The Arkanes are one of the fastest growing alternative rock bands to surface out of the Liverpool area in years.
The band has only been in existence for just over three years, but despite this, they are already turning heads worldwide with their explosive music and live performances.
Not only have the band received airplay on Britain’s very own BBC Radio 6, but they have also received extensive international airplay in Countries such as Canada, Germany Chile and Spain.
They were also the only international band to be invited to the NACA (National Association for Campus Activities) Convention in the US, which will see the band touring the US College and University circuit later this summer.
The Arkanes are forging a reputation that is unstoppable and one that is sure to keep them thriving internationally for years to come.
The band has also been hailed by Florence of Florence and the machine as “a great band.”
Needless to say Click Liverpool is more than excited to catch up with Lee Dummett of the Arkanes ahead of their gig for Click Liverpool Live at The Masque on 16th July.
For anyone unfamiliar with The Arkanes we asked Lee to describe what the unenlightened can expect. Although, you may want to brace yourselves, as Lee says:
“I’d say it was like noise making love to your ear lobes and doing a sex wee on your ear drum.
“An unmovable splinter lodged, it sticks in the mind and infects the brain. But in a good way.”
Nice. So while you try and erase those images from your mind, I asked Lee, being local lads themselves, what is the best thing about playing to Liverpool audiences?
“They aren't afraid to tell you if they think you’re awful.
“Scousers are honest folk and it’s good to get true opinions instead of lies. Thankfully we've never had a comment that was too soul crushing.”
So what else do the Arkanes have lined up for us at the gig, apart from the old splinter in the brain and the extremely niche ear sex shenanigans? The bad released their EP Don’t Act Like You Know Me in April - so will they be debuting any new material for us, Lee says:
“Yes we have a few new songs. We are fortunate enough to have a repertoire of good songs, so we work around the sound system and the venues acoustics.
“If the sound on stage is pretty bad we will play a set-list that is easier to manage. If the stage sound is decent then it’s a free for all with the set.
“Listen out for Terracotta, it’s very different from our usual sound but it’s a great track.”
As for any on-stage surprises don’t anticipate any Alice Cooper style theatrics, but do expect the unexpected and look out for the bands alter egos…
“If you mean along the lines of floating down from the ceiling on a silver tiger dressed in a leotard and spraying out a face melting solo in mid air, then no - not really!
“Our surprises come in the form of new material. Ad lib is your best tool on stage; we surprise ourselves sometimes with the things we say and do on stage.
“I guess they call that your alter ego - I'll let him decide the surprises.”
Many bands have superstitions or rituals before they go on-stage to psych themselves up; Madonna gathers her crew in a circle and prays, whilst the Foo Fighters listen to Michael Jackson and drink Jager bombs. So do The Arkanes favour any pre-gig rituals? Lee tells us:
“No but I'm thinking of doing that spirit circle thing what the Chili Peppers do. We have our own 'spirit' ritual before a gig, if you get me.”
Fans of The Arkanes will have their personal favourite songs, but as Lee explains one of his favorites’ is Stand Alone Inc. as its use of multivalent lyrics deflects away from the songs darker meaning.
“I have written a song called Stand Alone Inc. and I think it is the best song I’ve written lyrically because it cleverly side tracks your thoughts away from the songs fundamental dark meaning.
“I like hearing our fans analyse the song and tell me their versions of what they think it’s about.
“I also have a song called skeletons which means a lot to me because it’s about someone I’m very close to and a bad period in their lives. I think the song captured that bad patch and put things into perspective for the person.
“I spend a lot of time on my lyrics. I don't like lyricists who rhyme with words just because they fit, and think about making sense second.”
With the band placing a high importance on lyrics it makes sense that the artist who has influenced Lee the most is another cleverly crafted wordsmith - Kurt Cobain. With Lee stating that “Heart Shaped Box by Nirvana is the greatest track ever written”. He continues:
“Kurt Cobain had an unmatched ability to pour all his emotions, pain, hurt, joy, suffering, feelings and opinions into a pen and write it down in words on paper.
“He could tell a whole story in two sentences, which would take most people the entire song to tell.
“He was a genius. My one regret is not being old enough to have got the chance to see them (Nirvana) live.”
So, how does the rest of a song develop? Lee explains that it can be anything from a drum beat that is heard to a hastily noted sentence, or even his Dad whistling!
“It’s always different. Sometimes it’s a drum beat that you hear or a bass line that you create which catches your ear.
“Sometimes it’s a sentence that you jotted down and then you work around it. I actually wrote a song called command: turn: revolt, and the idea sparked from listening to my dad whistle a Kasabian song wrongly.
“It comes when it comes, like rain does. Sometimes it can take weeks to even write a single thing and sometimes you can polish 3 songs off in a day and your on fire.”
And finally, what do The Arkanes have in-store for us in the near future?
“Well were off to America in August to tour the universities. Then when we arrive back we fly to Germany to start recording our album.
"Then we tour Europe straight afterwards - so were pretty busy which is exactly how we like it."
Don’t miss The Arkanes play Click Liverpool Live at The Masque on 16th July.
Tickets: 18+, £5adv - http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_northwest&query=detail&event=396556
http://www.myspace.com/thearkanes
http://www.masque-liverpool.com
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