Famous Last Words with Alfie Templeman

By Resonate | December 5, 2024

Words by Katie Hillier

Alfie Templeman is Bristol’s biggest fan. It’s his “favourite place to play in the world”, and he’ll stand by that. Even though he could’ve quickly sold out SWX, he revisited ‘the boat’ (Thekla) because it’s one of his all-time favourite venues to play. At only 21, Alfie has been worldwide, playing over 100 shows in just 2022 alone and even has the legendary Nile Rogers featured on his sophomore record, Radiosoul. 

But have you ever wondered where Alfie does his weekly food shop? What is the weirdest item he’s brought on tour with him? Or what he’d cook for you if you went round for tea? We caught up with the genre-bending musician at his favourite Bristol spot to get all the answers…

What’s your favourite way to cook a potato? 

That’s so funny because one of the last venues I was in was called Mash. But I was like, ‘I prefer roast potatoes.’ I think I probably prefer a jacket potato though! 

What’s your jacket potato toppings of choice then? 

One has tuna on it, and the other has cheese and beans and salad next to it. 

Resonate Magazine is coming around for tea. What are you cooking for us? 

I’ll make some tuna steaks with Greek salad, some onion jam, some Persian peppers, some char-grilled asparagus, and maybe some sauté mushrooms. You’ll also get a little white wine.

If you could only smell one smell for the rest of your life, what would you choose? 

Vanilla beans.

Do you have any weird hobbies and what are they? 

I really like cooking. I’m trying to get into gardening more now we’ve got a bigger house. But I just like going to the pub and playing cards with my mates, even though I’m terrible at it!

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve brought on tour with you? 

I take hot sauce everywhere just because I’m obsessed with it! But that’s not that weird… 

What was the last thing you broke? 

My toe. It’s still broken. No guitar strings this tour… TOUCH FUCKING WOOD. 

If you were to go on a night out with three people, dead or alive, who would you pick and why? 

[Adam, the drummer, walks into the dressing room and answers Jimmy Hendrix] You’d probably die of heroin; the stories would be good though. Maybe Kurt Cobain as well – I think he’d be good fun, and I’d thrash him at cards! And Beethoven.

What’s your favourite supermarket? 

Man, I can’t say I’ll get cancelled and called something… Waitrose just because they sell the most random shit like ‘speciality melons’ and delicious camembert. Although Lidl bakery is good, Aldi is mid, and Lidl is way better. Morrisons is somewhat underrated, but I’m telling you, they’re always in the middle of England. Like in Nottingham or Lincolnshire, I don’t know what’s happening there. I bet Lincolnshire is full of Morrisons more than any other supermarket. I’d put a tenner on that. If you find out where the most Morrisons in England is and it’s not, I owe you £10.  

[Genuinely, the city with the most Morrisons supermarkets in England is Bristol.]

What colour is your toothbrush? 

Pink. I actually have two—one pink and one blue—because I lose them a lot. I dropped one on the road in Glasgow the other day, and I felt gross about it. I might use two at the same time…

What’s your most irrational superstition? 

Probably some UFO shit! A plane flew over my hotel the other day, and I was like, ‘that’s a UFO.’

We have a segment called Fuck The Charts – what’s one artist you think everyone should be checking out right now?

It’s hard to pick one that people aren’t already behind! But I’d say my mate Margo Thirwell. They make this beautiful folk music. But honestly, I could argue everyone I’ve chosen to open for us on this tour – they’ve all been really special!

If we were to give you £10 right now, what would you spend it on? 

I was going to say when you prove me wrong about Morrisons… I’d probably walk down to St Nicholas Market and go to the olive place with the salads – it’s delicious! Or I’d go and see Beak because their tickets are cheap, they’re a good band, and they’re from Bristol! 

If your albums were to have a physical fight, would Mellow Moon or Radiosoul win?

I think we all know the answer… It would be Radiosoul – knockout first round, 10 seconds. 

If you were to go on a game show, which one would you want to go on?

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? so I can pay off my tour debt. 

And finally, what’s next for Alfie Templeman? 

Alfie Templeman doesn’t know what’s next for him, and that’s all part of the excitement. Who knows? The main thing is I’m writing a lot of music, and I think the trick is not to get deep into the fact that I’m making stuff again, and I’m going to start producing for other people. I’m going to start building my studio when I’m back from tour. I am my engineer!

Alfie Templeman’s second album, Radiosoul, is out now.  

Follow Alfie on Instagram @alfietempleman