by sierra romano
photo by scarlett casciello
Arctic Lake has just released their new single “Breathe,” a very open and emotional song. In this interview, band members Emma Foster and Paul Holliman discuss the importance of making this song and how it fits into their own style of songwriting. The alt-pop duo also have so much more in store for this year, including a lot of new music and upcoming shows. Be sure to check out the “Breathe” music video too. Fun fact: it was filmed in just two takes!
Congratulations on the new single! What was the writing process like for your new song “Breathe”?
Paul: “We had a week in our friend Dan’s studio (his artist project Dan D’Lion is amazing by the way, please check it out), and we usually write in our bedrooms so it just felt great to be in a proper space with a fancy big desk. I started out with the piano idea and Emma was messing around with the melodies and lyrics on top, and it all came together really quickly I think, probably in a few hours. This was before lockdown, and then the production took a lot longer to fine tune and get right, so we’ve had it for a while and it feels great to finally release it!”
The song also has a beautiful music video. Can you explain some of your artistic vision behind it?
Emma: “I think we’ve always been drawn to the simplicity and beauty of one shot videos but I’ve always shied away from them. This time we worked with an amazing team who made me feel really safe and supported to be so front and center. The song is vulnerable and bare and we wanted that to be mirrored in the video. We did it in two takes, so I hope it feels real because I definitely cried at the end [laughs]!”
This song is very vulnerable and open. What advice would you give to someone who may be struggling with that?
Emma: “Argh, what a question. I would say I’ve learned that communication is one of the most important things in any relationship and even when it feels like the safest, easiest thing to shut down; try and rationalize your emotions and remember you’re a team. I came from the side that was begging to be let in and not understanding what was happening, but that stuff can’t be forced and the other person needed to process and heal from things without me. Just talk.”
What message do you want listeners to take from this song, and from your music in general?
Emma: “We hope that listeners feel something, that it moves them and that they can relate to it. We’ve always just wanted to create connections, to generate feelings. Every time someone shares a personal story with us with one of our songs it’s insane, it’s the reason why we do this.”
You’ve released some EPs in the last few years. How do you think your sound has evolved over time?
Paul: “We started off being quite one dimensional I think and a bit confined in what we did, and now we have a bit more freedom in terms of the style of music we make — we still love making slow sad music, but we equally have a great time with more upbeat songs, which is something I don’t think we’d ever even considered doing before. It’s great to have a mix of tempos and subject matters to work with instead of being sad all the time!”
Who are some artists that inspire you?
Paul: “We both love everything from 80s pop to techno, so there’s a whole range of stuff really. Emma grew up as a jazz singer and I was a little metalhead, so we’ve been all over the place. I think in terms of direct inspiration for the our music, one of my favorites would be The 1975 for how they’ve managed to progress over the years and still sound like themselves. I’d love for us to be able to do something similar.”
Do you have anything exciting planned for this year that you can tell us a little about?
Emma: “We’re releasing lots and lots of music which we’re in love with and have been working on behind the scenes for a long time, so we’re very excited. We’re planning shows and lots of visual elements that feel ridiculously fun and experimental for us, so yeah… lots for you to enjoy and feast on, we hope!”