Ken Tamplin Interview

Ken Tamplin is an artist with a lot to say. He has recorded over 20 albums himself, many with other groups, has worked as a producer and songwriter for many artists, and has branched into film and television composing.

Tamplin got his start with the group Joshua in the early 80s. He was also in the group Shout. Tampin released his first solo album in 1990. He has been nominated and won Dove awards (the Christian rock equivalent of a Grammy) with Shout and as a solo artist. His latest melodic rock CD is Wake The Nations. As you will read below, Tamplin is honest, outspoken, thoughtful, and compelling in addition to his musical talents.

Chad Bowar: Talk about your new album "Wake The Nations" and all the great guest musicians you assembled for the project.

Ken Tamplin: My new album Wake The Nations I believe is the best melodic rock CD I have made to date. In fact, I have made 22 albums for myself (not including records I have recorded for other groups) at this point in my life and Wake The Nations is probably my best one to date.

It's a CD where I didn't care what other people thought. I wanted to make a great melodic rock record. What a lot of people don't know is that I do a lot for film and TV now. I hate to admit this but I've gotten really good at Techno, House, Big Beat, Ambient, Trance Ambient, and particularly orchestral music. Why I bring this up is because it is humorous to me when people say "Ken Tamplin's music is dated". When in fact chances are, I am probably doing new music they have never heard of before.

It's just that, I don't like that kind of music for myself. I like blues, I like soul, I like flamenco and I like melodic rock. All this music I just mentioned is living and breathing with soul and passion. Most new music isn't.

This is also true for my lyrics. I have no trouble helping write lyrics for things like the theme to Ace Ventura, or love songs for other people. I enjoy it. But what I like to write for myself is about things in life that directly influence me and matter to me and that I hope can make a difference.

One thing that matters to me is the guitar. What a shame we have fallen so far down the ladder of virtuosity in today's modern music. The guitar solo is non existent.

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