Interviews

Meet TEMPOSHARK

When did you form Temposhark? What was the idea behind it?

Rob: We’ve been together for almost two years. The first year was spent in the studio experimenting to develop our own sound.

Luke: Our original concept was to make a record that tied together the energy and vibrancy of dance music with real song structures and the epic qualities from film scores.

Rob: We wanted to make music that spoke to outsiders; to unify and empower people and to provide an escape from day to day life. All the music I grew up with gave me a strong sense of belonging and identity.

Luke: We started playing live on the London club scene in March 2004. Jasmin joined us at the end of the summer to play live bass because we decided to make the concerts rockier. We like our sound to continually develop, it’s keeps things exciting.

What are your main influences?

Jasmin: Growing up, my step-father was a great music enthusiast. The entire back wall of our living room was a dedicated library for his vinyl collection. Music was always playing in the house; everything from the Blues, Jazz and Folk music, to the Beatles, David Bowie and Depeche Mode. I was lucky in that respect.

Rob: Yeah me too… I adored The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Kinks. I also listened to a lot of female singers like Madonna, Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos and Kate Bush. I connected with Prince very early on too. In my teens I discovered rock and punk too. I fell in love with bands like Skunk Anansie, Elastica, Suede and Pulp.

Jasmin: My heart belongs to garage, punk and rock’n’roll music. That’s the scene I was a part of back home and the one I grew up in as a teenager. It truly shaped who I am today. To me it’s the sexiest music ever.

Luke: I’m an avid film soundtrack listener but my main pop influences include some French electronic artists like Avril and Mirwais as well as producers Guy Sigsworth, William Orbit and Bjork. In fact I heard ‘Post’ the other day for the first time in years and it still sounds as fresh as did when it came out

Rob: Luke and I are both really into tribal rhythms at the moment. We’ve been listening to M.I.A. a lot. Her beats are a breath of fresh air.

What made you become a musician?

Rob: I started off by playing classical piano aged three or four. I was also a member of a local church choir where I first learnt to sing properly. Songwriting developed in my early teens. I knew from early on that I would be involved with music in some form throughout my life.

Jasmin: When I was six, my father bought me my very first Suzuki after I’d announced I wanted to learn violin... I soon developed a strong dislike of playing classical but continued to study it for eight years at my parent’s request. By the time I was fifteen, I borrowed a guitar my uncle had on his wall for years and taught myself how to play. I joined a few local bands from Montreal, where I am from, first as a singer and then as a guitarist/bassist. I played everything from pop, to ska, to Sonic Youth-like experimental music.

Luke: I was encouraged by my Dad. He’s a respected Jazz Trumpet player and recording artist, so when I was 6, he took me to CTS studios in Wembley for one of his recording sessions. It was the classic Hollywood \'Busby Berkley\' orchestral session with full brass sections and big strings. I fell in love with the mixing desk straight away. I sat in front of it at the end of the sessions when everyone was packing up and make my own mixes. I’ve never looked back...

How do you approach song writing?

Rob: There’s no set method, it changes with every song.

Luke: Initially I play with random sounds that excite me. Then I start patterns of beats. Eventually a song structure develops and I’ll give the backing track to Rob to write on.

Rob: Then I’ll take away and write a vocal melody and lyrics over the top.

Luke: More recently Rob’s been giving me completed songs that he’s written alone on piano.

Rob: Sometimes I get an idea for a lyric first, for example we’ve just finished a track called It’s Better To Have Loved and that song started out with the title before I’d written any music. Part of the excitement of being a songwriter is that there is no set path really. I will write a great song one day and then worry that I’ll never be able to do it again! It definitely keeps me on my toes. Some of my best songs will often just come out of nowhere.

Who inspires you the most?

Rob: Nighttime. Old pianos. Art galleries; I love the art of Frida Kahlo, she’s really inspired me lately...

Luke: My ever increasing collection of synths. My current favourites are the Korg MS20 and the mini moog. Building my own studio has inspired me a great deal as I now have the freedom to make as much noise as I like without being told to shut up by the neighbours!

Jasmin: It’s ever-changing for me. At the moment I’d say it’s London and it’s people. It’s amazing what this city offers. The opportunities are endless. It’s quite overwhelming at first when you come from abroad like me. Montreal for example is a really fun city but it is quite isolated and small. Here, if you like a certain artist, there’s an exhibition of hers around the corner…or if you like a band, they’re probably doing a show in Camden next week.

Rob: Yeah, I usually come back with loads of ideas for lyrics after going out to gigs or clubs… the London club scene for the last year has been thriving; it’s been a really exciting environment.

Can you tell us the story behind each track from your debut single ‘Neon ?’

Rob: Neon ? is a bitter track lyrically but set to uplifting brass riffs and crisp electronic beats. It’s about that moment when a relationship is about to end. When you finally admit it to yourself ‘It’s over’. It’s about not letting it bring you down, keeping your head up. I love singing that track live.

Jasmin: Me too, it’s a great track to play in clubs. As is Crime, the second track on the single…

Rob: Yeah, Crime is a lot darker lyrically. It’s more sexual with its filthy bass line.

Luke: The third track is called Lemonade which shows our softer, more cinematic side. It was originally written as a soundtrack for a fine art film by Justine Persall.

What is the best place to listen to your record?

Jasmin: On the dance floor, of course.

Luke: Standing on top of Mount Kilimanjaro

Rob: A dance floor on top of Mount Kilimanjaro would be perfect.


Temposhark's debut single 'Neon ?' is released on Paper & Glue on December 6th on limited edition 10” pink vinyl and 4 track CD. A second single will follow in Feb 2005.

Temposhark official website