Music

21st February 2020

Tempers | Interview

Tempers are a dark-wave post-punk band from New York City. The duo, made up of Jasmine Golestaneh and Eddie Cooper, recently released their third album, Private Life, with lyrics combining the complexities of modern life with an introspective depth, and a sound that indicates an influence of dark dream pop. About to begin their UK and European tour, I interviewed them ahead of their upcoming gig in Liverpool:

Who were your main inspirations?

Joy Division, Fleetwood Mac, Kraftwerk, Sonic Youth, Nico.

Jasmine

Did any musician or band motivate you to start your own band?

I was really obsessed with Nirvana when I was a teenager, and I got a guitar to learn how to play their songs and my own songwriting developed from there. 

Jasmine

Have your musical influences changed over your albums?

Our influences change even in the middle of writing an album – I think that’s why we end up with a pretty broad spectrum of energies on our albums. Thinking about it as a whole, though, no, I kind of feel like my core influences are locked in place.

Eddie

What was your lyrical inspiration for the songs on Private Life

Claustrophobia from the information / surveillance age, and the pressure to externalize the self in simplistic ways on social media. Wanting to express the value of containing a private realm – where imagination has space to incubate, where you have permission to be complex.

I wanted to create an empathetic space for feelings that don’t get “likes”, and explore the value of those abject parts of ourselves. 

Jasmine
Video Credit: The music video for Tempers’ first single, ‘Capital Pains’, from their third album Private Life

Do you find living in New York City has any influence on your music?

Well of course there’s so much new music and music history here that it’s unavoidable to be inspired as a musician living here. But besides the literal, NYC itself has a specific depth and power to it – there’s a grandeur in the look and sound of the place that makes you want to write immortal songs.

Eddie

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?

P.T. Anderson. Jonny Greenwood’s work is so great in his films obviously, but I’d like to give it a shot too.

Ediie

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement so far? 

Evolving musically with complete integrity to what feels inspiring and true, being guided by passion above all else. 

Jasmine

Where do you see the band this time next year?

Everywhere, and much more often.

Eddie
Video Credit: The second single, ‘Peace of Mind’, from their album Private Life

Tempers are performing in Liverpool at Studio 2 on Thursday 5th March, supported by Jessica93, God On My Right and Rongorongo, with a DJ set from DJ Katalamøde. You can get tickets here

Connect with Tempers on Social Media

Album – Private Life: https://tempers.bandcamp.com/album/private-life
Website: Tempers.
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