoxious that was really fun. The chess stuff was fun. But my favourite scenes were the park scene at the end, where I elaborately set Gonzales up and the ‘mirror TV’ scene – that’s typical brother bullshit.

 

 

That album was fully Gonzales and Boyz Noize. I was very interested in the movie, the chess concepts and writing my part, making sure I had good lines. When you do something like that it’s not like making a track. There is the potential for humiliation and really going down in flames is actually really high. So I’m happy that it came out well. I’m happy that people were enjoying it. It was a very, very positive experience.

 

It was always online. I sent him this link of a chess game which just visually looked really good. I didn’t even know how easy online chess is or how it worked. We started playing these games that would go on for days. We had no time limit. So every time you’d go back to your computer you’d make your move.  I won in the beginning so I started to get very interested. Then the tide shifted he got better. We’re about even as players. I’m lazier than he is, he’ll pick up a book about chess.

 

It’s a good question. I guess it depends on what he’s doing. I mean if you walk in with pants, they’d have to be pretty nice to notice them, I mean pants usually go unnoticed, unless there is something wrong. If you have beautiful pants on and I notice well you’re going to get marked off on a list in my head. I’ll want to maybe meet you but if you have shit pants it doesn’t matter. Socks are a different story. I’m impressed by people with beautiful socks. Most people use old socks and they recycle socks, they treat them badly. So, when I see someone with a real sock collection I have to tip my hat to that. I mean I’m one of those people now. It took me a while but I wasn’t like that originally.

 

It’s a little statue for hardcore fans and I bought one. I think it’s a healthy thing to be a fan of things. It’s a nice feeling. When you’re thirteen years old, you’re a fan of all kinds of things. As people get older they think they’re above it. They loose that feeling and get competitive which is all very negative. It’s exciting to give yourself up to someone else’s art or their music. I’m like that when I’m listening to Matthew Dear’s album. I’m sitting at the airport and I could be twelve years old.

 

 

It’s inspirational, you completely forget you’re own bullshit and you start dreaming. That’s the way I feel about the XX. I think if you asked me... [laughs] I would trade in my album just to be able to listen to their album.

 

It’s been cool but it’s probably still better not to. The only reason is if you don’t meet them they just stay as they were. Sometimes it’s amazing. Years ago I met Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran, a real hero of mine and he was exactly the person I hoped he would when I was ten. Bryan Ferry is totally like Bryan Ferry. Everyone likes to bash famous people but the fact of the matter is most of the time they’re there because they’re talented, ambitious or clever. So you have something to learn from everybody. Bryan Ferry dresses well.