Having already established themselves with a breadth of dazzling delights these last few years, fast-rising UK duo Arliston are back on the grind once again with their stunning new single 'Vertical'.
Bringing back more of that warm and alluring aesthetic they have earned a reputation for over the years, 'Vertical' makes for an incredibly rich and shimmering listen. With its broad and immersive textures set to some wonderfully ethereal vocals throughout, they continue to shine as one of the more captivating names on the rise right now.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with them to find out more about their background and what has been inspiring them most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
It’s got to be guitar. George wanted a guitar when he was 4, and hasn’t put it down since! Jack was a bit slower to the guitar-game, talking it up at 11 (mainly for the purpose of trying to look cool), but we both gravitated there first, and then took up piano later.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
We were lucky to both have parents with good music taste, so we grew up on a diet of Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Armatrading, Eric Clapton and all the rest of those 70’s icons. When we were able to get our own music, I remember RHCP and Linkin Park being a big deal. Then Damien Rice, Bon Iver and the National came in the late teens.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Bloodbuzz Ohio – The National
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
After A LOT of trying to distil down a formula for how to write songs, we have surrendered to the fact that a song will never be written the same way twice. I used to be very musically driven, but for the ‘Disappointment Machine’ album actually a lot of the time the lyrics came first and then got draped over the music afterwards.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Three artists that are on heavy rotation at the moment are Sea Girls, Stephen Wilson Jr & Sun Kil Moon.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
It’s gotta be Bon Iver, or an awesome legacy act like Joni Mitchell.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
I think either that moment where a song ‘clicks’ and you realise you’ve brought something into existence which wasn’t there before. Or, playing a great live show. Both are lovely.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Definitely when a song isn’t working, and you’ve tried and tried to re-imagine it. You feel it has something good about it and some kind of potential, but just can’t make it work. That’s the worst.
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Arliston's new single 'Vertical' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.