Bow At The Alter

Performing at some of the world's biggest festivals, gaining attention from high profile producers and touring the world; it's all just regular occurrences for psych-rock quartet Temples these days. The group experienced a meteoric rise to prominence following the release of their debut single, Shelter Song, in 2012, and frontman James Bagshaw feels it's still a bit strange, especially considering his previous musical endeavours never took off to this degree. “[Before Temples] all of us separately were trying to pursue being musicians in different groups around town; nothing that spectacular. I mean some of us have been around Europe and scored a few supporting gigs but we were just in little groups which were really no different to how Temples started, but here we are now, a year and a bit later, speaking to you in Australia!”

Reflecting on just what it is about Temples and their music that has struck such a chord with audiences worldwide, Baghshaw believes it's as simple as the right people in the right place at the right time. “When we were writing [for Temples] we didn't think we were stumbling upon something. We didn't even think we'd get a record deal out of it, but it felt good. It felt pure and honest and I guess uncompromised. Any other groups we've been in have been very compromised and watered down because everyone had their separate ideas, whereas with this band, we were all very much on the same page.”

Amongst the countless praise earned by the band, Temples have been named Britain's 'best new band' by musical heavyweights Johnny Marr and Noel Gallagher, which could be an overwhelming compliment to some; however, Bagshaw takes it in his stride. “It's great that they give a shit and it's nice that they like us but I guess we try not to let it go to our heads because we're not that fickle. It means a lot to us, don't get me wrong, but it's not going to change what we do, in any way.”

With the band's debut album, Sun Structures, finally released, Bagshaw believes the influence of his hometown and surroundings has been the strongest on the record. “In the UK there's obviously a great heritage of music and you can't deny having The Beatles as the backbone of all that, but Motown was also big in my upbringing, because it had a massive influence on my parents. I remember those songs really vividly. Then things like Bowie, The Kinks, The Zombies – they all really inspired the sound of our songs and the way they've been recorded.”

Not wanting any songs within the record to sound the same, Bagshaw explains there was a lot of experimentation to keep the album interesting. “We like playing with the classic pop style of the '50s, '60s and '70s, where pop was a bit odd and foreign and alien. Then we tried some songwriting with melodic lines that don't necessarily follow such a traditional structure. There definitely are some songs that have more of a traditional arrangement in that there's a verse, chorus, verse, maybe middle-eight or something, but we felt it was important not to have that with every song. Some songs don't really have any kind of structure. I personally am such a lover of classical music and I wanted to have elements of that on the record, but without having any sort of pompous musical attitude.”

When the boys aren't busy in the studio, they're out on the road touring. Bagshaw reveals that two of Temples' most recent touring announcements are incredibly special to the group, the first being their inclusion at this year's Austin's Psych Fest. “Our drummer Sam [Toms] has been to it before and says it is just amazing. It's an honour to be invited to something like that because it starts to feel a bit like an extended family – you meet some great people that have very similar taste in music that can show you other bands that you may not have heard of as well. You never stop craving the nutrition of new songs or new bands, so it will be good for that.”

The second touring commitment Bagshaw is excited about is his first visit here in May. “I can't believe it! I was speaking to my mother the other day and she said just in the last three months I've been to more countries than her and my dad have been to together in their whole life! So that puts things into perspective and makes you feel very thankful as well. I'm sure Australia is going to be everything I'm expecting and more. I can't wait to see it!”