Melbourne band the Temper Trap are set to release their fourth album, Sungazer, on July 10, accompanied by a tour announcement. The band's journey from a Hackney basement to international fame has been marked by the enduring legacy of their debut single Sweet Disposition.
A Long-Awaited Return
After a hiatus that began in 2018, the Temper Trap are back on the road. Drummer Toby Dundas, a Melbourne Demons fan, recently heard their song Love Lost played at an AFL match for Harvey Langford's goal. The track, a sample from the band's 2009 debut Conditions, underscores their enduring influence. Langford was born in 2006, around the time the band formed.
Frontman Dougy Mandagi recalls the early days in Hackney, where they lived together in a house with a "dungeon basement." The area was rough, with break-ins and confrontations, but now it's gentrified. Their breakthrough came when a local label rep pushed Sweet Disposition to UK radio, leading to a top 10 hit and a spot on the BBC's Sound of 2009 shortlist.
The Weight of Success
The pressure to replicate the success of Sweet Disposition became a burden. Mandagi says, "People were trying to steer it in a direction to achieve the success of Conditions again. That's tiring." Dundas adds that not producing another global hit became "a little weight that you carry around."
Despite the challenges, Sungazer feels more natural and textured than their last record. Mandagi's lyrics touch on faith and fatherhood, while standout tracks like Giving Up Air aim for dancefloor catharsis. The album includes Halfway, about touring's displacement, and the single Into the Wild, which sparked the writing sessions.
Industry Changes
The band acknowledges how the music industry has transformed over two decades. Streaming economics are lopsided, and touring costs have risen. Mandagi notes that a TikTok cover of Sweet Disposition partly spurred their return. Dundas saw young artists struggle financially during the hiatus, some giving up their careers.
As parents, both Dundas and Mandagi find touring harder. Mandagi's voice requires more care now; he works with a vocal teacher for the first time. "I have this fear that I'm going to go on stage and just absolutely cook it," he says. Dundas jokes that the tour bus will feature early morning yoga and herbal tea instead of late-night parties.
Dougy Mandagi's Songs to Live By
Best year for music: 2007, with albums by Radiohead, MGMT, Arcade Fire, Jay Z, and Kanye West.
Song you wish you wrote: Blinding Lights by the Weeknd, for the payday.
Last song sung in the shower: Sweet Disposition, for tour preparation.
Most played song this year: A Peppa Pig classic for his toddler, followed by Ragysh by Todd Terje.
Opening credits song for your life movie: The intro to Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty.
Underrated song deserving classic status: Giving Up Air by the Temper Trap.
Song loved as a teenager: Creep by Radiohead.
First album bought: Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em by MC Hammer.
Song for your funeral: Sleepwalk by Santo & Johnny.
Best song to have sex to: Whatever song he decides to sing.
Sungazer is out on July 10. For tour dates, visit the Temper Trap's official website.
