Bridging the gap between indie rock and hip-hop, Archean Soundtrack is made up of Craig Mitchell: lead vocalist, Roger Parkins: guitarist, Josh Carter: drummer, Jonny Hopwood: bass guitarist and Darren Gosling: lead guitarist. Although there are differences in influence and style within this band, the members are collectively breeding a unique sound that is matchless to anything currently on your playlist. Be warned their sound is likable, and it is almost guaranteed that you will find yourself hooked. With this and a recent tour behind them, we caught up with Darren to find out more about Archean Soundtrack’s love for music.
Your sound seems to come from a variety of places. How were you first introduced to music?
I was introduced from a very young age. My parents listened to a range of genres from Luther Vandross to rock ‘n’ roll, which I later discovered during my school years. But with regards to the rest of the band, our drummer Josh likes tech death metal and those hardcore kind of sounds. Craig is mostly fixed on the RnB and hip hop side of things. Some of his influence comes from a lot of grime and American artists. Roger has been playing the guitar since he was about 15 years-old, and he’s into a lot of classical rock. And Jonny is influenced by mostly a lot of indie stuff.
Take us back to that moment when you first came together as a group. What was that day like?
Before coming together we were all actors at the same drama school — Josh and Roger were studying in the same group, whilst the rest of us were all in different classes. Knowing that they both played instruments and loved music, Josh invited Roger to join him in a rehearsal session – in which he did, and then I came along followed by Craig. At this stage we were playing literally whatever it was that came into our heads. In 2010, Jonny happened to be at one of our gigs that we were doing without a bass player, and he pretty much hopped on board offering to fill the gap. Looking back it was all very weird.
What’s the most rock-star thing about you?
Whenever we do a gig from start to finish, we always just want to party, get drunk and have some fun in between. We do not tend to take ourselves seriously — but we take the music incredibly seriously. We think there’s a lot of fun to be had in the industry, and we are all about promoting that.
What’s the oddest thing a girl has thrown at you on stage?
I remember playing in Bath just after coming off our recent tour, and we ended up with a pair of knickers thrown at us. They literally landed right on Roger’s neck [laughs]. They were kind of like his necklace for the day.
How would you describe an Archean Soundtrack groupie?
They are people who just want to take their tops off, throw down some nasty head bangs and make a lot of noise. We have a lot of breakdowns and chants throughout our songs to get the crowd involved. So our ideal groupie is someone who fully gets involved with our music.
How has playing music changed you?
I get to be someone who I am not in everyday life. I also get the opportunity to let people see a different side of me. The rest of the band and I genuinely have a lot of fun together in other ways that our normal lives don’t give us.
How would you describe your latest single ‘For The Last Time’?
We want everyone to download the track because it’s a real combination of what we do. It’s a very commercial track with some incredibly catchy chorus. The verses are very honest, grimy and poetic at the same time. It’s a track that really cultivates everything what Archean Soundtrack is about. We are truly proud of it.
If one of your songs comes on at a party, what kind of effect would it have?
For a start, it makes people stop and listen. Our music is immensely different to anything else that’s out there — people said from day one that they “haven’t heard anyone like us.” Even if you’re not a fan, our sounds just grab you, and once you’re taken in that’s it.
What lies do you tell yourself regularly?
I tell myself that if we carrying on down this path then eventually everything will pay off. [Laughs] Every time I walk into my day job [as a sales consultant] I keep telling myself that today will be my last day.
Which band would you like to see reform?
I would have to say the original Guns N’ Roses line-up. It would be absolutely crazy if they came back together, or even just the original members of Oasis.
Do you remember the first time you or anyone from the band stage-dived?
I remember us doing a really great gig in Camden and everyone going nuts. Before we ended the show, we did a song that we knew was going to get the crowd on a high, and in the midst of all the excitement our front man Craig threw himself off stage as if he was a superhero [laughs]. He literally took off and smashed in the middle of the crowd. I can remember it very vividly.
What curse word do you use way too much?
Probably, s—t and f— k in that same order.
Who was the last person to see you naked?
Someone I slept with a couple of weeks ago[collapses into fit of giggles], I don’t think I want to be any more specific than that.
Archean Soundtrack’s ‘For The Last Time’ is out now.
https://soundcloud.com/archeansoundtrack/for-the-last-time-full-version
