10 minutes with The Temper Trap’s Dougy Mandagi
Mark Sablan
May 22, 2013
Coconuts Manila
Dougy Mandagi may look Pinoy but he’s not. The lead vocalist
of the Australian indie rock band The Temper Trap, responsible for hits like
“Fader,” “Love Lost” and Need Your Love,” is actually Indonesian. No biggie. Before
his band performed at the recent Wanderland 2013, an annual music and arts
festival, we recently got to know the Pinoy-looking singer and got him to talk
about nationality, favorite songs, and how much his life has changed, thanks to
the band.
You get mistaken for
a Filipino. How do you feel about that?
It’s all good, it’s fine. I know many Filipinos!
How Indonesian are
you?
I’m very Indonesian. It’s my first language. Bali is where I
feel most at home, followed by Australia because it is where my mom is. I live
in London.
Are you involved in
the making of your music videos?
Some of them I am, some of them I am not. It just really
depends on the treatment and if it’s something straight off the bat we want to
do. But if there’s nothing in it that we want to change, we just keep our hands
off and let the director do what they do.
Which song would you
recommend for someone who’s never heard of you guys?
Probably “Sweet Disposition.” It seems to be the one
everyone likes the most. If you’re playing something for someone for the first
time, you want to play your best song.
What is your favorite
The Temper Trap song?
It’s like choosing from your kids. I don’t know! I like
“Resurrection.” And there’s this song in our second album but you have to buy
the deluxe edition to get it. It’s called “The Trouble with Pain.” I like the
more sort of obscure songs that a lot of people in general don’t like.
Any news about a new
album soon?
We’re working on it, so we kind of juggle a bit with touring
and finishing all our touring commitments and trying to write and record them also
at the same time when we have time off. It’s coming along. We’re definitely
making progress. There’s already some pretty strong demos so hopefully by the
start of next year, we’ll have a record out and maybe put out a single or two
before the end of the year.
How has life changed
for you guys?
Well, for one, we located to London so that’s a big change
for everyone. So it’s four years now. A lot of travelling, clocking in those
air miles, quitting all our crappy day jobs that we hated but had to do to feed
our music addiction. Life has definitely changed from six, seven years ago.
What is the best
thing about being part of Temper Trap?
I just enjoy making music and I really enjoy performing.
That’s really my passion. That’s why I do what I do.
