Interview // The Temper Trap

I interviewed the Temper Trap a couple of weeks back following their performance at the Phoenix Park in support of Snow Patrol and Florence + The Machine. Originally printed in the Irish Sun on July 13.

“If you look over your shoulder, Joseph’s writing the new album on his laptop there,” says Temper Trap drummer Toby Dundas, demonstrating just how much life has changed for the Aussie rockers since they topped charts worldwide with Sweet Disposition just two years ago. 

“Last time we didn’t write on the road at all, so it was pretty much a fresh slate when we wrapped it up and said, ‘alright, we’ll write the new album.’

“This time we’ll have a lot more material so we might be able to kick it around even closer, but live is our natural state. That’s what we really like doing, so you gotta get the recording done so you can keep that up.”

The Melbourne group – now a five-piece since the induction of live keyboardist Joseph Greer – took the risk of moving to London in 2008 prior to the release of their debut album, Conditions, setting up home in Hackney. They were in the middle of writing the follow-up when last summer’s riots erupted in the borough.