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 Meticulously-minded Brisbane act THE BLACK ARTS have finally got around to releasing their debut, self-titled EP. JACK LANGRIDGE converses with the band’s ‘I’ about work, Brisbane and music.
The Black Arts have been writing and performing their politically-charged, eclectic brand of pop in Brisbane for a solid two years. So far, their music has seen them receive praise from Triple J’s chief tastemaker Richard Kingsmill, and has taken them on tours of Japan and USA.
These international tours have blessed them with fabulous tales of boozy roadside walks back to hotels in the middle of nowhere and toilet cubicle passouts. Still, it is only now they have been able to put out a debut release. Clocking in at around 27 minutes, the nine-track, self-titled EP, is a snapshot of one of the most meticulously productive bands in Brisbane. Self-produced and totally independent, the EP will be released during a monumental celebration featuring some of Brisbane’s top musicians, handpicked by The Black Arts. The left-of-centre band have even invited self-described ‘comic freak,’ Kai Tier, along to bring an element of comic relief in keeping with the EP’s tongue-in-cheek anthem, The Music Or The Drugs? The song is a swaggering departure from the piano-led political scorcher War On Hurricanes that received heavy rotation on the national youth broadcaster a short time ago. So why has it taken so long to bring out this debut? “Whether it’s frustrating or not, the way it is for us is to do things…we set them up and we say that this is the way we want to do this,” says the band’s ‘I’ (real name Josh Shelton). “We’re an indie band so we don’t have money. When you don’t have money things take time if you want to stick to that original plan. To make our release successful we’re going to do it like this and if you don’t skip any of those steps it can draw it out a little bit longer than hoped. At least you’re not cutting out anything important that will contribute to the final goal.” It’s the age-old problem of an indie band holding down multiple jobs to chase a passion that’s time-consuming and often frustrating. That said, the boys in the band certainly lead amazing double lives. Some of the jobs they hold down must surely be inspiring on at least some macro level for an intensely creative outfit like The Black Arts. “Man, I’ve actually just got a new job! I’m training to be a Brisbane City bus driver. Getting up at 3:20am every morning to go and drive buses three hours a day at least,” says I. “There’s been some near misses and shit. They look big but they’re even bigger than they look. Lots of close shaves. I’ll be working out of Toowong, driving uni buses… “The other guys do various things, Channel J is a debt collector, Ruwan…he’s actually a professional photographer. He does that and he also works crazy construction hours. He does all night construction work where he gets paid 50 bucks an hour and shit like that. Denis, he’s actually a film projectionist and filmmaker and our other guitarist Glen, he’s an insurance assessor or something. With the release of the EP, stay tuned for potential impromptu roadside gigs at an inner Westside bus station near you. As I says, the Laundromat thing has been done… “The Black Arts tours of Brisbane…we could show them the ugly side of Brisbane…” The Black Arts launch their debut EP at the Zoo on Friday, March 16, supported by The Bakery, The Rocketsmiths, Little Vegas and the Fuzz Parade. The EP is out now through Tidy Kid Records at Rocking Horse and Skinnys.
1. Written by Nathan M, on 14-03-2007 08:27 , IP: 203.206.115.67
 you guys are the kings of bris! best band going around... |
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