Interview and photos by Uchechi Adeboye
From a childhood spent immersed in music and attending festivals to taking the stage at one of the UK’s largest festivals, Zach Templar’s journey has been nothing short of inspiring. Despite it being his festival debut, Templar made an unforgettable impression at Reading, with the crowd already knowing the words to his latest release ‘Roses‘. As someone who witnessed his set firsthand, it was clear that he’s an artist who is going to make it big. Shortly after his set, I had the opportunity to sit down with Zach and find out more about him and his career.
Reflecting on his festival debut, Zach shared, “It was incredible. I’ve been to festivals like this since I was a kid, but being on stage myself was a whole new experience. Especially performing for a couple thousand people—just amazing.” He also revealed his funny pre-show ritual, saying, “My musical director, Ben, and I do a great warm-up together. We shout ‘MOOOOOOSSSSEEE!’ before going on stage. That’s our ritual. I owe a lot to him; he’s been instrumental in bringing this all to life.” Although Zach has only worked with Ben for about a year, their partnership has helped him a lot in shaping his live performances. Before meeting Ben, he had never played live, and they built his career together from the ground up.
Music has always been a significant part of Zach’s life. He explained, “I’ve been making music since I was a kid, even though my early stuff didn’t really take off. I did a lot of theater work in school, played piano, sang, and played guitar. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.” This passion is evident in his latest release, “Roses.” Zach admitted, “I used to feel nervous about how people would perceive my music, but now I focus on whether I’m happy with it and if it aligns with my vision. I do still consider my fans’ reactions, but as long as I’m true to my vision, I’m good with it.”
Zach, who is Colombian and English, spoke about how his heritage influences his music. He noted, “My Colombian heritage comes from my mom. She who introduced me to some Latin music growing up, but both of my parents also shaped my music taste by introducing me to artists like Prince and Foo Fighters from a young age.” When asked if he’d ever want to release music in Spanish, he expressed interest saying, “I’d love to potentially release music in Spanish in the future, especially considering the massive Latino music market. Opening for artists like Rosalía or Kali Uchis would be incredible.”
Looking ahead, Zach is excited about his upcoming projects. “I’m working on my debut EP, which will be released early next year.’ He also hinted to the potential of a debut album being in the horizion. When asked what fans should expect, he explained that his music will continue to evolve, experimenting with different sounds while staying true to his core style. When asked about dream collaborations, Zach mentioned, “Frank Ocean would be a dream to see live, but realistically, I’d love to open for Montell Fish or Dominic Fike. They’re both artists I really admire.”
In a final touch, Zach revealed his thoughts on colors that represent him and his music. “My favorite color has always been orange. It’s warm and happy. As for my music, I’d say purple. It’s a bit melancholic and complex, but I can’t quite explain why.” He also recommended checking out Jeff Buckley’s “Grace” and Montell Fish’s “Is It a Crime?” for a taste of his influences.
Make sure to check out Zach’s new music, and to grab tickets to his show in London on the 20th of September, here.
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