Fronted by husband-and-wife team Alexandra and Zachary James, Los Angeles “satanic doo-wop” innovators Twin Temple has built an international following.
Conjuring the golden age of classic American music with a wicked twist all their own, Alexandra and Zachary transform vintage rhythm and blues, traditional pop, and rock and roll into a seductive celebration of personal liberation, individuality, and artistic freedom.
Twin Temple’s latest album, Doomed Lovers, was produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Shooter Jennings.
Viral controversies surrounding the band’s satanic imagery have thrust them into the centre of multiple national conversations, including having far-right Alex Jones decry them, to being abruptly removed from shows by country music artist Charley Crockett for their satanic imagery, leading Jack White to extend a public invitation to the band to support him in Hollywood, this past September.
Being out on the road this fall has been pretty surreal, Zachary said, including a recent live show in Vancouver, B.C. “It’s been a mix of headline shows and supports.”
“We did about six shows with Danzig, which is the second time we got to go out with Danzig. That’s been a special experience. Getting to just watch him play every night is so cool. We just did a show with Jack White, which was definitely a highlight,” Zachary noted.
The new album was released online earlier this month and will be available in stores Oct. 23.
“We did it over at Sunset Sound in Hollywood. It’s one of the last independently owned recording studios in Hollywood. For us being obsessed with not only the history of American recording, but also a specific period in Hollywood of the late fifties and early sixties, it was really special for us to get to be in that room. Where so many great records have been made,” Zachary explained.
With the new record, Zachary added they wanted to expand and deepen what has already been built. “We’ve got a 37-piece orchestra on most of the songs, which was a nightmare come true to be able to incorporate. It’s been a goal of ours for a while, and this was the record we finally wanted to make all that happen.”
It’s funny, Zachary said. “We’re very traditional, but we also like to stir things up. On the one hand, I really love record stores. To discover a band or a record in a record store among other music lovers is a special thing. But I also think the Internet is a great tool to reach people and get the music out there. It’s so easily shareable.”
The second leg of the Doomed Lovers tour will see the band hitting the road in February through North America, including a return to Canada.
For the live show, Zachary believes it’s a very inclusive space and is something the band and fans continue to create. “I think it’s a very inclusive space to enter. That’s something we’re happy about and pride ourselves on.”
Musically, it’s a rock and roll show, Zachary said. “We’ve got a seven-piece band,” which includes piano, saxophone, “and all that stuff.”
“It’s like a classic rock and roll setup right now. The shows are bookended by ritual. We incorporate traditional ceremonial magic into the show. There’s blood and there’s a bit of a splash zone. If anybody wants to get a little blood on them, they come up to the front. It’s family fun for all ages,” Zachary added.
Zachary noted Twin Temple loves their fans and looks forward to returning to Canada early next year. “We’ve not been able to reach Canada, as much as we’d like.”
With all the controversy this past year, Zachary shared the most important thing for the band was the support they received. “When all that happened, you don’t know which way it’s going to go.”
“In the past, it’s been a stressful thing. A lot of death threats, Bibles showing up on our doorstep and weird stuff like that. In this case, when we were removed from those shows, we just didn’t really know what was going to happen,” Zachary noted. “I think seeing so many people show up with support was really nice and reaffirming for us. Jack White publicly asking us to play a show, it’s been really surreal.”
Twin Temple was also asked to appear on The Daily Show to perform.
“We told them, we want to fly our upside down crosses. We’ve got nine-foot upside down crosses. They were like, ‘we’re down for that and we will build them in New York, so you don’t have to figure out how to get them there.’ It’s been an incredible experience,” explained Zachary.
“And just to see freedom of expression, religion, artistic freedom, freedom of the press, and all of that. It’s still alive and well. We’re thankful for that,” Zachary added.
To check out tour dates or to purchase the new album, visit online at twintemple.com.
