The Arsonist

Blending thick electro beats with atmospheric layers of synth and quintessential pop hooks, The Arsonist’s 2012 debut EP, Disguises, launched the Perth four-piece with flair and confidence. Comprised of friends from bands as stylistically apart as the brooding Eunuch Schools and prog superstars Karnivool, The Arsonist started out as an exciting band on paper – an impressive sum of its parts – but as they found their feet, and the greater artistic direction took shape, The Arsonist arrived at a definitive sound. Produced by Dave Parkin (Snowman, Jebediah) and balancing catchy songwriting with dancefloor energy, Disguises introduced a slick but soulful new take on Electro Pop. Beginning with the creative spark of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Louis Rendle O’Shea, The Arsonist build each song with intricate layers: the powerful rhythms of drummer Steve Judd, the driving synth and bass lines of Tim Collins, and the soaring vocals of Nic Di Lena adding the final signature touch. Versatile and dexterous, this combination of people, and the musical arrangements they achieve, is at the heart of what makes The Arsonist special... they are a pop band with a rock band’s energy; as impacting in their gentlest moments as they are in their most bombastic. Selling out a series of launches for the EP and its singles, The Arsonist became one of Perth’s most talked about live bands within the first year of their existence. Earning favourable reviews for their intense and uplifting live shows, The Arsonist performed at the Beaufort Street Festival in front of a wandering crowd of 100,000 people before heading out on their first national tour. Disguises and first single Breakdown found a home on both community and commercial radio, reflecting the overall appeal of the band, which has been unconfined to any one scene or another. With their second generation of songs road-tested and ready, The Arsonist will return to the studio in September to begin working on the follow-up to Disguises. With this new EP, further plans to tour, and an album not too far past the horizon, The Arsonist are gearing up for an even bigger year than their first. “The twin vocal attack was as smooth as it was fly-stretchingly sexy” – The Music “Channelling the greats (MJ and JT), the emotive piano and synth lines, soulful harmonies, and intricate, restrained beats demonstrated nothing but talent” – The Music “Natural songwriters” – The Drum Media Good Times