Alfie Templeman Has Something to Prove on Radiosoul
The English singer-songwriter’s second album is a coming-of-age, summer listen that emerged from an intense period of reflection and self-discovery.
At 19, English pop-funk artist Alfie Templemen was terrified of turning 20. At 21, he’s just released his sophomore album, Radiosoul, and it’s safe to say those fears were unfounded. Hailing from just north of London, Templeman got signed to Chess Club Records at only 15 years old and became something of a sensation with his 2019 EP, Don’t Go Wasting Time. Over the next few years, however, he began to wonder if listeners were only impressed by his music because of his age. “I’ve never really had that sheer intensity that you get when you turn a certain age [until] I turned 20,” he said in 2023. “It was this massive weight on me all of a sudden. As someone that’s kind of known as a teenager making these songs, is it not as impressive now that I’m 20?”
Radiosoul emerged from that imminent introspection. While maintaining the joy and electric groove of his earlier work, the record brings forth a newfound complexity to Templeman’s lyricism and production. It is cohesive—effortlessly shifting between disco, funk and psych-pop—yet each song remains distinct and rarely repetitive. This self-discovery is paired with mainly upbeat tracks, fitting for a summer release. It’s hard to place a pin on Templeman’s genre or make a direct comparison to another artist, as he blends modern dance and traditional jazz elements to create something entirely his own.
Radiosoul’s title-track was inspired by a desire for escapism during a social media cleanse, and the song employs a warmth that builds up slower than on other parts of the album—allowing listeners to sink into the groove before diving into the rest of the record. On “Radiosoul,” Templeman addresses the overwhelming, constant influx of information online, singing, “The radio stays on, while nobody listens.” “People go to great lengths to conceal their imperfections, committing to this growing and burdening illusion. I think the song to me just helps to embrace the little imperfections of being human,” Templeman said. “It’s okay to get away from your phone for a while and clear up that headache feeling.”