Eddie Tadross

"You Without Me" appeared on 2009 Billboard Music & Advertising CD for the inaugural annual event. It was featured as track #1. - Billboard & Adweek

Essentials

Eddie Tadross is a Long Island native who has worked in New Orleans, San Diego, and the U.K. He has returned to New York.

In December of 2003 Tadross released his first solo work, an electronic-pop EP, under the pseudonym “governortea.” He worked the coffee shop circuit and then fronted an alternative rock band. Based on his website calendar, Tadross now seems to be chiefly working cafes, bars, and music halls in New York City.

Eddie Tadross' Demo EP is exactly that, a small collection of unreleased songs designed to demonstrate Eddie Tadross’ skills as a singer, composer, keyboardist (piano, Hammond B3, Wurlitzer), and recording artist. Full streams and downloads of the songs are available here at Tadross' MySpace.com site. Lyrics for the songs can be viewed here at Tadross' personal website. 2 May 2008 Update: Downloads of several songs are also available on Eddie's website, including his fantastic new song, ``You Without Me".

Tadross has been said to have ``a voice that sounds like Bono with a Michael Hutchence attitude" (Jennifer Layton, Indie-Music.com). I would say this is a fair characterization. I would only add that compared to both Bono and Michael Hutchence, Tadross' recorded work thus far is decidedly more reserved and understated.

The four songs on Tadross' Demo EP succeed in demonstrating his extensive skill as singer, composer, keyboardist, and recording artist. My personal favorites were ``Somewhere New” and ``Oil Change.” Hopefully these four songs will help open opportunities for Tadross.

Triflings

Paraphrasing Greg Brown (Puremusic.com):
The music should be in the front seat.
(With Greg Brown everything boils down to a car metaphor.)

I have three principal complaints with Tadross' Demo EP:

There aren't any up-tempo songs.
The included songs don't have any vibrant up-tempo or climatic moments.
For the most part, the contribution of the sidemen is overshadowed by the vocals and keyboards.
The first two points are self-explanatory, so I will only comment on the third. I listened to this EP for several weeks before I realized there were any instruments besides vocals, keyboards, and occasional drums. Bringing string rhythms or percussion noises to the fore from time to time would have added some welcome spice.

Rating

In Demo, Tadross shows us his skills. Ok, I'm convinced, Eddie. You're a very talented guy. Now can you give me some excitement!?!

My guess is that Tadross was seriously bummed out, when he put Demo together. I'm hoping he's over that period of his life (that woman in his life?). I'm hoping he's ready to go ``Somewhere New." Somewhere exciting!


Rating is 4 out of 5, where 5 is perfect.
- Tim's Befuddled Universe

Eddie Tadross, the creative soul behind Governortea, has concocted a musical drug with his self-titled EP. I feel my mind expanding while I listen. These five songs are electronic pop with classical elegance and cynical sophistication. Think New Age psychedelic hymns with a bit of funk in the delivery, sung by a voice that sounds like Bono with a Michael Hutchence attitude.

Tadross says on his web site that he’s working on a full-length album. Now that I’ve experimented a little, I’m hooked. As these songs blend into each other without any real stops, mournful lyrics float out, crooning, “She won’t care when the road to your heart leads nowhere...” But it’s not all sadness. “The Game” shows a little more aggression, with a pulsing beat that wakes you right out of the reverie. Then the quiet instrumental, “Inner Peace,” lets you quietly drift back in.

This is an exciting debut from an artist who seems to keep pretty much to himself. No promotional materials with the CD, and little introspection on the web site. He lets the music speak for him. After hearing it, there’s not much left to say except, “How soon will the full album be ready - Indie-Music.com

A delicious 5 track EP of diverse, eclectic and electric ambiance from musical visionary Eddie Tadross a.k.a Governortea. Sounding like a sedated Trent Reznor or a sleeping Aphex Twin this experience weaves its musical spell and draws the listener into a trance like state.

"Kindbud" is awash with quirky little affects which hide behind a soft beat and huge bursts of classical piano while passion filled vocals are echoed over the top culminating in a breathtaking, heart stopping moment.

Second track "Growth and Decay" is oozing with thick layers of organ while other bizarre sounds and affects leap from left to right. The fast paced and processed electronic beats pound like a metronome to the back of your skull. As the song comes to an end it becomes coated with slow beautiful strings that lead into "She won't care" which is so laidback it's almost an audio daydream.

"The Game" is riddled with tribal beats and would have easily fitted anywhere on "The Fragile" by Nine Inch Nails. Such is the depth of each song that it must have taken an age to perfect every little sound and effect. This record reveals something new on every further listen.

Final track "Inner Peace" is the warm down after a sprint. It gives you time to reflect on what you have just heard and leaves you confident that this EP is something very special indeed.
- Leeds Music Scene (U.K.)

"An outstanding artist" - Taxi A&R

"[A] gifted songwriter" - The Deli Magazine


WT: Welcome to the blog, Eddie. I'm honoured to have you as a guest on Wordtryst. I 'discovered' you when I created a promotional video for my novel, Café Au Lait, on the Animoto site. I remember going through hundreds of song clips, but the decision was easy: I wanted your music. Can you tell us a bit about your background?

