18 Nov 2024
Temples on Mars - Agent Newsletter Interview
22 Aug 2005 // An interview by Shade
Agent are perhaps one of the most well known New Plymouth bands. Watch for this 3-piece hardcore group in this years' Battle of the Bands!
Which NZ artist/band do you think will be a huge international success one day?
I'd have to say Chuganaut. They've definitely got what it takes. However NZ in general is really crap at nurturing/supporting it's wicked musical talent so it could go either way! It seems only mainstream or "safe" music gets any funding. I know so many fantastic musos/bands that give up because it gets too hard to give it 100% when no one gives a shit. This is a very sad state of affairs. Pardon the negative comments but home support is all part and parcel of becoming an international success.
What was the best Agent gig?
It is definitely a tie for the best. One was at Scotty's in Gisborne. The crowd just turned up and turned it on for us, and with a bit of free piss, a nice motel and great company it was a killer night! Next was a show we played at the Basement Bar in New Plymouth. Gigs had been pretty slow in town so we buggered off and did a north island tour and the last show of the tour was at the Basement Bar and we packed the place out. There was a huge crowd with a really positive vibe! That was when we realised we might be doing something worthwhile in some shape or form.
What is your most embarrassing concert moment?
Being really sick with a stomach bug from Christmas through to New Years last year and trying not to shit my pants or faint whilst playing on stage at a New Years Eve gig. Those high notes were really scary!
What are you planning on doing during 2005?
Well with what is left of 2005 we are releasing a video for our new single 'Hiatus', doing a bit of Battle of the Bands, play every weekend in a different town, going to the South Island to play some gigs (Dunedin and Christchurch), keep writing new material - basically more of the same but bigger and better.
How did you come up with the name Agent?
We wanted a one word name that described us quite well yet wasn't too obvious. The name Agent is used in the chemical sense, as an agent to create a reaction - which is what we wanted to do with our music.
What is in your CD collection at home?
I have a wide and varied collection. In my stereo at the moment I have Mudvayne, System of a down, Tool, and Slipknot. The rest of my collection comprises of old school stuff like metallica, anthrax, acdc, through to bands like Muse, radiohead, supergrass, prodigy, Incubus, Korn through to international like some bazook players, Khaled (Egyptian artist), global underground (compilation of international artists) I also like my NZ stuff I've got some outshine, chuganaut, viscera, horror story, 8 foot Sativa and then I've got the CD's that I won't admit to owning or don't know where they came from such as Oasis (huh?), The Titanic sound track (fuck knows), Black Eyed peas (What the?...)....So it goes on and on...I have a lot of music, and I love all sorts, people are really missing out when they exclusively listen to one genre.
Agent are perhaps one of the most well known New Plymouth bands. Watch for this 3-piece hardcore group in this years' Battle of the Bands!Which NZ artist/band do you think will be a huge international success one day?
I'd have to say Chuganaut. They've definitely got what it takes. However NZ in general is really crap at nurturing/supporting it's wicked musical talent so it could go either way! It seems only mainstream or "safe" music gets any funding. I know so many fantastic musos/bands that give up because it gets too hard to give it 100% when no one gives a shit. This is a very sad state of affairs. Pardon the negative comments but home support is all part and parcel of becoming an international success.
What was the best Agent gig?
It is definitely a tie for the best. One was at Scotty's in Gisborne. The crowd just turned up and turned it on for us, and with a bit of free piss, a nice motel and great company it was a killer night! Next was a show we played at the Basement Bar in New Plymouth. Gigs had been pretty slow in town so we buggered off and did a north island tour and the last show of the tour was at the Basement Bar and we packed the place out. There was a huge crowd with a really positive vibe! That was when we realised we might be doing something worthwhile in some shape or form.
What is your most embarrassing concert moment?
Being really sick with a stomach bug from Christmas through to New Years last year and trying not to shit my pants or faint whilst playing on stage at a New Years Eve gig. Those high notes were really scary!
What are you planning on doing during 2005?
Well with what is left of 2005 we are releasing a video for our new single 'Hiatus', doing a bit of Battle of the Bands, play every weekend in a different town, going to the South Island to play some gigs (Dunedin and Christchurch), keep writing new material - basically more of the same but bigger and better.
How did you come up with the name Agent?
We wanted a one word name that described us quite well yet wasn't too obvious. The name Agent is used in the chemical sense, as an agent to create a reaction - which is what we wanted to do with our music.
What is in your CD collection at home?
