“Playing music feels like an endless journey, there’s always something new to explore,” says Daniel Elliott from Tokyo Tea Room, who has completely enchanted us with their debut album No Rush, which drops today. The band, hailing from Canterbury, Kent, is a collective of kindred spirits who came together through a shared love of music. Daniel and bassist Ben Marshall began crafting songs and jamming together in the early days, laying the groundwork for the group. Their lineup solidified when they met vocalist and keys player Beth Plumb and drummer Sam Teather at university, where their synergy naturally brought Tokyo Tea Room to life.
“It’s kinda everything from longing, introspection, nostalgia, and those fleeting moments of calm,” Daniel describes the images he had in mind for the album, where he wanted to create a feeling of movement through different emotional spaces, reflecting his own life. A soothing and comforting calm spreads through me as I write these lines, sinking into the songs and floating with them, and you can definitely feel the sea was also an inspiration. No Rush should actually be the motto of life, reminding us all to slow down a little and to give things time.
We talked with Daniel about the band’s journey, finding balance between creativity and madness, and the sentiment of yearning for something beyond the mundane.
photography by Liam Maxwell
I am just listening to your debut album “No Rush” – and I’m in love with it. It’s the perfect soundtrack to get into a good, positive, relaxed mood, to dream, or even to focus while working. What images or emotions were in your head when creating the songs on this album?
Thank you! – it means a lot to hear how the album resonates with you! When writing No Rush I wanted to create a feeling of movement through different emotional spaces, reflected from my own life. It’s kinda everything from longing, introspection, nostalgia and those fleeting moments of calm. I always thought of the sea as the perfect manifestation of those emotional states, unpredictable, shifting between calm and chaos, much like my inner world. I find myself by the sea a lot, I feel like it’s a way to connect to something bigger but also introspective.
How long did you work on the album, and which moments were the most intense or maybe even the most challenging?
We started work on the album in 2023, although a lot of the songs had already existed as ideas for a long time prior. Creatively, the songs came together very naturally, but there were times when finishing songs were challenging. Breathing new life into old songs can be a difficult process, but it didn’t feel rushed. The most intense moments were the final stages, bringing every layer together, I pressure myself to make every detail feel just right. Finding the balance between creativity and madness was driving me over the edge a bit, but I worked with a great mixer, Alain, who really helped with that.
“I try to explore the deep down emotions, the ones you don’t let anyone see.” Daniel Elliott
Could you each introduce yourselves briefly to our readers? And can you share a bit about the very beginning of your band’s story?
On vocals we have Beth Dunn, on drums we have Sam Teather, on bass we have Ben Marshall and on guitar, vocals and synth is myself (Daniel Elliott). We’ve been playing music together for a long time now. I wrote songs and jammed them with Ben in the early days with a view to starting a project, then we met Sam and Beth at university and invited them to join. We went through a few different sounds before we defined our groove with Dream Room.
Daniel, do you still have your studio, Roswell Recordings?
I don’t have that place anymore, but we do have a different studio in Margate where we rehearse and record everything on the album. I worked as a producer at Roswell, I built it with a couple of friends and It was around that time I started writing Dream Room. I had to give it up in the covid madness as it didn’t become viable anymore, but I got really lucky in Margate to find our new studio.
Why did you choose the band name “Tokyo Tea Room”? Is there a personal connection, or do you have a special fondness for Japan?
There isn’t a direct personal connection with Japan but definitely a fondness. The name is supposed to inspire a feeling of escape – like stepping out of the noise to have a moment of calm. The contrast in the name reflects the duality in our sound – Tokyo suggests fast paced, vibrant energy, while tea room reflects calmness and serenity. It’s my way of romanticising escapism.
“The world is beautiful, you just gotta stop and appreciate the details.”
You all come from Canterbury, a small town in the southwest of England. How has the place where you grew up shaped you – both in your personal lives and musically?
I actually grew up in Brighton, and a lot of the place, the experiences, friendships and hardships I had there have influenced the lyrical content of the album. I carry Brighton with me in that sense, and I’ll always have love for my hometown, despite its changes over the years. It was in Canterbury where we created the band, and experienced our humble beginnings. Canterbury has a history of psych rock music with bands such as: Syd Arthur and caravan defining it over the years. I think in the early days that heritage crept its way into our music, but Dream Room marked our departure from that sound and we tried to bring something different to our little music scene. The experiences and the people from that place still make their way into the lyrical content of the music we produce.
What’s the story behind the track “I Would”?
I would explores the nature of caring for someone beyond the point of reason, It’s an expression of longing and love. The aim was to capture the intense and sometimes irrational nature of profound affection. The chorus hook repeats the line: “I would give it up for you”. – you know I think sometimes that feeling is either divine, or madness. Like you keep checking your phone for messages, or driving without a destination.
Which track has the most personal lyrics for you, and if so, what is it about?
I pour a bit of myself into every song, especially when it comes to the lyrics. It’s got to be intentional and come from a place of authenticity otherwise I don’t connect. I try to explore the deep down emotions, the ones you don’t let anyone see. I find that to be a good well of creativity. I do find myself coming back to Passing Time a lot, it perfectly encapsulated how I felt a lot of the time.
Passing Time is an ode for those caught in a repetitive rhythm of life, a collective nod to anyone who has ever felt like each day is a déjà vu. It echoes the sentiment of yearning for something beyond the mundane. The lyrics are like your inner voice urging you that there’s more to life.
What are your hopes for the band’s musical journey in the coming years? Are you very ambitious with specific goals, or is your approach more step-by-step, seeing where the journey takes you?
Our whole journey has been a mix of ambition and letting things unfold naturally, I don’t think any of us thought we’d capture peoples’ imaginations to the extent we have. But yeah, we want to play bigger stages, grow our audience and continue to create music that resonates with people for as long as we can get away with. No Rush is a big milestone for us, and hopefully it opens some doors. I guess we’ll see!
“Passing Time is an ode for those caught in a repetitive rhythm of life, a collective nod to anyone who has ever felt like each day is a déjà vu.”
What music inspires you, and what do you listen to most often?
I have an eclectic taste. I go through phases of listening to 20’s romantic jazz to indie rock and everything in between. That’s the beautiful thing, sometimes it just captures you and it doesn’t matter where it came from. I didn’t listen to much music when I was making No Rush, there were a few reasons for that. Mainly I wanted to avoid being influenced by other artists or unintentionally comparing myself to them – it can be a pretty self-destructive mindset. But now it’s nice to have No Rush out of my skin and enjoy listening to other artists again.
What’s the best part about being a musician? And what’s the hardest part?
For me, there are so many amazing aspects of making music. – creating with friends, jamming, expressing yourself, and discovering new sparks of creativity. Playing music feels like an endless journey, there’s always something new to explore. That’s what drew me to play guitar in the first place, it’s a constant source of inspiration, and it never felt boring. The hardest part is trying to make a career out of it. lol
What’s your most nostalgic memory so far in life?
I feel nostalgic for the good old days all the time. It’s true what they say!
And the most important thing in life is…
Family. The world is beautiful, you just gotta stop and appreciate the details.
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