(((o))): So, first and foremost, who are Degree of Arc and what are your musical backgrounds?
Degree of Arc are Ollie Wright (guitar), Matt Garland (guitar), Brian Leftley (bass) and Joe Stephens (drums). We all grew up playing in bands in our local area, playing everything from pop-rock to more metal influenced bands.
(((o))): How did the band come together?
JS: We all went on X-factor individually and Louis said we’d work better as a group.
MG: He said we’d be the “next big boy band”.
OW: Me and Bri had played in bands together since we were 18. We met Matt a few years later and started playing music together. Once we started writing what would become our first record ‘Circles’, we started looking for a drummer.
BL: I think we all individually contacted Joe online and eventually he gave in and came along to a practise. From there it just clicked.
(((o))): Please describe your sound in poetic form. (Haiku, rhyming couplets, acrostic, etc - take your pick)
There once was a band called ‘Circles’
Who had to change their name for legal reasons
We’re now called ‘Degree of Arc’
We play post-rock *
* We’re also not very good at poems
(((o))): Has your local music scene had any impact on you as a band?
OW: I don’t think it’s had a direct impact on our music. However, seeing local bands like Codes in the Clouds and Arcane Roots doing well was inspiring to us.
JS: The local music scene where I grew up was really busy. You could guarantee there would a gig to go to every weekend. I think if that hadn’t been the case I perhaps wouldn’t have got involved in music to the extent I have.
(((o))): Your debut EP came out a while ago and you’re starting to record a new album soon. Tell us a bit more about it.
BL: The new record is called ‘Halls in Hospitals’ and we’re about half way through the recording process. We’re aiming to release it later this year and cannot wait for people to hear it.
JS: Sound wise, it’s certainly a departure from ‘Circles’. It’s a darker record but we didn’t set out to do that. It all came together pretty naturally. We know from what people have told us that ‘Circles’ connected with them and we hope this record has the same effect.
MG: We’re anxious to release it but ultimately can’t wait to play it live. We think the songs will translate well in a live setting.
(((o))): What do you think is the most difficult challenge facing new bands starting out in the music industry today?
OW: It’s easier than ever to get your music out there but it’s more difficult than ever to stand out in the crowd, get the attention of venues, promoters and other bands.
JS: Anybody can make a decent sounding recording from their bedroom nowadays. The challenge is promoting yourself through so many different channels online and convincing people that your music is more worth listening to than other peoples.
BL: Money! Having to cover recording costs, gear, travel, rehearsals whilst working full time and trying to play as many gigs as you can is harder than a lot of people realise.
MG: It’s difficult without a central place online for bands to showcase their music and network. These days you have to have a presence across as many platforms as possible.
(((o))): Every band has different aims. What would have to happen for Degree of Arc to make you feel that you’d “made it”, so to speak?
OW: When we started we just wanted to release a record. Then we wanted to play shows. Then we wanted to support a band we all really like and we got to do that recently with Codes In The Clouds. It changes with every milestone.
BL: With the new record on the way we just want as many people as possible to hear it and see us play live. We just want to continue playing bigger shows. To play the likes of ArcTanGent would be incredible.
JS: To get our music onto film or TV. Not the new Admiral car insurance advert or anything like that but to do something like Explosions in the Sky did for Friday Night Lights or Mogwai did for Les Revenants.
MG: Yeah, definitely. I’d love for us to write a soundtrack for a movie. Maybe a Michael Bay film…Bad Boys 3 anybody?
(((o))): How many degrees does your arc have?
OW: There’s an incredibly deep meaning behind the band name and we’re not quite ready to divulge into the details of such matters…yet. The first rule about the arc is that you do not talk about the arc.
JS: The second rule is that it’s precisely 72.3 degrees.
(((o))): We have another column called Echoes of the Past in which we get people to write about albums that have particularly influenced them. What would you guys choose to write about in that column?
MG: I love Incubus and grew up listening to ‘S.C.I.E.N.C.E’ so I’d say that or the new Teenage Dirtbag pop-punk compilation.
BL: The first record I have memory of listening to is ‘...And Justice For All’ by Metallica courtesy of my Dad who was heavily into his metal at the time. At such a young age that record must have influenced my music tastes moving forward. That said, I first picked up the bass whilst listening to Blink 182 ‘Dude Ranch’ so I’d pick either one of those.
JS: ‘Master of Puppets’ by Metallica for me. I don’t think Ive ever been as obsessed with an album as I was the first time I listened to it.
OW: I would say my earliest memory of picking up the guitar was learning Nirvana to impress my brother so that ‘Nevermind’ record is pretty nostalgic for me and I know it back to front.
(((o))): This is ostensibly a column for introducing new bands. Any suggestions as to who we ought to include in the near future?
OW: Envoys just released a new record that we’re all really into.
JS: Artifacts from Crawley are a great listen so definitely check them out.
MG: 1D, Tommy Stoneberg or Hearts Under Fire.
BL: Waking Aida from Southampton or Wicket from Wales. Both great bands and worth a look!
(((o))): What are the band’s plans for the near future?
MG: Release the record, play it to as many people as possible.
BL: To keep writing and to play more shows!
JS: To work on our choreography.
OW: To keep spreading the word of our band and have the new record reach even more people.
You can catch Degree Of Arc performing with obe, Rumour Cubes and T. E. Morris on 11th September at Nice Weather For Aistrikes Presents at The Good Ship in London.