I have a wide and varied collection. In my stereo at the moment I have Mudvayne, System of a down, Tool, and Slipknot. The rest of my collection comprises of old school stuff like metallica, anthrax, acdc, through to bands like Muse, radiohead, supergrass, prodigy, Incubus, Korn through to international like some bazook players, Khaled (Egyptian artist), global underground (compilation of international artists) I also like my NZ stuff I've got some outshine, chuganaut, viscera, horror story, 8 foot Sativa and then I've got the CD's that I won't admit to owning or don't know where they came from such as Oasis (huh?), The Titanic sound track (fuck knows), Black Eyed peas (What the?...)....So it goes on and on...I have a lot of music, and I love all sorts, people are really missing out when they exclusively listen to one genre.
About Temples on Mars
To date, Temples on Mars have headlined their own NZ tours and UK shows, featured at UK Rock festivals, released two EP’s, plus two full length albums: Expand/Contract which was given 5/5 stars by NZ’s leading music magazine Rip It Up and NZ Musician magazine, making a name for them in their native NZ, and their second album Kingdom of Fear, which created a buzz in the prog-rock scene in the UK and Europe earning the band a 2014 UK progressive music award nomination.
After relocating to London, Temples on Mars quickly became regulars on the live music scene and have shared the stage with numerous UK bands including Skindred, Devil Sold His Soul, Black Peaks, InMe and I Am Giant to name a few. Temples on Mars subsequently teamed up with long time friend and producer Paul Matthews of I Am Giant fame (whose production credits also include OpShop, Blindspott, Stylus and Six60). With Matthews, Temples on Mars began work on their second full length album Kingdom of Fear which was released world wide in December 2013. Kingdom of Fear was mastered by Tom Coyne (Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus, I Am Giant) of Sterling Sound in New York.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Temples on Mars
Releases
Other Interviews By Shade
MNZ Interview: Muzic Speak S01 / E01 - Powder Chutes
06 Nov 2024 // by Shade
Brought to you by Muzic.NZ's Lisa Jones, Muzic Speak is a fresh new interview series which pays homage some of the best up and coming acts this country has on offer.
Read More...
Interview with Angus Woodhams, lead of Weka
16 Sep 2024 // by Shade
Weka is a three-piece electronica band combining unique timbres with pulsing bass and punching drums. Formed of Angus Woodhams on keys and controllers, Mitch Harty on guitar, and Cathal Lennon on drums, Weka’s instrumental electronic sound is diverse, beautiful, and thought provoking, urging audiences to dance uninhibitedly.
Read More...
Pull Down The Sun Newsletter Interview
01 Dec 2022 // by Shade
Boasting an international standard of modern metal, New Zealand's Pull Down The Sun have set many an audience alight with their glorious imagery that holds true to sheer riff obedience, making motions from heavy and erratic to dark and moody, through to light and uplifting with minimal effort. We spoke to frontman Koert, and he had this to say:How did you become involved in music?
Read More...
Coridian Newsletter Interview
27 Nov 2022 // by Shade
Coridian are one of New Zealand's leading rock acts, and they have an exciting 2023 in the works. In recent months the release of singles Rakshasa (with Michael Murphy from Written by Wolves) and State of Mind have further cemented their status in NZ music.
Read More...
1 Drop Nation Newsletter Interview
19 Nov 2022 // by Shade
Otautahi six-piece 1 Drop Nation will be dropping their exciting self-titled debut album on 1 December, and it’s guaranteed to set Aotearoa music fans up for a great summer! They answered the following questions for Muzic.
Read More...
Interview: 2Fly Ty
17 Oct 2022 // by Shade
Despite currently residing in Brisbane, 2Fly Ty still identifies as a Kiwi at heart, as he looks to make a name for himself in the music scene of his homeland, Aotearoa. He answered the following questions for Muzic.
Read More...
Dead Beat Boys Newsletter Interview
29 Sep 2022 // by Shade
Auckland Rockers Dead Beat Boys fuse punk intensity with classic-rock riffs, all strung together in a show uncontainable by the stage. On the 1st of October they released their first and last album, be sure to check it out here.
Read More...
Frau Knotz Newsletter Interview
28 Sep 2022 // by Shade
The original songs of singer, pianist, producer and composer Lauren Nottingham have touched down on Earth under the moniker Frau Knotz. With avant-pop tracks which simulate echoes of an extra-terrestrial yet power-packed video game soundtrack, Frau Knotz toggles between whimsical fantasies and dark truths, switches propulsive rhythms and expansive balladry and tunes glamor with gameplay to concoct elixirs of dance.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- APT.
ROSÉ And Bruno Mars - DIE WITH A SMILE
Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars - BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Billie Eilish - TASTE
Sabrina Carpenter - I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
Gracie Abrams - ESPRESSO
Sabrina Carpenter - SAILOR SONG
Gigi Perez - LOSE CONTROL
Teddy Swims - A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
Shaboozey - GOOD LUCK, BABE!
Chappell Roan
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
Custom Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