Eddie: I grew up in the Long Island suburbs of New York City, started piano lessons around 11 and played open mics in the city as a teenager. I headed to New Orleans at 18 on a scholarship to Tulane University and got hooked up opening up for local bands at Jimmy's, a rock club uptown. After a year in the U.K. (I vaguely remember briefly singing for an Oasis cover band), I moved to southern California, where I fronted an alt-rock band in San Diego and played solo there and L.A. Now I'm back in New York City, where I've been performing solo/writing/recording, etc.

WT: What kind of music did you love growing up? Which artistes in particular inspired you to write your own music?


Eddie: I was very into some of the greats, such as Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, Paul Simon. So I guess you could say "classic" rock.


WT: When did you begin creating your own music? What prompted you to start?


Eddie: At some point I switched piano teachers from a stuffy classical teacher to a vary cool jazz/rock musician. I was probably around 14 or so. I love classical, but I wanted to write my own music. So he taught me chords, and it all started from there.

WT: Tell us a bit about your process.


Eddie: Usually the basic idea and melody of a song will come out of me, most often when I'm not thinking about it (on a train, in a hotel room, taking a shower). Then I develop the lyrics and the rest of the song from that first idea. Sometimes it's easy, and sometimes I end up shelving an idea and returning to it later, if at all.

WT: Sounds a lot like the writing process! I love the You Without Me track that I used on my video, and when I found you on MySpace I listened to some others songs that were equally impressive. I thought: I want this! Where can a fan buy your music?


Eddie: For now there are some free downloads (including You Without Me) on my website. I am [currently writing] an album, which will be available on iTunes and everything when it comes about. Hopefully in 2010. Otherwise, there is an electro-pop EP I recorded back in 2004 available on iTunes; search "Governortea" to find it.

WT: How would you describe your genre? (pop, alternative, easy listening...?) Are there other genres you'd like to explore?



Eddie: That's a tough one. I guess it's a little of each of those, with a bit of indie thrown in. I've done electronic music (see above-mentioned Governortea EP), I also love country and jazz. I think there will always be elements of different genres in my music.

WT: Who are your favorite artistes currently? Have you met any of them?


Eddie: Tom Waits, Rufus Wainwright, Regina Spektor, Brazilian Girls. I ran into Regina on a flight to Chicago a while back, I'm sure she doesn't remember :)

WT: How do you fit family life into what must be a hectic schedule? Do you have a day job as well? I ask this because most of us writers cannot support ourselves by our writing, and I wonder if it's the same for the majority of musicians.


Eddie: I do have a day job and a family, so yes, it's not easy. Everybody is totally supportive of my music, at work and home, and it is just that I have to put things off until 11 at night or even for a few weeks...definitely requires patience.

WT: Hm. That scenario sounds familiar. I doubt it's ever easy balancing a creative life with the demands of everyday living. It was great having this chat with you, Eddie. I'm on your mailing list now, so when your album is released I'll be sure to mention it on the blog.


Eddie: Thanks for the interview opportunity and I wish you all the best with your writing.

WT: You're welcome, and thank you for the music!


Eddie's news:

He is currently in Vienna, Austria writing an album.
"You Without Me" is on the Best of SongHall CD, Vol 7, released June 2nd 2009. www.songhall.org/
"You Without Me" appeared on Billboard's 12-song compilation CD for the inaugural Music & Advertising convention at the W Hotel in NYC, June 4th & 5th. http://www.billboardevents.com/billboardevents/ma/index.jsp
Eddie's website: www.eddietadross.com
Eddie on MySpace: www.myspace.com/eddietadross
You Without Me on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdTnVxGLdS0 - Wordtryst

Track "You Without Me" appeared on 2009 Songwriter's Hall of Fame CD and 2010 Hall of Fame podcast. - The Songwriter's Hall of Fame

Eddie Tadross is not only a gifted songwriter, but a talented singer and musician as well. The catchy, seductive songs on his 5-song EP Governortea show off his well-honed piano skills and melodic voice. Think the piano sensibility of Keane, coupled with the emotional beauty of Sigur Ros. A native New Yorker, Eddie combines elements of electronica, classical and jazz to create a pulsing, lo-fi pop sound. Entirely self-produced, the Governortea EP has already garnered wordwide airplay from Japan and Berlin to New York and San Diego. On "Kindbud," the opening track, lovelorn lyrics trace the contours of a battered heart ("Tell me how I can even last when I'm still dwelling on the past/I never meant to be yours.") The hypnotic backbeats of "Growth and Decay" have a dreamy effect, while the yearning, bliss-smacked ballad, "She Won't Care" is filled with sinewy rhythms. Governortea captures a no-frills intimacy that is refreshing in a solo artist. Quoting Frederic Chopin, while simultaneously giving praise to bands like Massive Attack and The Walkmen on his website, Eddie Tadross takes his music seriously. Songs like the last track, "Inner Peace" are perfect to wake up with or fall asleep to. Governortea will surely lead to more lounging at home. - The Deli Magazine (NYC)