We had a chat with indie-folk duo Arliston and found out some more about their cathartic and confessional new single ‘Monks of Lindisfarne’
Ahead of the release of their long-awaited debut album Disappointment Machine, UK indie-folk duo Arliston have released the first taster from the release in the form of new single ‘Monks of Lindisfarne’, a track that hones in on the distinctive feeling of romantic rejection through its poignant storytelling and immersive, painstakingly crafted soundscape.
The track perfectly embodies the kind of awkward Britishness that a lot of us face these conversations with, wonderfully encapsulated by the Peep Show reference that the title of the track alludes to in all of its cringe-inducing glory. This tale seems to feature a protagonist who is slightly more composed than Mark Corrigan thankfully, but still conjures all of the relatable feelings and emotions that come through such a devastating ordeal. How specific and raw the track feels and the way that it connects with you as a listener makes for a compelling and all too real experience, and we had a chat with Arliston to find out some more about how it came to life.
Hey! We love your new single ‘Monks of Lindisfarne’, what more can you tell us about it?
Thanks! It was written along with the rest of the album in a very short space of time (about 2 weeks) which is super unusual for us. Normally we like to get pretty forensic and take our time with tracks, but this collection of songs burst out so quickly! The song itself is about a communication disconnect. About wanting to convey one thing, but muddling it and not saying the right thing. It’s also about classic, unrequited love and the total fool you turn into in that situation (the type of fool who tries to say one thing, and says something totally different).
What was the process like putting it together?
We were rattling through ideas at such a pace, maybe two songs a day, that the process was quite streamlined. We’d recently moved over to Ableton as the main DAW and thank god we did as that workflow really lent itself to scratching songs out quickly, stretching and smashing samples or whole sections together. We’d often start with a cool sound or texture/loop and then put chords under that to create the sonic signature of the track, it meant the songs were mostly written chronologically, verse first then pre or chorus rather than coming up with a hook and building out of that. I think this really helped make the songs more narrative than our previous songs.
What were your biggest influences when creating the track?
We always have Bon Iver and the National hanging over us as big influences on any track, but this one has that folky guitar arrangement which is a bit Dylan-y, Iron and wine-y, Tallest Man on Earth-y and Ben Harper-y.
How does it feel to write something based on such a confessional and intimate moment?
TERRIBLE. I’m pretty English and buttoned up, so when writing something like this in the heat of the moment, really as an exercise in catharsis, I don’t think ahead to the time when I’m going to have to make it public.. also it’s a bit of a time capsule which takes me back to that point in Nov 2023. All the feelings have been muted and softened by time and it’s strange to be putting out something that speaks much more vividly.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
‘Monks of Lindisfarne’ is the first single from our debut album Disappointment Machine, so we’ll be playing shows and doing some festivals leading up to the release of the album itself. We can’t wait to get this one out there, it’s the best music we’ve ever made.
