A Dirty Dozen with DIMITRI BEN HAMOU and TOM BESSAH from TWO TRAINS LEFT – July 2024

According to a recent press release: “Two Trains Left is a pop-punk band hailing from Paris. Their debut EP, Sorry & Pathetic, released in 2018, garnered significant attention and set the stage for the band’s future successes. This initial triumph led them to open for notable acts such as Anti-Flag, Story Untold, Between You & Me, and Hockey Dad in Paris, as well as Møme on the main stage of the 24h de l’INSA festival in Lyon. The lockdowns of 2020 pushed 2TL to release three singles, spreading optimism to their fanbase while preparing for the future. In the summer of 2021, they released their second EP, As Safe As Yesterday, which was met with acclaim from both the press and fans alike. This EP marked the beginning of a new era for the band, blending pop-punk with a softer vibe and introducing a fresh atmosphere to their sound. In the spring of 2023, Two Trains Left embarked on a tour with the band Moonball (featuring members of Landmvrks), playing their single “Lack of Sleep” in Marseille, Lyon, and Paris. By the end of 2023, 2TL released “Comfort Zone,” headlined a sold-out show in Lyon, performed at the first edition of Mvrksfest, and opened for Neck Deep in Paris during their latest EU tour. Their debut LP, Probably For Nothing, is set to be released on September 20th.” We get singer / guitarist Dimitri and bassist Tom to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Dimitri: We worked on this first LP for quite some time now, It’s a big deal for us. A first album kinda defines you as a band. We really wanted to show all the aspects of Two Trains Left, and I believe this is what we did, and we couldn’t be more proud. And finally there are a few things hidden in the tracks like banjo parts on some songs, or some references to Stranger Things in the lyrics. It will be your job to find where.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Dimitri: I’ve always loved music since I’m a kid, but It’s really Sum 41 who made me want to become a musician. All Killer No Filler had a huge influence on who I am today.

Tom: My dad made me listen to a lot of stuff really early on. But there is one thing when I was a kid that blew my mind… It was discovering School of Rock on TV when I was like 7 years old. Then Pop-Punk came pretty much at the end of middle school with Blink-182 and co. That was the cherry on the cake.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Dimitri: Watching every Blink-182 live video possible back in the days, and discovering a lot of 80’s stuff lately like Huey Lewis has inspired me a lot! Synthwave also had a huge impact on me recently.

Tom: I fell in love with live music with AC/DC back in 2009 when i was 10. Since then I’ve been obsessed with music, no matter what genre I was listenning to, it had become my life!

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Dimitri: I believe if somehow Quincy Jones produced a song for us with Tom Delonge featuring on it, this could be the greatest song ever made! I really have this double identity where some parts of myself love the 80’s and others love pop-punk!

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

Tom: It really depends of my mood. The thing is (and I think it’s the same for Dimitri and that’s why we are friends) when I discover something new I can be obsessed  about it for months. For example, I think It was three years ago, We saw Karate Kid for the first time and It has been our only topic of discussion for like 6 months… We were looking for dojos to take classes, It was getting out of control! Right now I’m getting back to watching WWE again, can’t wait to see where it goes haha!

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Dimitri: I would say it’s Pop-Punk combined with a mellow vibe that has a heavier vibe sometimes. It’s really funny because I feel like in France people have a thing where they don’t take Pop-Punk seriously since for them, there hasn’t been something in this genre since the 00’s. But I hope somehow we can prove them wrong!

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Tom: Ronald McDonald has always been there for us to get some delicious meals! But for the drinks that would definitely be me, and I’m sure J-B our drummer has a lovely voice after a few drinks in!

Dimitri: I’m sure J-B sings like an angel!

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Dimitri: During the summer of 2023, I was the merch guy for Landmvrks, and they were opening for Sum 41. After the show, I had the chance to walk on Deryck Whibley, that was quite intimidating but He was really nice!

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Tom: I’m always touched when people come at the merch table after a show or send us a DM on insta to tell us how much it means for them, or how they relate to a song and how it helps. It’s really humbling! But If I was not doing music, I would love to be a soccer coach. Soccer has always been my second love.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

Dimitri: Since we are massive movie fans, we’ve always wanted to talk about cinema (especially from the 80’s). It really has an impact on some of our videos. Otherwise, I don’t feel comfortable with questions like what makes you stand out as a band? I don’t feel like we’re the ones who should answer that question.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Dimitri: Honestly, no. I think every band has their journey and should enjoy it as long as it lasts. You definitely learn from every choice you make and it helps you grow as a human being.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Dimitri: I would say Thriller from Michael Jackson since It’s one of the greatest, if not the greatest record of all time. That level of detail has been untouched for me, and also I would love to see Quincy doing his magic.

Tom: I think for me It would be Wasting Light from the Foo Fighters. This album resonates a lot with me, and there is this doc about Foo Fighters where we see a glimpse of the recording sessions, and it looks so cool!

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Category: Interviews