Temper Trap love NZ TV show

BY MICHAEL FOX

The Temper Trap guitarist Lorenzo Sillitto might be a budding rock star, but he can't wait to get home to watch the latest season of Kiwi comedy Outrageous Fortune.

Having moved to London in June, Aussie rockers The Temper Trap are quickly garnering accolades with their atmospheric pop drawing comparisons to Coldplay and U2 as well ensuring their schedule is full with TV appearances and gigs across the globe.

With the soaring falsetto of singer Dougy Mandagi, Jonathon Aherne on bass, the ambitious Sillitto on guitar and keyboards, and Toby Dundas on drums, the band has developed a unique sound that has met critical and commercial success.

Released in June, their first single Sweet Disposition from their debut album Conditions, climbed the UK charts, peaking at No. 6, was used twice in the film (500) Days of Summer and in a number of ads in the UK.

They've created a buzz among critics and were named in the BBC's list of 15 biggest rising music stars of 2009 along with Kid Cudi, Empire of the Sun, Lady GaGa and La Roux.

They are also set to perform at the Arias where they are up for four awards - Best Rock Album, Breakthrough Artist Album, Single of the Year (for Sweet Disposition) and Album of the Year.

Speaking on the phone from his London tour bus, Melbourne's Sillitto said he was enjoying the wild ride which has consumed their lives since they moved to London in June.

But he was looking forward to catching up with the latest series of Outrageous Fortune on DVD with his girlfriend  when he returned to Australia.

"My girlfriend got me absolutely obsessed with Outrageous Fortune. When I get to Australia next week for the Arias (Australian Music Awards) I'm going to pick up my season five box set. I've been pining for it because it's been like two or three months since I finished season four.

"My girlfriend ordered it, I'm just pumped," he said, adding he would be stoked to see some of the show's stars at their New Zealand show at the Big Day Out in January.

During a brief respite from touring, Sillitto said the band was working hard to make the most of their opportunities.

He admitted to being self-conscious - so much so he couldn't watch himself on TV because of fears he "looks like Frankenstein".

"I'm very self conscious like that," he said.

The hardest thing for him to do was perform on live television, and after two attempts it hadn't got any easier, Sillitto said.

"You've got to play perfect, there's no second chances you've got to absolutely nail it and if you don't millions and millions of people will see you fall," he said.

So how do you deal with that sort of pressure?

"You don't - you just drink lots of beers afterwards to try and numb the pain."

And he's already fretting about their up-coming gig at well-known London venue Brixton Academy, in front of 5000 people.

"I'll be pretty nervous I imagine, gagging and so on before we go on ... You have to step up and perform when you go into arenas like that."

He said they feed off the energy of the crowd: "The more the crowd goes nuts, the more we go nuts and head bang and do all types of stuff on stage," he said.

Success hasn't changed him and he still feels "like I'm the same person but I just have a job that is to get up and perform".

While comparisons are flattering they weren't letting mentions of U2 and Coldplay go to their heads.

"We're still the same people that do the same shit stuff and still make fart jokes and live really simple lives."

Sillitto said they were fighting hard to stay original and were fortunate to be allowed time to develop as songwriters.

The band, which includes former Shortland Street actor Joseph Greer in its touring party, started out as a straight rock band.

While their sound has evolved over time, Sillitto is pleased with the "atmospheric" tag attached to their music.

"We worked hard on a few sounds and I worked hard on trying to come up with some weird, quirky guitar noises that I guess if you listen to them on the record you might not even think were guitar ... it's definitely a good thing. I like the atmospheric stuff. I like stuff that sounds like it's been recorded in space."

They were still enjoying the writing, living and working together.

"It's always exciting when you've got something and you take it in to the boys and they can flesh it out and make it a song. That's very, very good."

The attention in Japan had even earned them their first crazy fan - a Japanese girl named Yushini who was "lovely" but went everywhere the band went, from their motel to their interviews and gigs.

"That kind of obsession is really flattering, especially in Japan [where] it doesn't feel as sinister as it probably would if we were in Australia or America or somewhere like that."

* The Temper Trap perform at the Big Day Out on January 15 at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

- © Fairfax NZ News