A Quick Chat with Sweet Temper

Congratulations on your record ‘Sweet Temper’! How long had you been developing it and what are the main themes behind the collection?

The writing process began all the way back in 2020, but we were understandably stalled several times by world events until we were able to begin recording in 2022. The overall sound evolved very naturally through the jams we were able to have during that time and the themes are all a snapshot from that time as well. Abbey's lyrics are dealing with themes of toxicity in relationships, problems with self-image, and breaking free of familial and societal expectations. The intense contrasts and genre-blending on the record are in direct reflection to the exploration of the full breadth of emotion that those themes can elicit.

For readers who haven’t heard your music before, what are a few sentences that you’d use to describe it?

If you've ever wondered what happens when you combine jazz and RnB musicians with rock and metal musicians, this is it. We're funky, we like fancy chords, but we're not afraid to get a little more aggressive when the time is right. Sometimes your ex is trash, and the best medicine is calling them out over a heavy riff; other times you're just chilling and lush vibes are what you need. We're here to give you both.

I hear that all of you met through the Naarm/Melbourne campus of the Australian Institute of Music! 
How important was that in developing your band, and the impact it has for your musical development in general?

Funnily enough, we rarely collaborated as a group while we were studying -- we were mostly moving in our own genre circles. It wasn't until after we graduated when Abbey and Kayla were trying to put a band together that everything clicked into place, and we realised we all wanted to do similar things. Studying gave us a broad exposure to different genres and also a wide range of tools to perform and compose within them, and we think the payoff for that is that we are able to combine so many different elements into something that still feels cohesive.

Do you feel that there is enough happening to encourage accessible musical education for people, and to help them develop into artists/bands?

Formal musical education is very expensive, which is unfortunate because the average musician archetypically doesn't have a lot of money. We all went through that process and have the requisite student debts to show for it, but it is still most beneficial in its capacity to connect musicians at the top of their game with like-minded performers (or in our case: contrasting yet complementary). All the theory and all the technique, that stuff is readily accessible on the internet; but there is something irreplaceable about being in a space surrounded by such varied and passionate musicians, and actually getting out of your comfort zone to collaborate with people beyond your primary genre. It's a melting pot that distils the best in musicians, and it is a shame that it is not more accessible -- whether that be through tertiary education, high school programs, or even youth centres. Even if Sweet Temper isn't for you, you want bands and musicians that come out of these melting pots, because they're the ones experimenting and may just come up with the new and fresh sounds you've been craving.

What are some things you wish you’d began your musical journey knowing, that you know now as a band?   

That there are no shortcuts. It's a long way to the top, as they say, and it is a winding path where you can never see what's around the corner. To set your sights solely on the heights will inevitably lead you to trip over what's right in front of you. We're only just starting out as a band, but we've learned that all you can ever do is keep putting one foot after the other, and hopefully we'll end up somewhere. But if not, hopefully our music will connect with people along the way.

You’ve got an exciting EP launch happening on Friday September 29th! Can you tell us a bit about that, and what we can expect from a Sweet Temper show?

It's going to be groovy and bombastic. There are a few parts on the record where we held back, but at the live show the floodgates will be open. We're going to extend some sections, play around with structures, and overall make sure there are chances for us all to cut loose and be playful. We're not looking to simply recreate the record live, we're looking to elevate the experience for everybody in the room. There'll be a few other surprises there as well, but you'll have to come to the show to find out what they are ;)

What are your plans to end the year?

We'd love to play some more shows and share the love around. We're also sitting on a pile of half-worked tunes that we'd like to finish, so you might hear those sneak out gradually at our live shows. It's going to be a very exciting time for us with the debut finally out in the world!