Introducing: Miles Temp

At just 18, Miles Temp is fast emerging as one of Liverpool’s brightest new voices. Blending raw vulnerability with cinematic indie-pop flair, he’s already making waves with a string of emotionally rich releases — earning praise from BBC Introducing, Boot Magazine, and Sun 13, who call his songwriting “a catharsis that many people will relate to.” With comparisons to Leith Ross and Conan Gray, and a sold-out headline show under his belt, Temp’s latest single ‘Heartbeat’ has been dubbed “a minimalist masterpiece” and marks a new high point in a journey that’s only just begun. As he racks up streams, stage time, and critical acclaim, we caught up with the rising star to talk about self-expression, sonic evolution, and what’s next.

You’ve been recognized as one of Liverpool’s most promising talents—how does it feel to gain this momentum so early in your career?

I feel honoured to be able to create music in this city and to be noticed in this huge pool of talented, up and coming musicians. I am so grateful to be in a city where music is all around and it's ingrained into the culture. I have loved every single opportunity I have been offered and have learnt so much along the journey. The music community in Liverpool is so intertwined and has been so supportive of me. I’ve really enjoyed finding my place within it and it’s given me the opportunity to find my own style and voice. I have met so many amazing people and played so many memorable gigs at such an early stage, I can't wait to continue my journey in Liverpool and beyond.

Your songwriting has been praised for its emotional depth and vulnerability. Where do you draw inspiration from when writing your music?

I usually draw inspiration from my own life experiences and emotions. I began creating music for my own personal benefit to help release and understand my feelings. I believe that having music that comes from such a personal space creates vulnerability and relatability for others. By creating songs with emotional depth, I hope that I can connect with an audience and I love it when I feel the shared emotion live in the room.

‘Heartbeat’ has been described as a ‘minimalist masterpiece.’ Can you tell us about the creative process behind that track and what it means to you?

Heartbeat was initially written on an acoustic guitar, like all of my other songs so far. I wanted to follow on from Wasn’t There, released on Spotify back in April 2024, by adding synths to my sound and building up my vocals, so I experimented with backing vocals and harmonies. The main synth is a poly synth sound using Logic in my home attic studio. I wanted something more upbeat for the live version, so I used a 4:4 kick, finding a loop from Logic but filtering it to make it fit the lo-fi feel. I played the bass line on a midi keyboard using real bass samples. Even though it is an upbeat song in parts, I still wanted it to be simple and lo-fi. When I first record a song, I always lay the guitar down first to a clicktrack, then double track it. Next, I add a guide vocal before moving on to experiment with other elements such as bass, drums and synths. I try to save songs I like the vibe of to use as inspiration for production tone and feel, such as Olivia Dean and Conan Gray.

You’ve played at some iconic Merseyside venues and even had a packed-out debut festival slot—what’s been your most memorable live performance so far?

My most memorable live performance so far was packing-out my debut festival at Sound City back in May 2024. This was so significant for me as I've been going to the festival since I was 14, where I first saw The Snuts perform at the Arts Club Theatre to a packed crowd, coming on with their iconic riff from their song Always. From that moment I knew I wanted to pursue music, play Sound City and perform at the Arts Club Theatre. When I got the news I was playing Sound City through the Sound City Artist Training & Development Programme, I was ecstatic, especially to play The Jacaranda Basement. I opened the venue on Saturday at 1.30, not expecting many people as it was very early in the day and it was a 70 capacity venue. By the time I was on stage the venue had locked out and people were waiting to watch on the stairs leading down to the venue. It was unreal. A moment I'll never forget.

With your evolving sound incorporating acoustic elements, backing tracks, and the SPD 1 sample pad, how do you see your music developing in the future?

At present I’ve been using the sample pad for a year and it seems to be popular with audiences, promoters and other musicians, gaining positive feedback. My aim was always to try to stand out as an acoustic singer songwriter, and this was my way of independently achieving that. I'm still developing synth sounds and playing bass lines at home then using the tracks live with a click in my ear. I have an amazing opportunity coming up, supporting the brilliant Ellis Murphy at the Liverpool Philharmonic music rooms in June, where I can show the full potential of the sample pad in an environment that lends itself acoustically. I'm also planning to collaborate with a few musicians this year to try to get out of my comfort zone, see how new writing sessions will work and catch some magic with local Liverpool talent. I recently bought a lot of lo-fi drum samples, so I'm starting to play with them and develop my unique sound for live and released material. I'm just taking everything a step at a time.