As the brainchild of West London producer Santi Arribas, who was recently name-checked in Pitchfork and Vive Le Rock this month for his work on the new Gang of Four record, The Roadside Bandits Project now return with their latest single ‘My Own Lies’.
Working once again with Gang Of Four vocalist John Sterry on the track, ‘My Own Lies’ sees them deliver a truly stellar return. Filled with pulsing rhythm, strong guitar and a notable swagger throughout, their latest gem previews their highly-anticipated self-titled new album, which is set to land in September.
So with their new single bringing us some truly anthemic vibes, we sat down with Santi to find out more about his origins and what has inspired him most over the years.
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What were the first instruments you fell in love with?
It was a Casio VL-1, got it as a Christmas present from my parents. I fell in love with it immediately and played it until it literally broke. One of the sounds was called ADSR, which was a very basic synthesiser, then at 13 someone put a guitar in my hands and that was it!
What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?
Classic blues, primarily delta blues but also late 70s electronic music.
What kind of music did you love as a teenager?
I was very much into Queen, Led Zeppelin and a lot of hard rock but also had a lot of time for electronic musicians like Giorgio Moroder and Kraftwerk.
Can you remember the first song that made you want to pursue a life in music?
Keep Yourself Alive by Queen.
When you wake up in the morning, what kind of music do you like to listen to?
I don’t listen to music in the morning, I have the rest of the day for that, I just want to read the news while having a coffee.
How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
I don’t write about people in my life, I prefer to write about people that have an effect in our lives, I think that’s more important than telling things about my life and me.
What have been the most memorable moments in your career so far?
I shouldn’t tell, really!
Outside of music, what is your biggest passion?
I’m a big science fiction fan. I particularly like the works of Frank Herbert, Philip K. Dick and Isaac Asimov.
If you weren’t musicians, what other path do you think you might have taken?
If music wouldn’t have taken all of my attention I would have probably studied architecture, I think it’s another great way to mix science with art.
And what advice would you give to other musicians looking to start a career in music?
Work hard and be nice with others.
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The Roadside Bandits Project's new single 'My Own Lies' ft. John Sterry is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in the player below.