A Quick Chat with Red Temples

Your new EP ‘World Askew’ dives deep into the emotional contradictions of adulthood. Was there a particular moment or memory that sparked the concept behind this release?
The concept started to come together when discussing the themes of the songs, weaving a narrative between each of the tracks. It’s a snapshot of life through our collective, if not slightly twisted, lens. I think concurrently, all of us in the band have been going through some of the ups and down, trials and tribulations of mid-life, and inadvertently, these ideas have shone through across all of the tunes on the EP.

There’s a beautiful tension in your lyrics between nostalgia and the chaos of now. How do you balance those moods when writing together as a band?
We don’t have a uniform approach when it comes to creating music. Some songs are written in isolation, some as a group, some are an amalgamation of multiple themes which gives the EP that light and shade. It’s hard not to look back at your youth and feel the pull of nostalgia, especially at times like this when it can seem like the world is falling apart, yet you’re still stuck in the rat race. The simpler times seem like a dream we’ve all been feeling like going back to. Even us starting this band is a nod to that so it does make sense it would flow into our music as well.

Songs like ‘Water from the Stars’ and ‘Fall Back Plan’ have gained WAM recognition. How has that kind of support impacted the band’s momentum or mindset?
Having those nominations is great! Feeling supported by the local scene and getting a nod from respected members of the community lets you know you’re doing something right, so it is a good motivator, and a nice little bit of icing on the cake of just recording and releasing music that we’re proud of.

You describe the EP as “emotionally raw yet quietly uplifting.” What was the most cathartic track to write or record, and why?
Writing “Tilt” was really about finding some closure having been through a turbulent time. Finding some solace and distilling that down into lyrics was a healing experience. It had been a period of exploration, self-discovery and hedonism. I’d been stuck in a rut for a long while, which had slowly eroded my self-esteem. Suddenly I found myself free from that routine, which led to a spiral of hedonism. Tilt is really about chasing a high, finding that intense connection with someone, and that becomes addictive.

The sound of Red Temples blends elements of Australiana and indie rock. Who are some musical influences, local or international, that shaped your sound growing up?
We all grew up during the 90s, mostly in different parts of Australia, but one of us in the UK and one in New Zealand, so we have a strong affinity and shared love of the indie and grunge stuff of that era. But also we all vary a lot in our other tastes, from 80s to British post-punk, hip hop and rave and so much more. It’s so hard to pinpoint (or agree on) any specific artist, but the 90s would probably sum it, and us, up best.

How does the creative dynamic work within the band? Does someone typically bring a full song to the group, or is it more of a jam-until-it-clicks approach?
A bit of both really. We’ve built a lot of songs from jams on the spot, which then evolve in a number of ways. But also Jim (who does a lot of the writing – especially lyrically) will bring in quite formed ideas which we then tweak as much as needed. We are now all bringing ideas and are open to having them challenged, which I think is the basis of a healthy creative relationship. For Tilt, Paul actually had written the lyrics for a few songs which Jim then built the melody and music around – in a real Bernie Taupin / Elton John style.

You’ve been building a strong live reputation in the Perth scene. What’s been a standout moment on stage so far?
Our single launch last year was a great night, great crowd and a really nice culmination of our efforts up until then. This really started as a way to make some noise and drink some beers, so the fact we’ve pushed the limits of our expectations (and probably our capabilities) has been really rewarding. We can’t wait until next week to do it again at The Bird for our EP launch.

Last one, if ‘World Askew’ was the soundtrack to a film, what kind of story would it be telling?
It would be a tale of love, loss, lamentation and laughter. Oh and lager…

Red Temples' debut EP ‘World Askew’ is out now
Stream on Spotify