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Video Interview: High Priestess Nighthawk of Heavy Temple on Making Lupi Amoris, Deleting Entire Albums, and Much More

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Philadelphia-based hard fuzz trio Heavy Temple make an awaited debut on June 18 with Lupi Amoris (review here), a first full-length years and multiple lineups in the making. Settled hopefully on the lineup of founding bassist/vocalist High Priestess Nighthawk, guitarist Lord Paisley and drummer Baron Lycan, the band take the opportunity to turn folkloric admonishment into emotional and sexual agency in the theme of the record — something consistent with their take on Funkadelic‘s “Hit it and Quit It” (discussed here) from last year, come to think of it — and do so in the context of rampant groove, psychedelic flourish and complex but memorable songcraft. If you and I were hanging out, talking about albums, I’d probably say something like, “Hey, this record’s really cool. You should check it out.”

This interview’s pretty casual. I manage to keep my nerding out over the songs to a low-enough to only be mildly embarrassing, which I’m proud of, while Nighthawk herself recounts the long process by which Lupi Amoris was realized, self-recording, moving,heavy temple lupi amoris changing band members, changing songs accordingly, and on and on until, at last, Magnetic Eye will have the thing out and the band can move on to the new material already in progress. After 2016’s Chassit EP (review here) and their prior 2014 self-titled three-songer (review here), a quick turnaround to a second full-length would be welcome, but given the band’s history as a dedicated touring act in addition to everything else that’s come before this record’s arrival, one could hardly begrudge them wanting to celebrate this release on stage for a bit.

To that end, Heavy Temple headline this very weekend Philly’s Live on Front two-day outdoor fest. With Ruby the Hatchet as the corresponding second-night headliner and the likes of Slomo SapiensHigh Reeper and St. James and the Apostles on the bill, an hour-long set should provide a ready (and likewise awaited) opportunity for three-piece to showcase where they’re at. I asked Nighthawk about stepping on stage for the first time in over a year, as well as all the other stuff about the album, and yeah, it’ll probably be a good one. Hopefully the first of many.

It was Saturday afternoon. A band was recording downstairs at Chez Nighthawk and her roommate had houseguests. My kid was in the adjacent room screaming about who the hell knows what. So like I said, casual. In any case, if you get through the whole thing either watching or listening, I hope you enjoy.

Thanks for reading and/or watching.

Heavy Temple, Lupi Amoris Interview with High Priestess Nighthawk, May 29, 2021

Lupi Amoris is available to preorder now through Magnetic Eye Records ahead of the June 18 release. More info at the links.

Heavy Temple, Lupi Amoris (2021)

Heavy Temple on Facebook

Heavy Temple on Instagram

Heavy Temple on Bandcamp

Magnetic Eye Records store

Magnetic Eye Records website

Magnetic Eye Records on Facebook

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