Artist Interviews

Q&A: I Am Arrows

By | Published on Tuesday 17 August 2010

I Am Arrows

I Am Arrows is the newish solo project from former Razorlight drummer Andy Burrows. After the release of his second album with the band, Burrows departed from Razorlight in 2008 and went on to sign with Universal Music. He has since recorded his debut album ‘Sun Comes Up Again’, out this week, with producer Eliot James (Noah And The Whale, Bloc Party). With his live band, he’s now set to head out his first headline tour, as well as playing slots supporting Muse at Wembley. In addition to his solo work, Burrows has recently spent time back behind the drum kit with We Are Scientists for their latest album. We caught up with Andy to find out more.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
I got started playing drums in the school brass band when I was nine. Well, actually I joined when I was eight, playing the trumpet, but I was RUBBISH and I used to just spend the whole time turning round looking at the drummer. I thought, “Why would anyone wanna play this foghorn when they could be rocking out back there!” I started playing drums in my first ‘pop’ group when I was eleven. We were called The Shoos. We used to rehearse near a very famous record producer’s house – he was never interested in us, but coincidentally, years later, he did produce a Razorlight album!

Q2 What inspired your latest album?
I think that everything in my funny little corner of the planet inspired this album. It’s a very heart-on-sleeve record. So, I guess just life, family, friends, enemies, The Shoos, Razorlight – I think the past five years being in a pretty successful band opened my eyes to the world somewhat! It’s all in there… everything, all in my inarticulate confussled lyrical code.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
It differs, I guess. Some songs come together in the studio whilst jamming around an idea – although ‘jamming’ on this album was minimal, as it was just Eliot James and myself. Sometimes I work on songs at home, record them onto the laptop or sing them down the phone or something (I’m not particularly technical) then take them into the studio and see what happens. If a song’s not working out, it’s probably just not that good! I usually write my songs whilst I’m out and about. They usually come along when I’ve got no way of recording them, like without a phone, in the middle of a field or something, or in Tesco, so they have to be strong enough melodies for me to remember them by the time I get home.

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
I guess The Beatles are pretty darn key – but then I guess The Beatles are pretty darn key to pretty darn everyone. They were pretty darn special. After them, it’s The Beach Boys, Michael Jackson, Crowded House, Badly Drawn Boy, Blur, Beck, Wilco, Phoenix, Gorillaz, Simon & Garfunkel, Squeeze, and most recently (and most fantastically) Broken Bells. I LOVE that record, it’s easily my record of the year!

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
I’m not sure I’d want to say anything. I think I’d just let them have a listen – I think me waffling on would do the music no favours.

Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
I want this record to be heard by as many people as possible, and then I would like to tour it for a year or so, then get in to the studio and make a second one. I guess I would just love to have this current project be one that lasts a while! Most importantly, I want the next five musical years to be a good laugh – that’d be grand.

MORE>> www.iamarrows.com



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