By Corynne Fernandez
Emerging brother-sister-duo, Ardyn, have released 2 acclaimed EP’s and are currently working on more material–expanding their organic, while equally melancholic, growing discography. Writer, Corynne Fernandez, had the chance to catch up with the pair in midst of their dedicated studio sessions.
Answers by Rob and Katy.
How are you both doing? Are you excited about your upcoming show at Hoxton Hall after selling out your show back in December?
Very well, thank you. we’re so excited for the show, to be able to play such a beautiful room, well, we can’t ask for more. it should be a wonderful evening!
For those who don’t know, how did you collectively come up the fronting name, ARDYN? What meaning does it hold, if any?
We named the band after our cousin, Ardyn. she’s also an artist. we spent a while looking for a name and this one just made sense to us.
As brother and sister, did you find it natural to partner musically? Is it simpler to communicate where you want to take the group because of the relationship you share?
Yes it did feel quite natural. We’ve always written together, we never really took it that seriously though. It was only when we began performing our own songs live and started getting decent reactions from outside our family unit that we began to take it more seriously. We often check we’re still on the same page when it comes to ambition, sometimes it’s easy to talk about it, sometimes it really isn’t. We’re very good at ignoring each other if we want to, but that’s just siblings, right?
You’ve released two acclaimed EP’s since 2015, are there plans to release a debut album this year?
We’re taking our time to get the right songs and get some more experience as writers and performers, to release an album this year would be amazing.
I read that your latest EP, The Valley, was produced by, James Ford (Florence & The Machine, Arctic Monkeys) and Mike Crossey (Foals, The 1975). Can you describe how it was working with them and how it was you all met?
Working on that particular song, The Valley, was a lot of fun because everything was live, which we like. When it came to recording the song with James Ford we used the demo, it had a great energy that we didn’t think we’d be able to capture again. Mike Crossey mixed that one. The rest of the EP was actually recorded with Rodaidh Mcdonald who did the first EP, Universe.
What were the inspirations behind Universe and The Valley EP’s? How would you say your sound and lyrics have evolved between releases?
The Universe EP came from a very natural place, inspiration came from our surroundings in Gloucestershire. The film Pride and Prejudice inspired me to write The Garden. Call Up was about love and loss. The lyrics especially in songs like Universe and Help Me On My Way are more abstract and inspired by more mysterious and often philosophical feelings about the world and our place in it, I suppose. The Valley EP has a slightly clearer sentiment all the way through. We were still inspired by our surroundings and abstract concepts but this time we tried mixing this with more relatable subjects, I think this method of writing is best shown on our track Shadow Light (live From The Pool). The sound on The Valley EP is more electronic in places however that’s something that excited us and that we intend to explore further for sure.
Katy, you have a haunting vocal delivery, that is equally serene and unique. Do you have anyone that you look to for inspiration, or been compared to anyone?
I would say I’m definitely drawn to artists like Beach House and Kate Bush because of their powerful and instinctive vocal deliveries.
As a band, who are your favorite artists?
We really love Kate Bush because of her total originality. We’re big fans of Kings Of Leon, we’re hoping to see them in July. More recently, Maggie Rogers.
You are also going to be playing Kendall Calling for the first time! Is it nerve-racking knowing you’ll be performing to a larger audience or are you eager to play to a sea of new faces?
We’re really happy to be playing and always excited to play to new people. It’s very rewarding and fun winning people over!
Speaking of festivals, who would make-up your ideal lineup?
Air, Zero 7, Interpol, R.E.M, Coldplay, Kings Of Leon, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Kate Bush, Beach House and The Roots. There are some amazing lineups this summer!
Lastly, what are you most looking forward to in the coming year?
Releasing new music and lots of gigs!
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