Tempel is playing at by:Larm for the second time this year. Now they also have a debut album in their bag. – In the early years, Tempel was something we did a little on the side and the songs were allowed to mature, just like good cheese.
/ 11/02/2019 / Kristian DugstadName: Temple
Age: 26-36
Current with: The debut album Temple
TONO member since: 2014
All photos: Siwa Vetvik-Ellefsen.
What is their musical background?
Kjetil (middle brother) and Andreas (brother from another mother) played in the band RayBand at the age of 10-12. Inge (eldest brother) who is a few years older played in the band Smuss. Espen (youngest brother) wanted to play guitar, but was placed behind the drums when all the guitar jobs were taken in the orchestras back home in Andebu in Vestfold. 10-15 bands later, Tempel emerges.
Hedmark native Jonas (brother from yet another mother) took over as drummer in Tempel for Kjetil in early 2018. Espen and Jonas met at NISS (Westerdals) and they have also played in another band together. Jonas has played in countless rock and metal bands since his early teens. We all got rock from our mothers' milk and the rest is history.
When and how did you start making music?
Inge, Kjetil and Andreas played in Kuler & Krutt (Espen's favorite band at the time) in the early 2000s, practicing in the slaughterhouse at Andreas' farm. They only played their own material, and this was the early beginning of their career as songwriters.
Kjetil has also passed on his knowledge and experience from Kvelertak and from Bjarte Lund Rolland (Kvelertak's number one songwriter) to the rest of us, which has been absolutely essential for Tempel's sound and the songs in general.
What was the name of the first song you ever wrote, and what is it about?
The first Tempel song is called "Torches", but it is also the last one to be finished. It went through many processes before it became what it is today. It is about witch burning.
How did Temple come into being?
Kjetil finally moved back to Vestfold after seven years in Stavanger and of course we had to start a band! We had no plans other than to make a song or two, but suddenly we were playing concerts and we, as well as the audience, got a taste for it, to say the least. It should also be mentioned that we have always talked about starting a band together, but were waiting for the right time.
How do you work together? How does Tempel's music come about?
Up until now we have always let our songs mature for a long time. The oldest riff we are working on now is six years old. We work with the riffs/sketches we like best and then the song slowly but surely comes into being. We like to test out our material live. It is very educational and if it works live, it works on record! We have also let ourselves be captivated by modern technology (who would have thought). Most songs then go through several rounds through Pro Tools and other snæx, where we build them up and tear them apart before the songs see the light of day in the rehearsal room.
Tell us about your latest release?
The debut album is self-titled and contains all nine songs we wrote together between 2012 and 2017. In the early years, Tempel was something we did on the side and the songs were allowed to mature just like good cheese. We spent 2017 fine-tuning the sound and released the album ourselves on March 23, 2018 physically and digitally. A little later we got in touch with Jansen Records. The tone was sweet, and Jansen will relaunch our album worldwide on March 22, 2019.
What are you working on now? What does 2019 bring for Tempel?
In addition to the global launch of the album and tour and concert planning, we have seriously started working on new songs!
What does it mean to play at by:Larm in 2019?
Tempel also played at by:Larm in 2016 actually. That was before we recorded our album. This is the perfect time to show off the final result and our live energy to the average crowd "in prime time". By:Larm is in a way an industry event that we are really looking forward to being a part of!
What is your career highlight so far?
It must be the Northern European tour as support for Kvelertak's offshows in the spring of 2018 when they played with Metallica. It was unreal. The tour in short; every other day warming up 300-400 crazy Kvelertak nerds and every other day seeing Kvelertak and Metallica in 10,000-20,000 capacity arenas. Guest list and top placement of course!
Do you have an instrument or other equipment that is indispensable in the writing process?
Acoustic guitar is very inspiring. It also helps a lot to have a user-friendly music program with the ability to program drums and such.
What do you do when you're not making music?
Complete renovation of old houses and other building work. Inge has a mansard house from 1920 and Espen is renovating a log cabin from 1900 on his small farm. Andreas lives on a farm far in the forest and is studying to become a lecturer. Jonas lives in Oslo, works in a music shop and has "drum training" with new hopefuls (i.e. drum teachers). When Kjetil is not sticking his head in the rehearsal room or on tour with Kvelertak, he cleans the forest in his immediate area.
What is your greatest musical experience?
Espen: The first Hovefestivalen (2007) was something special for a pimpled fifteen-year-old. Slayer, Queens of the Stone Age, Gojira, Mastodon, Susanne Sundfør, Amy Winehouse ++
Inge: Sober at High on Fire on Blå last fall.
Andreas: Michael Jackson at Valle Hovin in 1997. Otherwise, Inge and I have survived 10 years at Hellfest in France, where most of the crumbling and abandoned bands and new hopeful bands have played. Most Norwegian festivals have something to learn from Hellfest.
Jonas: Must have been when we toured as support for Kvelertak last year. I also remember how blown away I was the first time I saw Meshuggah live. Quite a setup!