It’s not every day a French band comes to strut its stuff on our shores. However, soon enough, we will have one, in the shape of Bourgogne’s own Temps Mort.
Sporting diverse musical influences ranging from rap to black/death metal to 1970s’ rock and hardcore, as well as political beliefs including anti-fascism, anti-capitalism and self-management, Temps Mort are due to hit the Rock the South stage on April 12.
I caught up with the lads, namely Thibaut, the drummer, Julien on guitars, Eddie the bass player and vocalist Nico.
Formed in 2010 and quickly releasing a six-track EP, the band went through some line-up changes before cementing it early last year and releasing a full length album in May 2014.
The band has been gigging regularly since.
I ask about these gigs and which one they consider to be the band’s greatest success so far.
“We played in Lausanne (Switzerland) at L’Espace Autogéré and the show was amazing. We played after two rap bands and the audience was really into our music.
“As a general rule, we like playing in musically-eclectic shows. The Taprischer festival in France was also a great time and the people got really crazy, which we like.
“The release parties of our album, both at home in Montceau-les-Mines and in Saint-Étienne, are also great memories. Of course, in the end, every gig is a good moment and what we love most about making music is meeting different people and different ways of doing things.”
I enquire about this “way of doing things” next. Temps Mort proudly state “DIY or die”. Is this is a philosophy that is present in all of the band’s work?
“Everything we’ve ever done has been self-produced,” comes the answer.
“We finance the band with the money we earn in concerts, and with our own money. For the demo and the LP, the covers were silkscreen printed by a friend of ours, while the artwork was created by people we know well. We have a profound will to work this way, to not participate in the music business.
Our music is not protected and we’re not bound to any record company which will make money off our backs
“Our music is not protected and we’re not bound to any record
company which will make money off our backs. We have this desire and need for total freedom when it comes to our music.
“In any case, you have to be crazy if you think you can live off your music in France nowadays, given the compulsory standardisation of the cultural industry.”
Next up comes the language question. Of course, singing in French is a great boon to an act performing in France, but has that affected Temps Mort in any way when playing outside of the republic?
Nico replies that it has never for him been about singing in French abroad.
“I chose to sing in French because it’s the language I’ve mastered best and thus it allows me to write precisely what I have in mind. I used to play in a rap band, so lyric-writing has always been very important for me.
“Music is not just music; it can be a political forum, an outlet of frustrations, angers. Our lyrics are far more significant to us than most people presume when we say that we’re a hardcore band.
“But, to get back to your question, when we play abroad, I quickly explain what the songs are about and our records also carry translations of the lyrics. That’s the extent of importance to which we hold the band’s lyrics and verbal message.”
Down to more familiar avenues, I ask how the Malta connection came about, and how come a band from Bourgogne is playing in Marsascala in April.
The answer is a testament to the DIY credo of this band and our very own local outfits. Nico organised a few gigs in Saint-Étienne and Montceau-les-Mines for Rabat rap outfit Sempliċiment Tat-Triq, and, because a mutual friend was looking for dates for them, the connection was made.
“During their last tour in France, they were accompanied by musicians, so we set up a show for them in our hometown and we shared the stage with them. That’s how we got to the Rock the South festival. Which reminds me, huge thanks go to Nick Morales who invited us to this festival.
“Creating networks is of fundamental importance in our way of making music and our coming to Malta is the perfect example. No matter the physical boundaries, this is our way to abolish them in our scale.”
And lastly, what expectations do the lads have for Rock the South?
“We hope to meet some cool people, to watch great bands during this festival and, of course, to perform a great
show to the audience. We look forward to meeting people at Rock the South, chat with them all, have a few beers and to make the most of these four days of concerts.”
Rock the South is organised by No Sweat Productions and takes place between April 9 and 12 at Zion Restaurant & Reggae Bar, Marsascala.
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