Alfie Templeman - ‘Eyes Wide Shut’
A stylistic showpiece of pop know-how, ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ marks Alfie Templeman’s return as one of Gen Z’s brightest musical minds.
Leaning into the sun-drenched alt-pop sound of 2022 album ‘Mellow Moon’, the London multi-instrumentalist’s latest brims with eclectic exploration. The track arrives following an almost two-year-long hiatus and boldly marks the beginning of a new chapter in his songwriting.
From the first groove-laden bassline, ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ instantly transports the listener into Templeman’s vibrant technicolour world. Blending 80s funk with inventive modern production, it’s an enthralling soundscape that offers three minutes of pure ecstasy. From cascading synth textures to playful guitar riffs, there’s a seething energy that runs throughout the track – and such that offers a (rather ironically) colourful backdrop to Templeman’s lyrical frankness.
“Eyes Wide Shut is an amalgamation of ruminations I faced on tour. My brain always seems to be on full volume after a show and I find it really difficult to wind down. The adrenaline used to turn sour pretty quick once you’d get back to your hotel that looked the same as every other hotel. Eyes Wide Shut helped me express those feelings and since we started playing it live I often use it as a reminder to go easy on myself. It deters the burn out.” he explains.
Peaking during the euphorically buoyant chorus, bubbling beats and enticing melodies provide a transcendent sonic outpour, while visceral vocal delivery pulls us back to reality with a stark emotional resonance. Tied together by heartfelt storytelling, the track serves as a step in a new direction for the 21-year-old’s artistry, while maintaining his quintessence of dreamy, escapist anthems.
If this single is anything to go by, it looks like Templeman’s reputation as a global trailblazer will be upheld for years to come.
Words by Emily Savage
