Zach Templar is only 18 but he is ready to take over the world. He recently headlined a sold-out show at Village Underground in London. Originally hailing from Bristol, the UK-Columbian lo-fi pop artist is about to headline his first tour in North America. He recently got recognition for his song “roses” – a soft poetic track that reminisces on life on the road and the bleak headspace that can come with it. The song that initially put him in the spotlight was “missin something” which went viral in 2023. Templar also played on the BBC Radio 1’s stage at Reading Festival. He is releasing his highly anticipated debut EP this year.

Templar sits down with 1883 to chat about his latest track, how he deals with his newfound fame, what fashion means to him, and more.

Hey Zach, how are you doing today? Are you all good?

Yeah, I’m good. I’m writing music today. I’m just chilled out. Not too much going on but that’s all about to change.

Yeah, it’s so exciting! I did go to the gig in London. I wanted to say hi after but it was crazy. I saw how crazy it was and how busy you were with all the fans. And it’s so adorable because I was also 18 once. [Laughs] I went there and I was like: “Oh my gosh. I remember how that used to be like.” I think it’s so cool for you. I mean, it must be incredible.

I mean, yeah, it’s an amazing feeling, you know. I think it helps to do live shows that give me a sense of: “Okay, I’m doing something right.”

Why don’t we start talking about how you first started making music how you knew you wanted to become a musician and where it all started?

I think I’ve always wanted to be a musician, even as a kid. In school, I was involved in plays and theater, and I did a lot of music too. I even tried taking lessons to learn classical music composition, but I hated it. I just wanted to do my own thing, so I started teaching myself. I learned how to produce music on my laptop because I wanted to create my own songs. I uploaded some stuff on SoundCloud—it didn’t really go anywhere at first. But then I started marketing myself a bit on TikTok, and here we are now.

Now you’re here! I’ve seen so many TikToks from fans who went to your shows, and it looks like they had an amazing time. It’s so sweet—it reminds me of how I felt about One Direction back in the day! How does it feel to have so many admirers?

It’s incredible—it really keeps me going. The thing about being online is that it’s hard to fully grasp that there are real people behind every stream or comment. Seeing people in real life at shows is so moving. It’s a reminder that the support is real, and it’s amazing.

You played a cover of Arctic Monkeys’ “505” at a gig recently—I love that song. Who would you say are your musical inspirations?

Artist: Arctic Monkeys are great, but my favourite artist of all time is Frank Ocean. Prince is another huge influence, especially in terms of performance—I hope to perform like that someday. And sonically, Jai Paul has been a big inspiration for me too. I love his woozy, electronic guitar sounds and his ominous production style. That’s kind of where I’m at right now.

If you could pick three dream collaborators, who would they be?

Dominic Fike would be cool—we’re different, but our styles are in a similar lane. Fontaines D.C. would be amazing. And Joji—that would be a full-circle moment for me. I started out listening to his early demos on SoundCloud.

I love Joji! Didn’t he start as a YouTuber?

Yeah, he was Filthy Frank back in the day. It was chaotic and funny, but I think he got burnt out and shifted into making more emotional music. And honestly, I love it.

His song “Sanctuary” is one of my favourites. Switching gears—you’re pretty active on TikTok. How do you balance the online world with real life, especially as your audience grows?

That’s been one of the big challenges—figuring out how to transition from online attention to building real-life connections. This past year, the focus has been on turning online fans into real-life ones, with live shows and tours. I love the creative side of social media, but I’ve been trying to balance it with real-world experiences.

Speaking of real-world experiences, you’re about to go on your first headline tour! What’s your favourite thing about touring?

It’s a mix of terrifying and exciting! I feel so lucky to be able to do this. Playing in places like New York and LA—it’s incredible. The UK and Europe tour we did this year was tiring, but the highs, like the London show, made it all worth it. I’m looking forward to that energy every night.

I bet that’s such an amazing feeling! Let’s talk about your music—PASTE magazine praised “Roses,” and it’s clear your songs are resonating with people. Do you have a favorite song you’ve written so far?

I’d say the new one coming out—it’s one of my favourites because of how I wrote it. But if I had to pick from older songs, probably “Supercar.” It was my first release back in 2021, and it’s special to me. It has three different segments, and the lyrics are like poetry.

Do you have lyrics from any song you’ve written that you think are the best?

I think it’s from my first-ever song. When I was 13, I wrote this lyric: “My eyes were green, but my thoughts were like empty clouds.” I mean, I was 13, but that’s deep! I’ve always loved that line. Whenever we rehearse, it still stands out to me—it’s probably my favourite.

That’s beautiful. You mentioned your fans earlier—what’s the greatest feedback you’ve ever received from one of them?

At shows, people sometimes hold up their phones with signs that say, “Your music saved me.” It’s such a powerful moment. It hits you—everything you’ve written, released, and poured your emotions into actually resonates with people on such a deep level. It’s overwhelming in the best way, knowing that something I created means so much to someone else.

