Music > Interviews

Temples

27/11/14

With their Marc Bolan looks and their ‘60’s psychedelic music, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Temples are a little late to the party in 2014. But they’ve been getting a great reaction to their album Sun Structures, and enthusiastic support from some rather famous music icons too, as well as playing with Kasabian and on Ellen de Generes’ talk show. The videos are a wonderland of colour and their music seeped in mystic imagery…and they’re playing Norwich this month. I spoke to Tom, their keyboard player and bassist about how they’ve hit the big time without actually meaning to.

Temples formed only 2 years ago but Noel Gallagher and Johnny Marr have both said they consider you to be the best band in Britain. Did you expect to get this sort of accolade so soon?

No! It wasn’t our intention to be a fully fledged band, but we just decided to build on what we’d already done. It seemed like the one time we didn’t have a game plan it came out alright. I guess those famous people said that a while ago, when we were still getting to grips with who we were. It didn’t really have much of an effect on us as we didn’t know what they were talking about, and they probably like some other bands now anyway!

How did Temples get together?

We’re all from a small town called Kettering; we all played instruments and were in bands from an early age. Because it’s a small place we knew all the other musicians there, especially those who were into the same music as us. We’ve known each other for years. Myself and James, who’d been in bands together previously, once we’d recorded the first songs we decided we’d figure out how to be a proper live band. It was an organic decision for the four of us to play together in a band.

How did you get your break?

We had no real preconceptions as to what would happen. We recorded a few songs and thought why not share them online? We created an imagined album cover and tried to make a whole package for people to absorb as a whole. We had designs to make it appear that we were an established band when we weren’t at all. It seemed to get people’s attention and we received messages almost instantly to play some shows, which is what we did first of all. Heavenly approached us a couple months later, and asked if wanted to record a single with them. We haven’t really stopped since!

You’ve supported massive names like Suede and Kasabian. Have they taught you anything helpful for your musical career?

It’s how any band learns; playing a support show you constantly pick up pointers and learn about yourselves by playing shows. Every gig we’ve played at we’ve learnt something. We’ve really discovered who we are as a band this year, and it’s been incredible not to focus on recording but on playing live, and to hone our live performance. Most bands do that before the album, rather than after!

Your debut album Sun Structures was self produced at home. How did you learn to produce?

You can’t just be technically able…we had a very strong idea of what we wanted the band and album to sound like. In many ways that led us more than the songs we were writing or anything else. We’re all such fanatics of producers as well as bands and artists so we’ve always had a keen interest in how things work in the studio. We try to create an image around every song and make it mean what we intend it to. You have to critique yourself really and accept that not everything you do is going to be right for the band every time.

Your lyrics seem to have a lot about nature and mysticism in them. Where do you get your inspiration from for your lyrics?

Our biggest inspirations are our favourite records and it just so happens that a lot of them are cloaked in imagery. We love soundtracks too and a technicolour approach to writing music. For Sun Structures that style of lyrical content matched with what we wanted to say with the music; something of a higher power, and bigger than social commentary and interaction. That allows the listener to make their own judgement on what the songs mean; a more spiritual approach perhaps. Some songs are about abstract things, some are more real, but we broach them in a way that bridges myth and reality, as I think David Bowie once said.

There’s a real sweetness and innocence to your music with that kind of Motown beat and California style layered vocals. What music has stayed with you in your life so far?

What you hear on our records are our influences; those Motown, adventurous dancing basslines with their strong emphasis on rhythm, and ‘60’s pop music and the writing style of that genre; anyone from The Soft Machine to Pink Floyd. We also love harmonies and a strong vocal element to the music, like Byrds who are one of our favourite bands.

You played on Ellen DeGeneres’ show in September. That must have been pretty surreal. Was she nice?

Very polite and nice, well dressed and a brilliant talker, which is probably why she has a talk show! It was an odd experience; being on TV is an odd experience, but being on TV in America is an even odder experience! It was wonderful though.

Can you tell me more about Sun Restructured by Beyond the Wizard’s Sleeve?

We’d worked with Richard Norris who makes up 50% of Beyond the Wizard’s Sleeve, and he has remixed the album. His Time and Space Machine Project did a few remixes for us earlier this year. We felt like we’d never really explored the whole remix world, and it seemed like a nice idea when they got in touch as we’re such fans of Beyond the Wizard’s Sleeve. I remember downloading their podcasts years ago and discovering loads of new music through them. I guess we were a bit hesitant in handing our music over to just anyone, but they have the knowledge and the know how to make something special rather than just a generic dance remix. They’ve reimagined the record and perhaps opened some doors that we haven’t. Because we have been working within the constraints of writing pop songs, they’ve gone back to certain bits and embellished them and made it into the record it could have been. It’s a nice companion to the album.

Have you thought of doing a double headliner with Chvrches? Temples and Chvrches could be quite cool!

I haven’t actually heard Chrvches so I’ don’t know what they’re like but with a name like that they’re sure to be great!

Are you looking forward to returning to Norwich?

Yeah, one of our first shows was in Norwich at the Waterfront in 2012 playing with Mystery Jets. It’ll be great to be back in Norwich and play there again and for us to headline! Oh and we played the Arts Centre earlier this year, which is a beautiful venue.

Temples play The Waterfront on 1st December. Tickets from www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk