It takes a lot of time, effort, and gumption to be able to break into the scene today, and everyone wants a piece of the pie. All it takes is a strong sense of dedication, inspiration, and stick-to-itiveness. For Arrows in Action, all is finally going according to plan.
“There’s been something buzzing the whole time,” radiates vocalist/guitarist Victor Viramontes-Pattison. “Whether it’s promoting a song, or making TikToks … especially with this tour. Just the way everything has lined up, I feel like it’s been the year of Arrows in Action. People can’t stop talking about us.”
I Think I’ve Been Here Before, out September 19 via Nettwerk, is their first record label release. The album follows DIY successes Be More in 2021 and Built to Last in 2023. Guitarist Matt Fowler shares that while they were really happy with Built to Last, at the end of the cycle, they were spread very thin, so they found their way to Nettwerk.
“It’s been fun to get to work with them [Nettwerk],” says drummer Jesse Frimmel. “It’s very new for us, [especially] learning how to properly navigate it, but we’ve got a lot of people who are really excited about it and have given us some cool ideas. I think [we] still have a lot left in the tank.”
The album sports a lighthearted Side A, but touches a little on the darker side on Side B. While the band had most of the songs ready to go, they noticed the two distinct sides to the record starting to form and brought those thoughts to Nettwerk. Once they began to notice to themes at play, they attacked.
“We were writing ‘Cheekbones,’ around the same time that we were writing other bright, shiny songs off of Side A,” admits Viramontes-Pattison. “We went into it deliberately wanting to make a brighter, feel-good portion of the record. There are these slightly darker, maybe sad moments too. It felt good to be able to fill out the record that way and get a full range of sound.”
It’s not just a full range of sound, but also a full range of creativity beyond the music itself. From the conceptual lighthouse album artwork to the lyrical themes, this record touches every corner of what it means to be an artist. One of the main topics of discussion throughout the entire album surrounds staring ourselves in the face of nostalgia.
“[With] some of the imagery, we were talking about nostalgia and how it can be good or bad,” says Frimmel. “The danger of nostalgia, but also the good of nostalgia. You can let yourself fall into bad habits before that feel comfortable because you’ve been there before, but you’ve got good memories, happy moments that are nostalgic, that you can revisit, and that’s a good thing.”
Nothing can beat the feeling of nostalgia, especially as a band and a family. The main goal, beyond the music, is to just be happy with each other and to do something as simple as making each other laugh every single day. It’s the perfect formula, and Arrows in Action are living proof.
“The majority of the time is spent trying to just enjoy every second of it,” explains Fowler. “We remember really clearly what it’s like to not do this. Actually being out and getting to do this for a living and getting to play shows every day, it’s magic.”
“Whether it’s been travel or touring, this whole thing that we do is crazy,” laughs Viramontes-Pattison. “It is just important to remember that we’re doing it together.”
I Think I’ve Been Here Before is out Friday on Nettwerk Music Group, and you can preorder it here. Follow Arrows in Action on Instagram for future updates.
Photo Credit: Rachel Dwyer
