T-Rextasy has a punk ethos with a touch of magic.
by Jasmine Bourgeois Photo by Ulloa Photography Studio
Fun and light on the surface, T-Rextasy’s music is full of complex harmonies and catchy lyrics. It has a punky ethos, but there’s something a little more magical to it. With lyrics like, “You said I’m like a little nugget/soft and sweet and full of lovin’/but you are dead wrong/if I were meat/I’d be filet mignon,” it seems the band doesn’t take themselves too seriously. At the same time, it is anything but silly. While the songs are comical, they are ultimately political and undeniably good. The riffs are creative and genuinely intricate; the vocals, charmingly eccentric; and the coordination between the four, tangible. The drumming of 22-year-old New York native Ébun Zoule Nazon-Power keeps the band rooted and helps those of us listening to stay grounded in each track. She has a cool and effortless style but still beams with energy when she performs. Tom Tom spoke with Nazon-Power about “girl bands” and getting called out for going braless. Tom Tom: How did you get into music and how long have you been drumming? Ébun Zoule Nazon-Power: My journey as a drummer began when I was about 12-years- old and attended Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls in Brooklyn. In fact, my very first drum instructor at Willie Mae Rock Camp was (Tom Tom founder and editor) Mindy Abovitz! She was awesome, super helpful, and supportive. I have been in multiple bands ever since that first summer at Willie Mae. I guess I have been drumming for about 10 years.
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Are you in any other projects besides T-Rextasy?
TOM TOM MAGA ZI NE
T-Rextasy is my main gig at the moment, but I have been in other bands in the past. Last year, I was a drummer/lead singer of a band called Bitch Spit. I think we have a couple videos on YouTube, actually. We have a sick cover of “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child. I do hope to play more music outside of T-Rextasy in the near future. I also plan on embarking on a DJ apprenticeship. I have a feeling I would be very good at it.
You guys have some pretty fun and unconventional sounds. What’s it like writing the drum parts? In general, is writing songs a pretty collaborative project? Yeah, our sound is very unconventional. We like to call ourselves a new wave band, because we don’t really fit in with a lot of the sounds in the New York DIY music scene. Writing drum parts is generally easy for this band, but I think that is because we all work so well together. We are really good at communicating what we want and what our visions are without stepping over each other or putting each other down. We are super collaborative when it comes to songwriting. We each have our own gifts to share: Annie [Fidoten] is an amazing songwriter and bassist, Vera [Kahn] is a music technicality wizard, Lyris [Faron] is an incredible lyricist and zany performer, and I help bring forth harmonies and some melodies for songs while also playing drums. Working together with these women is a pleasure. We create magic.
