In our latest spotlight, we chat to Mark Ardisson of UK garage rockers, Kamggarn about music, inspirations and other chill stuff…
S] What are you guys up to today?
We’re practicing for our next show in Chelmsford for the Essex Psych Festival and enjoying the wonderful British summertime of course.
S] What inspires you as a band outside of music – think specific people, places and films for example?
The place that inspires us the most would probably be California, Los Angeles precisely. For its everlasting sunshine, beautiful motors, and surf culture. Manu our bassist gets some of his inspiration by being out there in the elements, on the beach.. I guess the ocean is close to our hearts as we grew up in a small beach town in the south of France..
Our group of friends is a big source of inspiration for us too, they’re these insanely talented and hard working illustrators/artists who also happen to be making excellent music. Being surrounded by such creative people is a real source of motivation. They put music out on a label called Dirty Melody, check them out.
S] What would you say your biggest challenges are as a band?
Settling on the band’s location, and be in the same country at the same time.
S] How do you define success as artists?
Having 30 million followers and getting phone calls from Paul McCartney! Haha no but honestly speaking, success I think is when you never lose inspiration, keep making good records and have a fan base following you.
S] Talk us through what inspired, ‘’Cranberry Kiss’?
I’m really into Dinosaur Jr/Smashing Pumpkins and their organic powerful songwriting, especially J Mascis’s guitar solos. I feel like this song had this vibe and kind of wrote itself in that style. There is something about stacking thirds with a fat fuzz guitar sound..
‘Cranberry Kiss’ was actually written back in 2013 which makes it the band’s oldest song to date. It’s about the feeling of constantly fighting yourself and being trapped in a cage of inexistent rules that only you created. Like being stuck in your own world and losing touch of what to do.