What is something you want your fans to take away from your music?

That’s a good question. I think it’s to listen carefully. Music, to me, is like poetry. I want people to really pay attention to what I’m saying—the lyrics, the vibe, and how everything comes together to make you feel a certain way. Just focus on the art as a whole. A lot of people just casually listen to music, but there’s so much depth in songs, albums, and even movies if you pay attention.

Absolutely. I didn’t know about you before the gig because you’re much younger than me, but then I looked you up on TikTok, and I really like your music—it’s so romantic. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Consistency is key. That’s so true. Just keep at it every single day and don’t stop. Nobody else is going to do it for you—it’s all on you. It doesn’t matter what label you’re signed to or what opportunities you have. You’ve got to make the music, sing it, write it, and put it out there. Otherwise, nothing is going to happen. That’s the most important thing I’ve learned.

If you could give advice to aspiring musicians, either younger or your age, what would it be?

A lot of people just sit on their demos and don’t do anything with them. They think, “Oh, it has to sound perfect,” or “I need to figure out how to compress this properly.” But you don’t need it to be perfect—it just needs to sound good enough. You’ll improve over time. My earlier songs weren’t produced that well, but they still meant something to people. So, my advice is: just put your work out there. You’ll learn as you go.

Tour life and starting out as a musician can come with so much pressure and a lot of new beginnings. How do you maintain your mental health?

I think exercising is really important. When I was younger, I played lots of sports, but in 2023, I didn’t exercise at all, and I felt pretty down. This year, I’ve gotten back into it, and it’s been so good. Seeing friends is also so important—at least once or twice a week, I make an effort to go out and do something with them. It helps take your mind off all the crazy things going on.

How do you spend your day when you’re not working?

Honestly, I waste my time. [laughs] After this, I’ll probably just rest. But on weekends, I’ll go out, see friends, or watch movies. I love movies—they’re great and really inspire me.

What’s your favourite movie right now, or one you’ve recently watched?

Probably Interstellar. I rewatched it recently, and it’s just such a great movie. It’s about space, and I love it.

I’ve never seen it, but I’ll put it on my list! Your song “Changes“ is out now. What’s the message behind it, and what inspired you to write it?

I laid down this bass and drum idea while on tour, and I thought, “This is cool, I want to use this in the future.” Then when I came back recently, I wrote the lyrics. It’s about coming back to someone after years apart and it working out, but in the back of your mind, you’re wondering if there’s a reason it didn’t work the first time. It’s a bit darker, more cinematic—I think this song really captures that.

Everything is changing for you, which can be overwhelming but also exciting. How do you deal with so many changes?

I think it’s about being around people. You can’t isolate yourself too much, especially with everything feeling so crazy and so many opinions flying around. Staying grounded by spending time with people in real life, going for a walk in nature, that really helps.

Besides going on tour, what else can you tell us about what’s next for you?

This year, I’m releasing my debut EP, which I’m so excited about! That’s going to be amazing. Other than that, I think that’s all I have for now.

Would you ever want to branch out into anything else besides music?

I’d love to try acting at some point, like Dominic Fike in Euphoria or something cool like that. But that’s probably further down the line, maybe in my 20s.

You still have so much time! We talked about touring earlier—what’s your dream venue to play at?

I could say the classic, like Wembley—everyone wants to play stadiums. But I’d love to play the Bristol Beacon. It’s close to my hometown, and I used to watch gigs there when I was younger. That would be such a cool moment.

How do you think fashion and music connect? I feel like Gen Z has such a distinctive style. I saw it at the show, and I thought, “Wow, I’m way too old for this!” [laughs]

Fashion and music definitely go hand in hand. It’s something I’d love to explore more—maybe doing fashion shows or modelling. I love clothes, and I think our generation is so into it, with styles going back to the 80s and 90s. I love that vibe. One day, I’d even like to start my own brand—that’s in the back of my mind for sure.

What are your favourite brands right now?

There’s a brand called Mooji, it’s American and pretty cool—not super big, but I like them. Honestly, though, I love going to charity or thrift shops and finding non-branded stuff. If it looks good, I’ll wear it!

I love thrift shops! I actually went to one today in Notting Hill. You’re in London, right?

No, I’m in Bristol. I want to move to London eventually, but for now, I’m still in Bristol.

I haven’t been to Bristol yet! What’s your perfect day in London like?

I don’t know anywhere specific, but the food is amazing everywhere. I’d probably get some food and then watch a gig at a place like the Village Underground—something to reminisce about. I definitely need to go to London more. I really should go now! [laughs]

London is amazing! But now I’m curious—what’s Bristol like? Is it worth visiting?

Oh, definitely! You should come to Bristol. It’s a great mix—you’ve got the city, the countryside, and the harbour. It’s such a cool place, and I love it.

That sounds amazing. Well, that’s everything from me—unless there’s anything else you want to share with your fans?

Just to be ready for the EP and everything coming this year. It’s going to be such an exciting year with so much going on!

Interview Maja Bebber