Pop-rock trio Arrows in Action is gearing up to continue the busiest year of their career thus far. The band has become a rising force in the alternative scene since their formation in 2017. Victor Viramontes-Pattison (vocals and guitar), Matthew Fowler (guitar) and Jesse Frimmel (drums) have set themselves apart by combining alternative rock with pop influences and authentic lyricism that connect audiences worldwide, both onstage and off.
Following their critically acclaimed debut album, Built To Last, Arrows in Action have captivated audiences with their charming stage presence, sincere lyrics and infectiously music that makes you want to dance. Now on the cusp of releasing the second half of their sophomore album, I Think I’ve Been Here Before, they find themselves reminiscing on their journey together so far as they dive headfirst into this new era.
I Think I’ve Been Here Before touches upon the trick of nostalgia and the deep-rooted emotions associated with it. Even the album’s artwork, which features a lighthouse, is a direct callout to the record’s thematic expression. “The idea of the album cover being a lighthouse is that it’s something that you either return to for something good or it’s something that is trying to keep you from something bad,” Viramontes-Pattison explains. “So it’s kind of talking about both of those sides of nostalgia and familiarity being a double-edged sword. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad.”
The band’s decision to split I Think I’ve Been Here Before into two came naturally as the making of the record progressed. “There were definitely two distinct sounds on this,” Fowler says. “When we were looking at the track listing and sort of weaving in and out of the two vibes over and over again, it felt a little funny and we realized that if we just let them live as their own pieces, it made a lot more sense.”
Side A explores a more lighthearted, hopeful, and bright perspective, while Side B navigates the darker, sexier, and sadder point of view. “Empty Canvas,” the lead single from Side B, gave fans a taste of how different each side of the record sounds ahead of its full release in September. The song’s passionately honest lyrics and groovy saxophone riffs explore feelings of attraction, longing, and desperation that were not seen on Side A.
Splitting I Think I’ve Been Here Before into two halves allowed Arrows in Action to have the opportunity to give fans more new music more often. This approach allowed the band to have a little more fun sharing this new era and to give each song its time in the spotlight. “Instead of them all living in the same house, they live in a duplex,” Viramontes-Pattison jokes.
This era also marks the first time Arrows in Action have released music with support from a record label. Spending their entire career up until this point as an independent band, the band has experienced the doors that have opened since signing to Nettwerk Music Group, earlier this year. “It’s been really cool to have a lot more people to kind of bounce ideas off of and also offer suggestions that we might not think of or even have considered,” Viramontes-Pattison says. “They’ve been a huge help in getting more done and delivering more to our fans, because that’s always been the most important part. We wanna be able to give them more in a more efficient and effective way.”
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