New York-based synth duo Tempers — Jasmine Golestaneh (vocals) and Eddie Cooper (production) — have diligently carved out their own niche within dark indie, electronica and synth pop circles since their formation. After a series of digital singles released back in 2013, the New York duo began to solidify their sound and approach, a sleek. brooding, nocturnal take on synth pop.
The duo’s forthcoming, self-produced album New Meaning is slated for an April 1, 2022 release through Dais Records. As the duo explain, the album is about navigating the unknown, coping mechanisms and exploring the nature of choice. The album’s ten songs reflect on the creation go meaning as a way to access liberation in times of transition and loss while speculating on the transformative potential that exists alongside the grief of living in a world that is an ongoing state of crisis. Much like their previously released material, New Meaning continues a run of nocturnal music, that’s introspective yet quietly intense.
Late last year, I wrote about “Unfamiliar,” a song that sounded indebted to 80s New Wave while evoking our current moment — living in a world that’s gone even madder and more uncertain than ever before. New Meaning‘s second and latest single “Nightwalking” continues a remarkable run of brooding, hook-driven material, with the song centered around icy synth arpeggios, thumping beats, a relentless motorik groove and Golestaneh’s achingly plaintive vocals floating off into the ether. The song manages to evoke late nights wandering around with your thoughts as your only company.
“I took a lot of long walks at a time when people had abruptly vacated NYC, and left the remnants of their homes on the sidewalks,” Tempers’ Golestaneh explains. “The city’s landscape became very surreal – a ghost town turned inside out. I was thinking about how to stay open, and embrace life derailed. The sky over the city was a real source of mystery, in it’s own world of pink sunsets, and sparkling nights. The contrast of that oblivious beauty amidst the pandemic chaos felt very special, and inspired the song.”
The New York-based duo will be embarking on lengthy national tour that includes a March 31, 2022 stop at Elsewhere’s Zone 1. In May, the duo will be in Europe for a handful of dates. But the word on the street is that Tempers will be announcing some more tour dates in the near future. Until then, tour dates, as always, are below.
TOUR DATES:
14-Mar-22: Austin, TX – SXSW
31-Mar-22: New York City, NY – Elsewhere Zone 1
02-Apr-22: Pittsburgh, PA – Andy Warhol Museum
04-Apr-22: Detroit, MI – Sanctuary
06-Apr-22: Madison, WI – U. Wisconsin
07-Apr-22: Iowa City, IA – Mission Creek Festival
10-Apr-22: Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
12-Apr-22: Toronto, ON – The Garrison
13-Apr-22: Montreal, QB – Ritz
16-Apr-22: Seattle, WA – Crocodile 2nd Stage
17-Apr-22: Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
19-Apr-22: San Francisco, CA – Milk Bar
20-Apr-22: Los Angeles, CA – Zebulon
21-Apr-22: San Diego, CA – Whistle Stop
24-Apr-22: El Paso, TX – The Reagan
27-Apr-22: Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
28-Apr-22: Austin, TX – Mohawk
13-May-22: London, UK – Moth Club
18-May-22: Paris, FR – Point Éphémère
03-Jun-22: Berlin, DE – Kantine am Berghain