No Alarms Talk About Bigger And Better Things And New Single, ‘Marble Bars’

Speaking to Malvika Padin, alt-pop collective No Alarms discuss the most memorable moments in their career, the message behind latest single ‘Marble Bars’ and what song titles best describe their lives.

What is the inspiration/message behind ‘Marble Bars’?

Marble Bars at its core touches on feelings of elation and exploration when meeting someone special for the first time. We wanted to capture the excitement, childlike giddiness, and bliss that comes along with connecting with someone that you really click with, and that’s part of what I’m broaching in the verses. It seems as you get older those experiences get more and more rare, so we wanted to bottle that feeling and broadcast it.

How would you describe your sound? How has it evolved over time?

I’d describe our sound as organic meeting electronic. We’ve used modern production techniques and sounds but applied them to more rock and pop leaning structures. We’ve really tried to ride that line, because I think guitars still have a unique power to emote on a fundamental level. Lately, we’ve been playing with structures and rhythms a bit more, we’re trying to constantly push and step outside our comfort zone. I never want to make the same song twice, so I know as we keep releasing music, even though the songs are different tonally, they’ll start to see the through line.

Who influences you – both professionally and on a personal level?

From a sonic standpoint, Phoenix, Bloc Party, Interpol, and Foals are huge influences on me. When I first heard Bloc Party’s killer 2005 album ‘Silent Alarm’, I played it on repeat for 2 months. I didn’t realize that sort of music was possible. That album and ‘Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix’ opened my eyes to emotional and tonal horizons you can create in indie and alternative. On a personal level, I, along with almost every other musician on the planet, respect Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) to an insane degree. The guy never took any shortcuts and was able to express his vision in such a clear and distinct manner. That’s the goal right there. To carve out your own lane to that severe of a degree.

If listeners could take away one message from your music what would you want that to be?

If you’re reading this, or listening to our music, I want you to know that the whole point of this is to open a direct connection to you, so that we can convey one message: you can make yourself into whatever you want. As we grow older, we put up walls and boundaries, roadblocks and excuses, telling ourselves that we are who we are, but these are all constructs. My favourite artists and inspirations have taught me that human ingenuity and creativity is boundless, that if I want to make something or be something, it’s all up to me. So, don’t listen to those who tell you your dream’s a longshot, or you can only be what you are right now. They’ve given up, and they want you to join the club. Be who you want to be, make yourself.

What are looking forward to most about touring?

Seeing new cities, I’ve never been to under the most fun context possible! I can’t wait for the chance to show new potential fans what we’ve been working on these past 2 years. We play with a ton of emotion, and I know that will come though. We’re also really looking forward to meeting bands from these major US cities as well. We love Detroit, but I’m really excited to what these other scenes have cooking and get to know some of these musicians on a personal level.

What’s been a really memorable moment in your career so far? And what’s next?

We played our biggest show yet in January in Detroit. Had over 100 people singing along with us, it was super surreal. Playing at a venue I used to walk by and dream of was such a milestone moment for me. We get so caught up in what’s next, push, push, push. It’s so crucial to realize when you’re living in one of those moments that you should probably stop to observe and reflect on.

We’ve got our second EP coming this April, we’re super excited about that. We’ve also started writing for our 2020 release, which I’m insanely excited about. I’m not going to spoil it, but stay tuned, it’s going to be a multi-staged release that I really think has a chance to resonate with people.

Describe your life using your own song titles.

For while I danced on THE WRONG SIDE, but then I realized that RIGHT IS WHAT’S LEFT. I found my clan so my clan could FIND ME, and discovered all THE WAYS that we could stick THE LANDING.

You can find No Alarms online on their official website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and SoundCloud. Watch out for their concert dates on Bands In Town and SongKick. Stream and download ‘Marble Bars’ here, and on Bandcamp.

Watch the music video for ‘Marble Bars’ below:

No Alarms - Marble Bars

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