Rochdale Music Stories: Spotlight on The Velvet Shadow

Matt Temperley is better known by his stage name The Velvet Shadow, and is a cornerstone of Greater Manchester’s electronic music community. Working from his base at Ebor Studio in Littleborough, Matt blends production, sound design and software tinkering, releasing free Ableton packs on his website and creating indie VST tools that have found a home with producers across the region.

He is also the co‑founder of the Manchester Electronic Collective (MEC), the grassroots organisation behind Bleep, a monthly night at The Peer Hat that has championed live electronic performance for more than three years. With an open‑minded audience and an ever‑growing network of producers, MEC continues to shape the city’s electronic landscape through live showcases, workshops with the Ableton User Group, regular producer meetups and a thriving community WhatsApp group.

For Rochdale Music Stories, Matt is stepping into his love of Manchester’s 80s and 90s musical legacy by recreating All Tomorrow’s Parties (Nico’s version) by The Velvet Underground. His contribution reflects both his deep respect for the region’s musical heritage and his ongoing collaborations with Culture Coop and fellow Rochdale musicians.

In this interview, we spoke with Matt about his creative work, the evolution of MEC, and how Rochdale’s cultural community continues to inspire his work.

Can you tell us a bit about your own creative journey - how did you get started in music?

I was always interested in making music from a young age - I played a lot of different instruments growing up - then got into making music on my old Amiga. I listened to a lot of 808 state on Manchester radio and wanted to emulate what I heard. I then went to Leeds College of Music to study music production. At the time I was heavily influenced by going to the clubs in Leeds and trying to make music that would work on the dance floor, it often came out too melodic. More recently I’ve been making music that is a lot darker - maybe as an attempt to express the darker experiences I have due to a long term mental illness. 
 

How has Rochdale shaped or supported your career as an artist? Are there any local venues, events, or people who have been especially important to your journey? 

I have been commissioned to do the RMS which has been a nice boost in confidence. I also received a commission via the culture co-op to do an ambient piece for ‘Random Acts of Art’. Spending time at Ebor studio (where I have my studio) has been very influential and supportive of my practice too. Meeting fellow artists has led me to explore different ideas and be opened to inspiration. 

Ebor Studio where I have my studio in Littleborough has been a great source of inspiration and facilitation of my work.
 

How would you describe Rochdale’s creative scene right now?

I think there’s events & support for artists if you look for it, but I’m unsure about the music side of things. I think that a lot of people move to either Manchester or Todmorden for their music fix.
 

Which song are you covering for the Rochdale Music Stories project? Does this song have any personal significance to you?

I am covering The Velvet Underground - All tomorrows Parties - Nico’s version.
 

What has been your favourite experience in being part of the Rochdale Music Stories project?

I’ve enjoyed becoming more aware of the musical history we have at Cargo Studios. There’s also a feeling that this project has rekindled a scene and community of musicians in Rochdale. That's exciting to think of the inspiration and collaborations that will create. 
 

What’s been a standout moment for you as a musician or performer in Rochdale?

I was recently commissioned to compose & play ambient music to an abandoned building on the moors in Littleborough. This was part of Culture Co-op’s “Random Acts of Art”. It was a beautiful sunny day in May, we got to walk through nature, experience amazing views and then do a lovely intimate gig in the nook of the moors. It was all so still, with the odd cow coming to investigate. It felt really relaxing, special and made me feel exceptionally grateful that I was doing this as a job.

You can see more of that here, video of performance at end of the artists blog post. https://www.stecranston.com/blog/wtkanyo1fgix55o889mvfn3wfuj2of
 

What advice would you give to emerging artists in the borough?

Connect with Culture Coop, Rochdale Creates and find places where your peers hang out - then go meet them. If you can get to Manchester there are CDR events for Electronic music, Brighter Sounds for Musicians, Ableton User Group, Help for Musicians & Music Union events. You are sure to meet people - which I think is integral to your growth & support.

If events don’t already exist, make one. Setup a meet up group and invite fellow artists to your event, even if it’s a few of you, it’s a start. I went to one in Manchester and met some great people and we started an event (Bleep) off the back of it. It led me to find lots of other events, groups and opportunities too. I also learnt a lot about making and performing music.

As a caveat - I would consider myself somewhat shy, but I found going to events with like-minded people so much easier, as people automatically have a passion you are all keen to talk about.
 

This year, Rochdale is Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture 2025-26! What does this title mean to you personally and/or creatively? 

I’m a big fan of the music scene in Manchester in the 80’s & 90’s - a lot of the focus tends to be towards the city of Manchester. Perhaps overlooked, Rochdale played a role in cultivating the scene, especially Cargo Studios. As a fan of the ‘Madchester’ era, the music and the culture, it feels a like an honour, and also little surreal, to now be part of the modern iteration. It's so cool that we have such a history to draw from, and also to break out and do our own thing.

Personally it is somewhat cathartic to see Rochdale’s music scene cultivating. I never really felt part of this growing up in the town. Growing up here, the dale felt a bit edgy and violent to me - not somewhere I felt too safe being artistic or standing out. I think it’s changed over the decades, so it’s nice to be back growing something positive in the town.
 

What would you love to see more of in Rochdale’s music or arts community moving forward?

I’d like to see a hub for musicians, or location where musicians feel that’s ‘their place’, whether that’s a community space, venue or studio. Somewhere for like-minded creatives, musicians, audiences to mix and inspire each other. I think this is happening with artist talks and music events that are being put on.
 

What are you most excited about during this Town of Culture year?

To see the vinyl product of our Rochdale Music Stories, hear the other re-works and be part of the live performance! 
 

And finally, what’s next for you - any exciting projects or performances coming up, aside from Rochdale Music Stories?

As part of the Manchester Electronic Collective we are running our live electronic night “Bleep” out of The Peer Hat in Manchester. It’s our third birthday in November then we have dates into 2026.

I have some events to play in December & 2026 - as well as some single releases coming up at the start of 2026.
 

Is your music available online for people to listen? If so, where?

Yup. You can listen to live performances on Soundcloud, and single releases on Spotify.
 

To find out about new releases as well as current music and activities, check out Matt’s Linktree for all his socials and music platform, and search The Velvet Shadow on your favourite streaming service.

Grab your ticket to the Rochdale Music Stories launch here.

To keep up to date with Rochdale’s fast-paced arts and culture scene, follow us on Instagram @Rochdale.Creates.