The 17-year-old’s development as a musician is fascinating, and ‘Happiness in Liquid Form's effortless blend between indie pop and lo-fi embodies Templeman’s dazzling sonic progress.
On first listening to 'Happiness in Liquid Form', the second EP from the Bedfordshire-born singer and songwriter, one might enjoy and appreciate the eclectic influences and feel-good notions presented in the six songs. Yet, the most difficult aspect of listening to this EP is comprehending that Templeman is just seventeen years old.
Templeman effectively blends sub-genres and themes into the holistic style of indie pop. The glorious stylistic differences between each track represent an artist who is not constrained to any one category. Templeman’s aim in this EP is not to present continuity, but instead showcase an exceptional number of styles and genres merging in glorious tandem.
'The glorious stylistic differences between each track represent an artist who is not constrained to any one category'
Take Maybe This Is Time, for example. Here, Templeman places an emphasis on lo-fi and psychedelic styles. With electric guitar riffs reminiscent of The Kinks and acoustic melodies perhaps better compared to the dreamy bed-pop of Beabadoobee, Templeman creates a colourful track peppered with a variety of different influences.
The production is impeccable. The songs are meticulously constructed. The instrumentation is mesmerising. Templeman’s second EP is just as commendable as the first, and in many ways builds on the foundations laid by 2019’s 'Don’t Go Wasting Time'.
One sole criticism of EP might be Templeman’s lyricism. Whilst on the final track My Best Friend, Templeman’s lyrics are creative and enigmatic, his writing on other tracks can sometimes come across as slightly simplistic. However, comparatively this is a small criticism of what is a brilliant and insightful EP.
Words by: Alex Duke
Edited by: Louise Dugan
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