Temple returns

After 14 months working as a financial analyst, Dallas native Owen Temple abandoned his desk job in pursuit of his passion for music.

His third album, Right Here and Now, marks Temple’s return to the country music world.

The album, produced by Phil Madeira, features 12 new tracks overflowing with poetry and life.

Temple exhibits a respect for Southern tradition in his music. Many of the tracks on the album are easygoing ballads about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.

Right Here and Now features Temple’s first single, “No Daring is Fatal.” With singing fiddles accompanied by electric guitar, this song is about hope in the face of uncertainty.

Like many other songs on the album, Temple’s love of literature provides inspiration for “No Daring is Fatal.” The title is a quote from American author Henry Miller.

Other inspirational material comes from William Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams and Ernest Hemingway.

The album opens up with “Accidentally Break My Heart,” a Byrds-inspired song featuring both twelve-string and slide guitar.

“Burning Too Hot to Last” offers a blazing guitar piece by Phil Madeira. The song’s message focuses on the two stages of love: the initial blaze and the low, fragile flame.

This must be the only country song triggered by the breakup of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, Temple jokes.

Other songs like “Little Sweet Loss” and “For Old Times’ Sake” take a softer tone when talking about relationships that will never be and losing touch with those who were once dear to us.

“Move Around Money” is a humorous ballad that examines the lack of meaning in some corporate cultures. Temple notes that a bad day at the office was inspiration for this song.

Bluegrass and country fans, this is the disc for you. There’s not a wide variety of instrumentation on this album, but Temple is a talented musician nonetheless.

From fiddles to electric guitars, the music is Southern to the roots.

“No Daring is Fatal” was released to the radio April 8. The album will be released to the public by Texas-based El Pasisano Records on June 11.

For more information and tour dates, visit www.owentemple.com.