Quick Hit Artist Interview: ARSNK

ARSNK at the Viper Room

Interview with the artist. Enjoy:

How would you describe your sound? My sound is a blend of folk, 90s angst driven rock, electro and an obsession with ethereal worlds.

How do you believe that you, as an artist, have progressed over time? I want to tell bigger stories now. I’m fascinated with this moment when you are in between dream and awake, like a kind of stasis and my keyboardist Jess was saying that she thinks the previous set we were playing was an entirely different color and I love that, that rings true. I like to lace the lyrics in a way that presents as fairy tales. Sonically, I love layered builds that are cinematic as all my music comes to me visually. I want to lead people into an abyss like state but also still be raw, cutting and direct.

What's next for Fierce Femme Sounds (Thea of ARSNK is a co-founder of this musician collective)? We want to start a movement in Los Angeles for women to come forward and seek the support they need for their careers in music. We are absolutely a music industry showcase for women but we want to offer resources that women in music find indispensable too. Hopefully the word gets out that we are putting together nights of amazing female talent and can grow into panel discussions that are relevant to women.

Own final thoughts: I guess my pagan Celtic roots, I just am just so fascinated by the people who walked the earth before us and the landscapes they saw. I spent long childhoods in the Scottish highlands wandering around dilapidated ruins and the wildness of this underpins all the stories I’m telling. My aim is to build an entire world people can be propelled into both musically and visually (I’m also a film maker and make all my own videos).

The Viper Room: Lauren Lakis, ARSNK and Jane.Machine

I got a random DM from the singer of ARSNK, Thea, regarding checking out a new community called Fierce Femme Sounds. They were holding an event at the Viper Room. I decided to head off to the Sunset Strip. It is a little far from where I live in Glendale, but I figured why not considering the only reason I head to the Sunset Strip is to catch Barb Wire Dolls/Royal Distortion. It would be nice to head over to catch musicians other than those two (which in some ways is one band).

I was in a little bit of a surprise. I'm so used to the sounds of Barb Wire Dolls and Royal Distortion that I was expecting some power rock sounds. I got none of that.

Up first was Jane.Machine who brought some synth driven sounds. She was doing a solo act versus having a backing band with her, but you could get a basic feel for how her full sound is.

What I noticed: this was perhaps the funniest moment of the night. Normally, the Viper Room stage curtains close after a set is finished. After her set, the curtains remained open. Maybe the sound guy was pre-occupied. Jane.Machine literally didn't know what to do. Should she tear down her synths with everyone watching? Well, she decided to go off stage and talk with a friend until the curtains finally closed.

Jane.Machine

ARSNK followed. Her sound switched it up to poetic prose. She was dressed in white and held dead roses close through much of her set. Her set actually reminded me a lot of Wendy Bevan (another Los Angeles local artist -- though she also spends a lot of time in the UK), but perhaps a touch understated in comparison.

ARSNK

Closing out the night for me was Lauren Lakis. Now it was past midnight and I had to drive back to Glendale so I couldn't stay for her full set. However, her initial songs reminded me so much of what one would hear at Hotel Cafe. It was a nice way to end the night.

Lauren Lakis

What I noticed: so this was also an after set situation. After ARSNK ended her set, the co-founder of Fierce Femme Sounds went up on stage with Thea of ARSNK and they gave a brief talk about their new community. They also made it sound like the night was over. As soon as they were done talking, Lauren ran up to the stage to remind them that she was still going on and to let folks know that she was up next. The co-founder realized her mistake and tried to make amends, but the microphone was already cut off. So she made her way to the floor and yelled out that Lauren was still coming up.