Temple of Life began in the dusty, desert city of Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. What began as a deep friendship between three middle-school friends turned into Temple of Life, but it would be years before the band would grow into what it is today.

Nomi and Michael met in the third grade at Dhahran Academy, a school serving the expatriate community in the area. The two boys became fast friends and eventually befriended Basam Hadai when they were all in the 6th grade. The boys shared more than just age and a common expatriate experience--they quickly realized they shared a deep passion for music, as well. Nomi grew up listening to the sounds of his traditional sub-continental heritage (he is originally from Pakistan), with artists such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Junoon. Basam came from a family full of talented musicians, father was a singer in a band, late uncle a very talented pianist, and brother, a sound engineer and electronic music producer. Michael had grown up watching his two older brothers' passionate embrace of bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. He learned much from his oldest brother, Nevin, whose haunting guitar melodies and rich, emotion-filled voice gave Michael the drive to explore his own musicality. As the boys delved deeper into their musical identities, Temple of Life slowly began to take shape.

In their 7th-grade year at Dhahran Academy, the band performed together for the first time in front of an audience at their junior high talent show. As word of the band spread, its popularity grew among the close-knit expatriate community in which they lived. Temple of Life was featured in the country's largest English-language daily newspaper, the Arab News, and was even interviewed by CNN's Christiane Amanpour in a segment about the lives of expatriates in Saudi Arabia.

The band split up after their high school graduation in 2004, much to the sadness of the three members. Nomi and Bassam ended up in different Canadian cities, while Michael joined his brothers in Southern California. They never dreamed they would play together again. Michael focused on learning as much as he could about music from his brothers, while Nomi and Bassam concentrated on their university studies.

Three years after they had gone their separate ways, Michael's decision to enroll at a university in Toronto, Canada changed everything. With Nomi already in Toronto and Bassam only a drive away in the city of Montreal, the boys realized they could once again play together. They discovered that their separate personal lives and time away from the band had given them the experience and growth they needed to re-create Temple of Life with a fresh and more mature sound.

And so, the story of Temple of Life began with a trio of young boys brought together by a love of music, a deep friendship, and the experience of being outsiders in a foreign country. What seemed like an end to the band was in reality only a beginning, and the band's ambition, talent, and promise ensure that the road to the future is long and filled with success.

-- written by Anastasia Gill