LGBT Struggle With Religious Faith Turned Into Glorious, Power-Pop Anthem

Leave it to Parson James to take the struggle many queer people experience with religious faith and turn it into a glorious, power-pop anthem. 

The singer-songwriter says "Temple," the title track from his debut EP , represents "the struggle I found in my early life feeling like an outcast in my community desperately seeking to find acceptance." 

"Hold up, why is this devil on my shoulder? Hell must've got a little colder," the South Carolina native, who is openly gay, sings in the song. "Oh, lordy, it's like I've done some damage, they think I went and planned this." 

When he created the music video, Parson James specifically wanted a diverse cast that all identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). Doing so, he said, would make the clip, which is directed by Olivia Malone , a celebration of "who we are as human beings and being absolutely proud of that." 

"I tried to please people for so long and alter who I was as a person to fit in when in realty all I needed to do was learn to love myself," he told The Huffington Post in an email. "The video takes you through a completely dark and lonely place and ends with a complete moment of self-love and true pride. Which can apply to any and everyone who has felt the need to change for another person [or] people." 

If you like the song, be sure to be on the lookout for Parson James' forthcoming, full-length debut album. In the meantime, you can also catch him on tour with Kygo .