SF Bands Speak: An Interview with Temple of Roots
San Fran Voice was happy to catch up with Temple of Roots for an interview about their music, self described as “new school American dub with elements of reggae and hip-hop”. You can tell from their articulate interview that they’ve got the intelligence for lyrics that pack a punch … and their instrumentals don’t fall short of supporting those smarts. They’re live stuff is always inspired (read all the way to the last question here to find out why) … Check them out live on June 7th at Kimo’s.
What is the story of how the band formed? The foundation of
Despite a loyal following and an album deal, Dead Sea Scribes broke up in early 2006. Still, Manny and Josh couldn’t imagine moving forward creatively without each other. That’s when they turned again to Craig’s List, hoping to find an additional vocalist. Linda Hurshman (a.k.a. Stingah) soon answered the call. Despite little previous band experience, Linda proved that she had the drive and talent necessary to succeed. The new trio dubbed themselves “
Where did the name come from? “
Describe the average fan of
If the band was a SF landmark, which one would you be and why? The
Do you have a favorite SF venue? Hotel Utah, hands down. Of course our absolute favorite bay area venue is the mighty Stork Club in
Which spots in the City can you be found in when you’re just out and about? Our studio in the
Telegraph Avenue
Where do you guys want to be (as a band) a year from now? We’d be happy doing exactly what we’re doing now: gigging a couple times a month and hooking up with crazy artists and musicians. Of course, we wouldn’t cry if we landed a record and tour contract.
If there was anything that you could make sure your fans knew, what would it be? Manny (Manteka) is a musical mastermind. Since we gig with just a keyboard and a laptop, there is a misconception that our music comes “out of a box” or downloaded off the Internet. Not true at all. Yes, the beats are programmed, but the instrumentation is all real and 100% original. If you hear a bass, that’s a real bass. If you hear a guitar, that’s a real guitar. Don’t discount our music just because it’s pre-recorded. Also, our live shows will always vary from what we’ve recorded; Manny drenches his music with spine-tingling effects on the fly, making each performance unique.
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