The West Michigan indie-folk-pop super-trio which has turned heads with its performances over the past two years has debuted its first studio single. The Local Spins interview.
Melding Harmonies and Making People Cry: The Temperances (Courtesy Photo)
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It’s been nearly two years since The Temperances first emerged from a dense fog of mystical, musical forces. Swimming through harmonies, their voices suspended in a dance of intonation and inflection, the trio has a spellbinding essence that lures the listener into a beautifully haunting world.
Formed in 2024 by three distinguished West Michigan-based songwriters — Olivia Vargas, Audrey Pearson and Marley Kaye — The Temperances have evolved artistically alongside this collaborative project.
“I feel like there are all these similarities that we have together, like we’re all focused on the vocal harmony and sonically coming together. We all have a common thread of indie angst. It’s fun to be able to have that as a starting point even with our different songwriting styles,” says Olivia Vargas.
On Stage at Meijer Gardens: Vargas (Photo/Veronica Ann Dearborn)
“I think when it comes to the actual creation of a song, we have really different skills and roles within the band and it’s quite interesting because there are all these skills we have combined that maybe each one of us doesn’t fully have individually. This is very much a team oriented project.”
The trio of musicians rely heavily on one another’s specialized skill-sets on the back end of the band: Vargas creates intricately hand-drawn merch, including trading cards, matchboxes and posters; Kaye mixes and masters audio from studio recordings; and Pearson handles much of the band’s business, including booking and finances.
While much of the last two years has entailed studiously writing and recording, the trio has appeared at a handful of performances, including shows at The Stray, Salt of the Earth, Lowell Arts Soundcheck and Temple Lounge. Last year, The Temperances opened for The Crane Wives at Meijer Gardens, marking a ceremonious moment in the band’s journey.
The Temperances first studio single, “Small Like You,” was released on January 17, followed by a sold-out show at Guitar Haven in Grand Haven. Beginning with “the bones of a song” that Pearson wrote, the band converged at Planet Sunday Studios in Grand Haven to fully actualize the sound they envisioned.
LISTEN: The Temperances, “Small Like You”
A ‘REALLY ORGANIC,’ PIANO-DRIVEN BALLAD
“After recording live instruments and vocals at Planet Sunday, I took those stems and I produced and composed a bunch of synths and strings and drums and all the additional sounds and structure of it. We’re all really excited to have a more full sound that feels incredible to hear. I think the whole thing just felt really organic to me, it came together really smoothly,” says Kaye.
The result is a haunting, piano driven ballad that slowly steeps the listener in a world of blossoming sounds. Looking ahead, The Temperances hope to continue creating harmony-laden indie-folk music that speaks to the melancholy spirit, as well as curating intimate live show experiences.
“We want to make our shows very much our own and try to create a cozy space both sonically and with shared vulnerability. We want to be intentional about the aesthetic, especially when it’s in a small, intimate setting,” says Pearson.
“We’re just letting it come as it does and seeing where the opportunities take us. We want to focus on writing more collaboratively, touring and making more people cry.”
VIDEO: The Temperances, “Small Like You” (Live at Temple Lounge)
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