Being a pop star is a serious job. You can’t just walk through the door and get started. You need to have a proper interview first. This month’s applicant is Alfie Templeman. The board will see you now.
What can you tell us about yourself?
I’m a 16-year-old indie artist from Bedfordshire, UK. I’m currently studying for my GCSEs which is just what you need when trying to make some great tunes!
Why do you want to be a pop star?
The phrase ‘pop star’ sounds appealing enough on its own but it’s just something about the life of recording, touring and having fun with people that makes it so interesting and eye-catching to me.
How would your bandmates describe you?
Well, my best mate Jos who plays guitar for my band says I look ill all the time, and it’s probably because I get the worst hay fever on earth. But in general, they’re normally pretty nice to me cause I pay them!
What are your best and worst qualities?
Best – piecing together songs, basically writing and recording. I’m not the greatest musician (in fact I can’t even play piano with one hand), but I know what sounds good in a song, and how to make it sound great on the recording; that takes a lot of time.
Worst – probably being a bit of a perfectionist and control freak. I always record music by myself because I love having total control over all of my decisions- but that stops me from collaborating with amazing artists a lot. Luckily I’ve started to open up to collaborating with people simply because they’re the same as me and like to do it all by themselves- and that’s the best way of me seeing that we have similar ideas.
What is your biggest failure?
My biggest failure was probably one of my old albums that I rushed into recording when I was about 13. But I don’t regret it at all because every album that I made was a step forward even if I look back at it now and cringe like crazy. I think that if I ever once doubted myself and listened to what other people said I wouldn’t even be here right now. So, I’m glad that I put albums/demos on Spotify because eventually one of them got me recognised. I’m forever grateful that I listened to my own voice and went against people saying that my stuff sucked even though for a while it totally did.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of playing O2 Brixton Academy at 16 years old. In fact, it was the first time I’d even been there! Still can’t get over that one.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I wanna have a couple of successful records out, but most importantly I want to become an A&R and producer – finding young acts and recording them. I want to help people get discovered and have a great journey to becoming a successful artist, exactly like Will and Peter from Chess Club did with me. It’s about finding people from a young age and working with them, building a relationship with them and being there every step of the way. But yeah, I’m very excited to be producing some of my friends in the next few years etc. so production is where I see myself.
What is your salary expectation?
Oh, who knows. As long as I’m making a bit of cash, then I’m the happiest I can be. I mean, I made music for years without making a single penny. I just liked doing it, and now I’m lucky to have it as my job. Obviously, I do still want four cars, three houses and an orchard but that’s after the music, dude.
Taken from the June issue of Dork, out now.
