Hi! For those that haven’t heard of you yet, how would you best describe your sound, and who have been your biggest influences so far?
Hey!
Palmar Arch is an alternative rock project, but I take inspiration from lots of different genres – I hope people can hear this in the music. Whilst there are bands/artists I love that inspire the sound (All Them Witches, Beck, Thrice, Steven Wilson), I’m mainly influenced by the lack of guitar-based rock music across today’s mainstream media. My writing is moulded by a desire to bridge the gap between underground rock and mainstream pop. I tend to do this by combining a heavy rhythm section with catchy guitar and vocal melodies.
Do you remember what the first song was that made you want to start a career in music?
This is a difficult one to answer, because it would’ve been so long ago, and I don’t think I can put it down to just one song. My love for music came from my Dad – I remember listening to the likes of Manic Street Preachers, Alanis Morissette and Tom Petty in the car with him. My love for playing guitar came from my brother, who started to learn well before me. I played in a band with him when I was a teenager, and really just wanted to follow in his footsteps. My passion for building a career in music has just kept growing since then!
You have just released your new single ‘Sunscript’. Can you tell us how that track came about?
I wrote Sunscript years ago, and it was the first song released under the old name. Looking back, I don’t feel as though it fulfilled its potential, in terms of reach. I still really love the track, and thought a re-release of the first song I put out would accompany the rebrand really nicely. Palmar Arch has come a long way since the initial release, and I can’t wait for the track to reach more listeners.
And how would you say it compares to your previous releases?
It’s one of the ‘rockiest’ tracks I’ve written, if you like. Most of the other songs have clearly audible influences from other styles of music. Smile is quite progressive, whereas Paper & Stone has more of an ‘indie’ sound, with some blues elements. Sunscript is very raw and honest, which is part of the beauty of it. It’s also fast and energetic – get it on your workout playlist!
Where are you based? Can you tell us how the music scene there has inspired your sound at all?
I live in St Neots, Cambridgeshire now. The music scene here is…well, there isn’t one really, just one local pub that’s renowned for putting on eccentric cover bands. I tend to go into London to get my live music fix. I grew up just North of the city, so was heavily influenced by the music scene there, which is second to none. There’s always something going on.
What is the biggest challenge of being an artist?
There are lots of challenges associated with making music. I’ve got an amazing team of people around me, from session players, to producers, to PR agencies, and I’m very lucky to have this support. Ultimately though, I’m an independent artist, and I’d say the most challenging thing is doing it alongside working full time, as well as other commitments. I’d love to make music my job, and maybe one day I’ll get that opportunity, but for now it’s just about finding the right balance.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given as a musician?
It’s very difficult to answer this without it coming across as cliché. Something many people have told me over the years is you shouldn’t try to please everyone, you’ll end up pleasing no-one if you do. I used to worry about how people would react to my music, but I’ve realised there’s always going to be people that like it, and people that don’t. Nowadays, I just try to make myself happy with what I create. Hopefully the rest will follow.
What’s next for you? Is there more music or any live shows on the way?
I’ve wanted to release a full-length album for a while now, so that’s next on the agenda. All the music’s recorded, and I’m excited to get stuck into all the other creative aspects. Artwork still needs to be shot, along with another music video, and there’s some finishing touches to add to the mixes. I can’t wait to get cracking!
