Johnny Smillie and Monica Queen of Tenement & Temple chat with Jim about life and music

Episode 94 of Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat

Johnny Smillie and Monica Queen of Tenement & Temple chat with Jim - part one

In this episode I was delighted to chat to Glasgow’s own music legends Monica Queen and Johnny Smillie - of the band Tenement and Temple. 

Johnny is known for his accomplished guitar playing, songwriting and as an in-demand music producer and Monica for her musicianship, songwriting and her incredible voice. 

Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol said, Monica possess one of the "greatest ever voices to come out of Scotland'. I couldn’t argue with that. :-)

Apart from their own musical adventures - which stretch back to the 1980s and include the indie rock band Thrum, they have collaborated with, among others: Bell and Sebastian, Chris Connelly, James Grant of Love & Money, Chris Coco. Monica has duetted with none other than Shane McGowan of the Pogues.

We chat about how they met, their musical influences, record deals, their adventures in America and working with big-name producers - including our very own Edwin Collins. 

And because we nattered on so much, I decided to split the chat across two episodes. Enjoy. 

Links

• Tenement & Temple on Bandcamp
• Pat's Guide to Glasgow West End.
• @glasgowswestend
   
   

Music by Jim Byrne