'Nile Rodgers finished a song I started as a teen'

A musician has explained how music icon Nile Rodgers ended up working with him on his newest album.

Alfie Templeman, 21, wrote some of the tracks on his album Radiosoul when he was still living in his childhood bedroom in Carlton, Bedfordshire.

The song Just a Dance was later finished in Miami with the help of Rodgers. The Chic co-founder played on and produced the track and happens to be one of Templeman's musical heroes.

He said: "I played [Rodgers] the riff and he was really into it straight away. We got some drums going, I was playing bass and we were just grooving together so it actually sounds like we're jamming out."

In November 2021 Templeman was in Green Earth Cafe in Bedford when he realised he had been contacted by the legendary hit maker.

Days before he had told Clara Amfo on BBC Radio 1 that his style of guitar playing had been inspired by Rodgers.

"He heard it somehow, and reached out to me on Twitter, and said, 'Get to Abbey Road right now'."

"I was like, wait, I need to get a train right now! So I sprint it to the train station and got over there and met the guy."

The two musicians went for dinner at a nearby Nando's (Rogers opting for medium, Templeman chose spicy).

The pair kept in touch and about a year later found themselves together in a Miami recording studio.

"He gave [the track] that undeniable Chic feel, there was a point I had to un-Chic it because it was so Chic."

Templeman started working on many of the tracks on his new album in his childhood bedroom.

"One of the songs in particular, Vultures, I can hear my bedroom in it... It's got like wooden floorboards and stuff, you can kind of hear the room in it, which is cool."

Just A Dance may have started life in Templeman's hometown, but it was finished in Miami - where Rodgers lives. "And now he's coming to Bedford. So it's full circle," the 21-year-old added.

On 7 July Nile Rodgers and Chic will perform in Bedford Park as part of Bedford Summer Sessions.

Templeman smiled when it was suggested he join Rodgers on stage to perform Just A Dance.

"Well, I can't say too much," he said.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830