Catching Up With: Tone Of Arc And Their fabric Promo Mix #2

Normally, when we’re talking about the impending live set of a guest here in Farringdon on a Saturday night, banks full of electronic machines and tables snaked with cables are usually the first image that comes to mind. The arrangement that Tone of Arc works with on stage though breaks that mould with their disco- house hybrid experience coming in the way of low slung bass guitar played by one part of the group Derrick Boyd and vocals provided for by the other part, Zoe Presnick. Despite the layout of a more ‘band’ set up they’ve found their support prominently from the club world, which has got a lot to do with the way they work their sets out in the live environment, weaving a groove throughout the performance with some back up from a few electronic machines of their own. Over this past year the duo have released their highly anticipated full length album so we’re looking forward to welcoming them back to fabric this Saturday to share their new wares and we thought it an opportune time to catch up with them on the blog while they also share a second Promo Mix recorded exclusively for us. Download: Tone of Arc fabric Promo Mix #2 You’re in the middle of a European tour at the moment – how’s that all going? Very, very well. It's been stress free so far which is a lot to ask for when you throw planes, parties, and probable hang overs all in the same room. Finally getting this thing down I think. It’s following the release of your new LP right? How’s the response been to that? Are you happy with it? We are so happy with the turn out of the LP. The response has been top top top. It's so cool to see groups of people singing our songs in countries we've never been to or even knew existed. We feel so small town and hope we don't ever loose that feeling. The production on the record is really, very heavy – where did you guys record it? Actually the album was recorded in four different places over a span of 5-4 years. But mostly out side of San Francisco at our home studio's. We were moving a lot. So there is some separation throughout the album that sticks out to me as one year I had a full drum set in the studio and another something else somewhere else. We are locked in to a really cool spot up north and our studio is really cozy and dialing the good time bells now. I love the studio at home more than anything and I can blast it all night not worried about neighbours. Country living. How do you about translating the tracks into your live show – there’s obviously a mixture of live vocals / synths and loops to relay? So far it's pretty basic. I finish a song and immediately strip it down and learn the parts live whether it be guitar, bass, or vocals and make individual audio tracks with different EQ's and effects to match the original recording. I like when people are talking and don't realize I’m playing live. I’ve seen them run up to the front in disbelief that I am playing the guitar for real. People aren't used to the real thing anymore. One day as we collect more synths and means to get them around I will add to the live set. We have big plans but there's no sense in spoiling the surprise yet. How does your music fit into your base of San Francisco – you get a lot of support in the scene over there? Well there is something to be said when you become more successful. When we play back home people take more pride in us. We never got the love from strangers like we do now in SF. Also we have evolved so much and really come together in our performance. Experience is everything. Your sound is really something rooted in disco with the feel of a live band – how do you fit into the house and techno world you seem to be a big part of? Well I guess we get away with a lot in the house scene because the whole set is very diverse and has a flow. Some songs are so not house but I think I apply the right chemistry to make it interesting for house heads. I come from a big DJ back ground so I get "the mix". When we perform live we don't stop the beat. We don't stop the tempo. A lot of bands or live performers that try to play clubs and stop in-between songs create crickets and then the energy has to start all over again. We like to keep it rising the whole time. Plus you can fit more songs in if you don't stop. Keep going !! Is it a scene where you draw a lot from influence wise – what music have you always listened to, the music that first grabbed you and inspired you to start creating your own? I was never one of those people to have really big influences before the song is made. A song always starts to sound like something then I roll with it. I was making music before I ever listened to it. I was inspired most by boredom and being alone in silence. I started when I was 13. I liked punk and hip hop and house, then of course I fallowed in those footsteps but when I tried to make anything it always just came out original but familiar but nothing like what I wanted. I try to make house and it would come out like some electronica or something. I don't know it's simple and complicated. I never really could put my finger on what I do. I just go and ask what I did later and where the influence came from. Once the tour’s over what’re your plans? More studio time? We are writing our new album so yes lots of studio time and also lots of traveling and building the perfect team to accomplish our dreams. These are really exciting times.