First Instincts

Introduced to us as a lone singer-songwriter a few years ago, Thomas Calder has now found a solid line-up and plenty more life behind his moniker, The Trouble With Templeton, since expanding to a five-piece in 2012. Providing the 23-year-old with a whole palate of colours to bring his visions to life, he admits the move has allowed him space to grow as an artist.

“I was lucky enough to find people that I trusted and respected,” he smiles. “When you're handing things over to people like that, [that] you know are the right people to be involved, it's not so difficult. Of course I'm attached to the songs I write, but I'm always excited to see what they can contribute.”

The band have had a bumper 2013. Their debut full-length Rookie was released to widespread acclaim, while touring took them across the world. As well as doing a stint in America earlier this year, including a slot at SXSW, The Trouble With Templeton also found an audience in the UK following a successful run of dates through September and October. Calder enthuses that he holds a deep connection with Ol' Blighty, and can't wait to explore that more in the future.

“A lot of inspiration I get is from English [artists] like The Beatles and Nick Drake, and English humour, all that sort of stuff I really appreciate. What I like about the English music that I'm really into, bands like Elbow and stuff are very romantic with prose; the lyrics are very romantic, less literal and more poetic which [I enjoy]. It felt like a second home for us when we were over there; it felt natural and comfortable which is good.”

With all these recent victories considered – the flowing and warm debut; a constantly expanding fanbase – you'd have good reason to think that The Trouble With Templeton have earned themselves a little summer break. Not so. “I would love to start making another record,” Calder reveals. “We really like recording, and as soon as possible we want to get back doing that.”

When pushed for more details though, he stops himself. Calder has crammed a huge amount into two short years, and to definitively guarantee more would be foolish. He does, however, ponder the possibility of making music more meditative and focused next time around, and although the young songwriter is unwilling to promise, he's unafraid to dream.

“Not that Rookie wasn't focused,” he clarifies, “but the purpose of that was diversity and different perspectives, so naturally the songs, genre-wise, they dance around a lot. For the next record it might be a bit different; it might be contained and one linear story, but who knows, that will probably change next week.”