Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

In person

Tom Barman

Deus (or dEUS, as they prefer) are currently one of the most well regarded indie bands worldwide. They’ve sold over a million CDs and are based in Antwerp. Their tour dates in Belgium this spring sold out within minutes of going on sale. Presently touring throughout Europe, their next concert will be at Rock Werchter, on 3-6 July, where they’ll be sharing the limelight with Beck, Moby and REM. The mastermind behind the band’s current success is Belgian frontman, award-winning composer and film director Tom Barman

Text Sheridan Becker
Images Kris Dewitte

01 Do you have a preference between making movies or performing in front of a crowd?
Well, the two are entirely different. Performing is much more direct. When you finish making a movie, it’s done. But with a record, it doesn’t stop. I don’t see a similarity between the two apart from the fact that I enjoy doing both.

02 You once said: “If a song gives you something, that’s when it’s good.” Do you have a personal favourite from any of your albums?
I don’t think we’re there yet. I do have favourites, but only a few. Perhaps it’s not good to share this bit of information because that would take away from people’s experience with the music. This might sound like an excuse, but it’s not.

03 There’s a huge buzz surrounding Steven Spielberg’s Tintin trilogy, which is set to start filming in January 2009. If Spielberg were to approach you to create a song or two for his upcoming film, would you consider it?
I doubt that he would ask us (laughing) because we’re a bit too… well… dark. On the other hand, we have a frivolous side, which might work. I’ve provided music in the past for other films. It’s great fun. It’s also a great compliment when one of our songs is used like that.

04 If you wanted Spielberg to listen to one song, to show the fun and frivolous side of dEUS, what would it be?
Spielberg? The man himself? I guess The Architect [from the album Vantage Point] would be a good one.

05 What are your plans for next year?
We’re going to tour and produce an album relatively quickly this time around. In the past we’ve taken our time both on tour and while creating albums. That’s mostly because we like to work a long time in the studio and also because we had a lot of line-up changes, but now the band is more stable. We also have our own studio, which will enable us to work faster. This is a whole new stage for us. It’s very exciting.

06 You have several sold-out concerts across Europe this summer, but is there anything planned for your home town?
We’re playing in Antwerp at the end of the year, it just hasn’t been finalised yet. The venue hasn’t been confirmed, but in July we’ll make an announcement.

07 Do you have a ritual before a show?
We have a band-only moment about 15 minutes before the show. We talk and then ‘ice bear’ around the room [means pacing around a room without any purpose].

08 What was your best concert ever?
In Belgium, it would definitely be Werchter 2006. But it’s hard to choose one concert, they’ve all been fantastic.

09 What are your favourite places to hang out or eat in Antwerp?
My favourite bar is Kassa 4 (21 Ossenmarkt, tel. ). It has great music and is an unpretentious place. There’s also a very nice terrace – in Antwerp everyone wants to sit outside the moment the sun comes out. Rimini (5 Vestingstraat, tel. ) is a great Italian restaurant. The owner is a nice guy and the food is very good. Ciro’s (6 Amerikalei, tel. ) offers typical Belgian food and has the best steaks in town. A fantastic dish is the toast with smoked eel and horseradish – it’s smashing. This place has been around for 40 years or more.

A good club is Café Capital (37 Rubenslei, tel. ), right in Central Park. It’s open every Thursday to Saturday. There’s a very good choice of DJs and in summer you can sit outside and enjoy a few drinks. It’s also open all night, one of the few places in Belgium that doesn’t close. You can party until 8am and still not be the last to leave.

10 When did your passion for film and music begin?
It was film first. I was 15 years old. I remember it well because I wanted to subscribe to a screen writers’ festival and they wouldn’t let me enter because I was too young. Then, at 17, I decided I wanted to study film in Brussels.

11 Are you thinking about your next album at all?
Yes. We’ll be starting to work on it in June. We’re going to be touring until the end of the year, but we take every opportunity, any time off, to head over to the studio. We’re all in our mid-thirties and time is a factor.

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