Indieterria meets A.R.T

As a music journalist we tend to meet all sorts of people at interviews. Some are neurotic and will speak about everything from Queen’s corgis to the British weather but not about themselves. Some are plain boring and it’s hard to get anything out of them at all. Others are exaggerating their successes to the point of being bigger that Jesus and some just don’t even bother arriving. And then, there are people like Alife Clayton. The drummer of hugely successful Skinner Brothers and the leader of his own impressive musical assembly called A.R.T is honest, funny, charming and talkative. We sat down to discuss him new single “Nothing Better To Do” and the interview just flown like a river. We discussed two previous EP’s, the characters he invented and belive it or not, flamingos!

A.R.T has made enough noise in the capital that even the North of England is paying close attention. Please introduce yourself and the band to the wider public.

Alfie Clayton: We’re A.R.T baby!!! A uniquely extravagant act that’ll get ya guilty feet grooving and your lungs chanting! 6 piece line up made of three guitars, sax, trombone, bass, drums and percussion all playing funky indie rock with a madness like quirk

You are known as “the drummer” in Skinner Brothers. But you have proven yourself not only to be a talented percussionist but also a singer, a band leader and a lyricist. How do you find a balance judging so many roles?

Alfie Clayton: Don’t get me wrong it is tough and many nights of the week are spent without sleep. But when you do something that you love and that comes so naturally, it just happens organically. Being able to tour with Skinz as the drummer has taught me so much about how to run my own band and what the life of a rock ‘n roller is really like in the 2020’s.

Being the drummer is the perfect seat I think. I get the AAA pass to the stage and see how it all works, but don’t have the stress and weight on my shoulders as Zak does as the frontman and band leader. It’s giving me that extra time to focus on A.R.T n’ get that groovy shimmy out from behind the kit and next to the mic stand.

On August 12^th you have released your new single “Nothing Better to Do”. Is it true that the song was born out of a rather boring and uninspiring jam session?

Alfie Clayton: Well to tell the truth, there’s never such thing as a boring A.R.T jam session (laughing). Ask the neighbours!!

We’re all such an eccentric bunch of close mates that every time we meet, it’s always the best day of the month! Whenever we do meet, we like to spend a good period of consecutive days together, allowing us to have a tasty balance between partying and writing.

However “Nothing Better To Do” came across in a writing session during the depth of lockdown when we snuck together to jam. We ended up just riffing the same thing for a while and was about to give up until our guitarist Tom (Daddy Strange) started noodling the NBTD riff ‘n said the line: “Should we have a spliff? Got nothing better to do”. And EURECA! The song was formed and finished in about 20 minutes!

We found that song quite bittersweet – there’s rhythm and groove to it, but also a lot of sadness or nostalgia. Like looking at summer polaroids in the middle of winter. Is there any particular story to it?

Alfie Clayton: It was a song that was formed in the depth of lockdown, leading to the natural feeling of nostalgia to the days of being able to be free, wild n’ party. We wrote it as a funky emotional release, referencing the things we weren’t able to do for so long as we were stuck indoors.

Then there’s absolutely bombastic single cover. Where did you find that flamingo?

Alfie Clayton: Whilst staying at a hotel for my 18th birthday, one of the services they offered was a free 24/7 giant inflatable rental. I WAS IN HEAVEN!!! We had our own cheeky pool, so we spent the early hours of the mornings blasting out music and getting some poor receptionist to keep pumping up 6ft animals (ranging from flamingos, to giant unicorns) and dropping them off to our room aha!

A.R.T has been described as “Bowie meets The Killers”, but we could also count Dexy’s Midnight Runners and even Madness among musicians that influenced your style. High profile heritage to uphold. Does that scare you that both your fans and musical press seem to have big expectations?

Alfie Clayton: Not at all!! It’s not scary but rather incredibly humbling to be compared to such incredible acts. It’s defiantly reassuring and helpful in keeping us going through the more harder days, just knowing that people are invested in us as much as they are with some of our biggest idols and inspirations.

The band has two EPs under their belt.  We know it will be a bit like choosing between your children but looking back which record was easier to make: “What Might Be.” or “Lewis Lambrini”?

Alfie Clayton: Both EPs are very different, made in very different times of our lives and career. “What Might Be.” was written whilst I was 18 and stuck in Sixth Form, urging to get out and start gigging. A EP made with pure youthful aspirations and energy.

Whereas “Lewis Lambrini” was written in a more darker side of my life. The whole Lewis Lambrini character was made up as a healthy way to deal all my negative emotions, thoughts and struggles. I created a bright, extravagant character that, when you look a little closer, you realise there’s a rip and a button missing on his blazer and that he ain’t really what your first impression made him out to be. A metaphor to how I felt at the time.

I ended up pretty much living and breathing this act for about a year, playing Lewis Lambrini until it was all out of my system and left me mentally better than ever!

That said I gotta go with “What Might Be.” as the easier one to make..

It was our first time in a studio and my first taste of being in a “proper” rock band, so the magic of the moment really did help carry the making process.

Lead singers are usually the face of the band, guitarists are famous for their riffs and solos while drummers get the least love. Do you have any words of wisdom for the young musicians who see themselves behind the kit?

Alfie Clayton: DANCE!! Drumming is the exact same as laying down a funky dance move on the front of the stage!! It’s all just rhythm and getting that melodic energy out of ya! I think the best advice to give is also the simplest – be yourself.

Fans can sense when something is forced and not organic and what’s the fun in doing something unoriginal that’s been done a million times before? Be yourself and the most exciting, unique but natural stuff will come out. Don’t over think if people will like it or not. I know it’s easier said than done! You’ll be pleasantly surprised and it’ll attract the right fans and the right supportive group of people who love you for you!

Are you planning to tour and where can we see you live?

Alfie Clayton: A tour is in the works! Dates haven’t yet been reviled but all I can say is that this winter is gonna be hot!! We’re so excited to visit cities that we haven’t yet played before and team up with other amazing acts that we’re close mates with to put on some naughty nights!

Last question so let’s get wild: is there any tune that you would like to turn into a rock and roll anthem? Anything goes: gospel, pub songs or even nursery rhymes. 

Alfie Clayton: Tell ya what.. A rocky yet funky version filled with brass of Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” would be bloody great!! That’ll tickle ya fancy!

https://open.spotify.com/album/395QmJKhWSUG1ecobCBfLL?si=SX6ny1HNTHuqqDHVpoJ9nw