Interview with Jimi Chialoufas, Guitarist, Bassist and songwriter for Two Pound Tea

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

My parents were really into their music, dad was into Elvis, Chuck Berry, Rockabilly music and 70s glam rock. Mum was more into her classic rock and metal like GnR and Metallica. From the age of 4/5 I only had exposure to those styles of music. So really it all came from my parents. Then there was the music channels of the 00s that gave further exposure to different styles. Myself and Lead singer Will Pye would be over each others houses sharing music as teenagers all the time, he was a massive Jimi Hendrix fan, and was more into bluesy rock and indie rock, but we both shared a mutual love of bands like the Clash and Sex pistols, which would later become relevant when we put the band together. Without music, and how it shaped me as a kid and teenager, I’d be a completely different person. How boring would that be?

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

Raging against the big guy! In general, I hate seeing big powerful corporations crush everyday people just for the sake of their own greed. It’s not that I particularly like the everyday person, I just don’t like seeing them walked over by someone that is no better than them, but got lucky in life’s financial lottery, and rather than using that wealth for good, they’re using it for ego and power.

How long has your band been around?

We started jamming in our original drummers living room summer 2017 (he had a drum kit and his own flat) doing nirvana covers, sex pistols covers, jams etc. We were looking for a singer for a while and one day Will came over to sing with us (him being my childhood best mate made it obvious!) and straight away it just fit. He has the perfect spirit to front a punk band, and between us there is a lot of energy and anger to be expressed.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

We’re all from in and around London, so I’m not sure how that influences. I think being English we’re quite self-depreciating, in your face and most importantly real. You won’t see us ‘acting’ to sell ourselves or our music. No TikTok videos embarrassing ourselves for likes, I’d rather fail than sell out who I am and I think Will is very similar. Even if we don’t always agree on the same things, both of us are coming from the same place and that is important.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

After a heavy night’s partying at Download Festival in 2017, I decided to have a morning(ish) cup of tea from a food van. The server handed over a polystyrene cup full of lukewarm water and a tea bag and said ‘milk and sugar is over there for you to add, the tea will be £2 please’. A TWO POUND TEA? That I had to put my own milk and sugar in? When we were jamming later that year it came back up and stuck. It’s our small way of raging against greed, profiteering and poking a bit of fun at ourselves too. After all, I paid for it. That same cup of tea now at Download Festival? £3. We will not be adjusting our name for inflation though.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

Opening for Tony Hadley was amazing, and it was so great hanging with a guy who has been there and done it in the industry, but I have to say playing a Wavey Faded event (a club gig promoting youth culture and up and coming bands) has always been my favourite. The crowd is young, ready to mosh and it always kicks off. I think it brings the best out of us too, so when the next one is held, make sure you come!

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

We have played our favourite local venues – the monarch, camden, trinity in harrow, the horn st albans and horns watford. So for us it’s now about playing bigger venues with bigger bands and festivals.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

The energy at the early punk shows in 1976/77 with the pistols or the clash would have been incredible to be part of. Also when Guns N Roses first got big, then Nirvana. Being part of a scene that is breaking out, full of energy and rebellion is the dream for any musician.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Don’t play shows for local promoters that steal all the money. New bands are desperate to play gigs so these promoters prey on them and feed off your hard work. They’ll demand you not play another gig within 3 weeks either side of their event, tell you that to its £10 per ticket, but you only get paid £2 of every ticket after the first 15 sold, so if you bring 20 people (who have to specifically state they’re at the event to see you) you’ll get paid a tenner, they’ll get £190. Extrapolate that by 5 bands, they’re making a grand for doing nothing other than offering you the gig. Pondlife.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

Start the band when we were 18.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

 To me personally, it would be ‘Alone’ It is unreleased but is on our next album due in Feb 2025, it’ll also be a single before then. I started writing it in 2010. And it’s only just being finished now! It’s over 7 minutes long and is my grungy November rain epic. I am glad the band was able to do it the justice the vision in my head deserved.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

People love our higher energy tracks, like Punchy and Grown Men, but also California Uber Alles illicits a great reaction from the band and the crowd.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

Pre lockdown it was more collaborative. But since then and moving a part, I will write the bones of a song, the chord structure or riff, bass line, the lyrics then put it to a basic drum beat. Send a demo of it to the band and then they will turn it into a fully fledged song, adding their own flavour. All the songs are something that have happened or are social commentary on real life.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

Fight for what you believe in, never trust a man in a suit and do not follow the oppressive path the system wants you too. Do what makes you happy, you’ll be dead soon and no one will give a fuck.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

Haha! Yes but not many. Musically we disagree on very little. We’re all open to suggestions and kinda let everyone take responsibility for their own part. It’s probably more socially and politically the band have the most disagreements. We’re all progressive people, but there are things some will care more about than others.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

 We have just released our new single ‘Generation Medicate’ which is doing great on spotify and Youtube! The album of the same name is due in 2025 and the next single ‘Jane Doe’ is coming November 1^st! Follow us on:

Spotify – Two Pound Tea  

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@twopoundtea8577

FB – Two Pound Tea

Instagram @twopoundtea ( we will follow back, and we’re not scum gutter cunts like some arrogant wannabe bands that will follow you, then as soon as you follow back, unfollow you. They think it makes them look popular – just name and shame these twats!)