White Arrows, a five-piece who met in Los Angeles, began touring almost as soon as they formed, hitting the road with Cults, White Denim and The Naked and Famous, and performing at festivals like Coachella and Sasquatch. The transitory, continuous nature of touring meant that their 2012 debut album, Dry Land Is Not A Myth, was created in bouts, pulled together over the course of almost two years. After Coachella last year, the band finally returned home with no obligations set out before them and allowed the creative process to take them whenever it would
For White Arrows, In Bardo is the transition. It marks the end of one thing and the beginning of another. The songs, from moody album opener “I Want A Taste” to surging standout number “Leave It Alone” to the evocative two-part closer, represent the musicians’ current mindset and inspirations, pulled cohesively together by their succinct process of creation. It is, as Mickey Church says, the band’s real introduction into the world.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do. Mickey: I am a singer and guitar player in the band White Arrows. I’m tall.
Top 3 favorite or most visited websites and why? Dangerous Minds is my favorite blog. It’s almost specified of only things I’d be interested in. I also like FFFFound, and ButDoesitFloat.
How has living in Los Angeles affected your music? There’s more space, so more room to make noise and experiment and have live drums.
How long have you lived in Los Angeles and what brought you there? I was born there, and then I moved back right after college to form this band.
What kinds of things are influencing your music right now? Music, and art, and moods.
What are some recent, upcoming or current projects you are working on? I try and keep busy with writing, and music. While I’m a creative headspace, I’ll do anything creative. Weird films, music, art — I just want to collaborate and make.
If you were a drink, what drink would you be? Thai young coconut, but I’m not Thai. Tough exterior—milky insides and you can eat part of it as a bonus. Eating is a bonus for drinking.
How did your interest in music begin? I’ve always been a fan and moved by music and shows. I never imagined I’d be playing it. It happened accidentally.
What other musicians/bands are you interested in right now? Jai Paul, Mac Demarco, Cleaners from Venus, Caribou, Metronomy etc etc.
Who would you ideally like to collaborate with? There are some producers I’d like to work with. Dave Fridmann is kind of an idol. Brian Eno, obviously. Maybe some electronic or hip hop people too.. Arca is cool, same with Koreless.
What do you want a viewer to walk away with after hearing your music? Mouth open. Foaming.
What’s your absolute favorite place the world to be? Paris streets. Wandering.
Most embarrassing moment on stage? Drunk band member fucking everything up.
What were you like in high school? Uncool and a little bit angry. I built computers. I played Counter-Strike.
Can you share one of the best or worst reactions you have gotten as a result of your music? People getting tattoos of our lyrics, or what I write, is pretty mind blowing. You never think you are gonna move people like that when you are writing something isolated and solitary.