Released Friday, May 8th, Yard Arm’s latest single, “Mantra” will leave you in awe with it’s strong lead vocals and mesmerizing guitar solo partway through. I had the opportunity to chat with transatlantic duo, composed of Noah Villeneuve and Billy Golding, about “Mantra”, their journey as artists, and more. Read on to learn more about the group.
How did the name “Yard Arms” come about?
It derives from nautical language, ‘when the sun is over the yardarm’, meaning when the sun shines over the yardarm of a ship that it’s time for the first drink of the day. We found a certain beauty and quality to it and ran with it.
What has your musical journey been like since the creation of Yard Arms? Has it been a difficult process? What have you learned so far?
It’s been colourful. The project was born completely organically, more as a writing tool which then proceeded to become a recording project, naturally it was born into something more impactful than we had anticipated and we embellished it into a live outfit. That same authentic nature has stayed with us right the way through Yard Arms, we’ve stuck to our guns creatively and how we decide everything, it’s been the most comfortable musical endeavour all round for us, that’s for sure. There have been many mountains to climb and difficulties to face throughout, but everyone is subjected to them in their career, it’s all a part of learning. The biggest learning curve for us so far is probably the enormously crazy ship to drive that is social media. In previous projects we’d never had to think so tactically or pragmatically about the way we come across, look or talk online, we understand and appreciate its power but it’s definitely been a lot to learn.
What has been the most exciting thing you’ve done as a band?
Definitely completing our upcoming EP ’Sanctuary Lines’. It’s the record full of songs we are most proud of and embodies everything we wanted this band to sound like when we started.
I’ve been listening to your new single “Mantra” on repeat and absolutely love it! Could you tell me a little more about the song? What was the writing process behind it?
Very kind, we’re glad it’s on repeat! I keep describing Mantra to people as our ‘love letter to the anxious’, lyrically it’s essentially a song about being inspired by human flaws and baggage but I want people to interpret the lyrics in whatever way they can, it’s malleable. Musically, it came from a jam that Billy and I would loop in rehearsals, it came together in bits and pieces over the course of about a year, it’s got a real rhythmic drive that’s inspired by a lot of 80s pop as well as reverb soaked vocals and guitars (I was listening to a lot of Stone Roses and Catherine Wheel).
I noticed that “Mantra” sort of has a different sound in comparison to your other works. It feels a lot softer in comparison to “Heavy Silence” and “Understatement of The Year”, for example. Will the rest of your upcoming EP have that same vibe or will there be a mix?
I think with Mantra, there was a natural movement to make something different to what people were used to from us, it’s essential for us as artists to continually develop and grow – I know I’ve always been put off by artists who keep churning out the same record every other year, it doesn’t seem creatively healthy. The full EP is probably our broadest regarding soundscapes and musical environment, it’s a clearer representation of our eclectic tastes and influences, however we believe there is intrinsically still that Yard Arms sound.
Could you tell me more about your upcoming EP? How does is differ from your other EP’s?
Each one of our three EPs has a different voice, there’s a real strong theme and character that runs through them. ’Sanctuary Lines’ feels like a significant exhalation from the last record. Although lyrically there’s still certain crossovers, musically these tracks have more of a radiance and less sombre attitude overall.
How has it been in terms of promotion during these trying times?
It hasn’t been easy for anyone. There’s been some solace in seeing so much togetherness and community in the music industry, everyone helping each other out, whether that’s artists, promoters, venues, labels, agents, bloggers etc. However, our whole musical lives we’ve only really ever promoted our releases one way, by playing live shows, so naturally we’re faced with a number of problems that we’ve never experienced. But just like everyone else, we’re learning how to carve out our place in this parallel universe, one day at a time.
What have you been listening to recently?
Tim Hecker, Wild Pink, Mac Miller, Phoebe Bridgers, Leif Vollebekk, Nico, Peter Gabriel, Nina Simone, Nine Inch Nails, Waxahatchee, Lauran Hibberd, John K Samson, Efterklang, Caribou, Larkins.
How do you stay creative?
By staying inspired.
What’s something you’d like to say to your fans?
Stay safe, have patience, see you on the other side.
Yard Arms
