I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting music, so upon discovering Brixton group Arliston, I couldn’t help but share their music with our readers! Their EP, Even in the Shade, is a really introspective record, coming complete with five intriguing tracks. If you like your indie a little different from the norm, this is for you!
By Jane Howkins
How was your 2022?
Good! We were working on the new EP Even in the Shade and really enjoying the change in direction. Besides that, we have been luxuriating in non-lockdown life, seeing 3D people and doing 3D things.
You recently released an EP titled Even in the Shade. What can you tell us about the EP?
This time round, we wrote the tracks at my little home set-up in Brixton, and took them as far as we could go (production & mix wise), before going to Brett Shaw at 123 Studio in Peckham. Working in a different studio and getting someone as experienced as Brett to hear the tracks and give his opinion was invaluable to us. It definitely stopped things from getting ‘stale’, which we’ve found can often happen if a track hangs around for too long.
How has the reception to Even in the Shade been so far, and where can the song be purchased?
It’s been overwhelmingly positive! You can listen/buy it everywhere it’s possible to listen/buy online.
Do you plan to release any singles from the EP in the near future?
Yes! We’ve got another one coming later this year. We seem to have hit a rich seam of song writing fuel. It’s funny, you never quite know how these things are going to pan out. Whether you’re going to wake up one morning and just be hollow and totally uninspired. Luckily, so far, we have only gained momentum and excitement for what we’re doing!
Are there any plans to release a full-length album anytime soon?
We would love to do an album. We’re waiting for the right time. We’ve always thought of ourselves as a more long-form ‘album band’ (despite never having actually made one), but I guess it’s because we tend to listen more to albums of artists we love, rather than individual tracks. It feels like you can really zero in on something, a lyrical theme and a musical style in an album, whereas an EP is more about songs as individual things.
You were recently featured on BBC Introducing. How did that come about?
Yeah! Jess Izatt has been a long-time supporter of ours and has played tracks in the past too. We’re super grateful to her, and BBC Radio 1 & BBC Introducing for playing us and getting our particular brand of sad sad indie out into the world.
Your music has an indie folk sound. What/who influences you most as artists? What have you been listening to recently?
We’ve got a big old list of influences, but these days the people we’re listening to most are James Vincent Mcmorrow, The National, Matt Corby (got a cool new song out), Bon Iver, Father John Misty, Victor Taiwo & Sharon Van Etten.
You’re based in Brixton. What is the music scene like in your part of the world?
The music scene in Brixton is amazing! We’re so lucky to be based here, as we’ve got the Brixton Electric, The Windmill and the O2 Academy right on our doorstep. It’s been wonderful seeing everything blooming and opening up again after the start of 2022. Long may it last!
Do you have any tour dates lined up for the UK?
We are absolutely going to play some live shows. It’s been a while for us, as we really got into the hang of not playing live in 2021, and that’s something we found difficult to shift in 2022. Studio-life can be so all consuming, it’s hard to force yourself out and play shows when you feel you should be in a dimly lit room, tweaking the EQ on a snare. We’re a bit introverted naturally, so there’s definitely an unconscious bias towards studio time.
Any last words for the fans?
We hope you’re enjoying Even in the Shade! There’s more to come from us this year, so stay tuned. Also, if you fancy it (perhaps you mood is a bit too upbeat, and it needs dampening), you may be able to come along catch us playing an actual gig sometime soon…