Start Listening To: Martial Arts
delve into the creative process behind debut single ‘Warsaw’, the band's approach to live performances, and their aspirations for the future.
Martial Arts, the Manchester-based five-piece band recently released their debut single ‘Warsaw’. Comprising Jim Marson on vocals and guitar, Matthew Pearce and Jack Brown on guitar, Jude Collins on bass, and Tom Dunnell on drums, Martial Arts brings together a diverse range of influences to create a sound that defies easy categorisation. Their music, often described as post-punk with elements of raw energy and precision, captures the essence of their collaborative spirit and shared vision. With their debut single, ‘Warsaw’ released to critical acclaim, Martial Arts has firmly established themselves as a band to watch in the UK music scene.
For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?
Martial Arts consists of Jim Marson on vocals and guitar, Matthew Pearce and Jack Brown on guitar, Jude Collins on the bass and Tom Dunnell on drums. We’re a Manchester based 5-piece, but we come from all over the country. Putting a definite label on the music we make has caused violent arguments between us but we all agree it can be put in the loose and meaningless category of post-punk. If you come to a show you can decide amongst yourselves what type of music we make.
Congratulations on the release of your debut single, "Warsaw"! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the song and what it represents for Martial Arts as a band?
Thanks! Warsaw was the first song we wrote together, shortly after we decided that we wanted to make music together as a five. It was long before we had a name or a steady practice room. All we had was a riff that Jim had played to approving nods in his bedroom. Fast forward 18 months, and it’s the song we’ve played most, and our natural first release. The inspiration behind the tune was ultimately imagining people moving to it in a live setting, when playing live seemed like something far off in the distance. Now we’re in the position where we can see the reaction it elicits when we play it live, and we can say we were right.
"Warsaw" is described as a wailing-siren call, packing angst and art into precision-cut convergences of razored riffs and fleeting oceanic harmonies. How do you approach blending these elements?
We started with the main hook, and we decided to make that the focal point of the tune- from there, it was crafting the song dynamically to make it have the most impact. We managed to complement it with harmonies that do the main hook justice, and the complete piece took shape in a way we were chuffed with. It’s a lot of messing with dynamics. We have 3 guitars, so it was a lot of push and pull, but we got there in a way that means each guitar brings something to the table without oversaturation. That’s our philosophy as a band to be honest, and we were honing it on Warsaw.
Your live performances are noted for their compelling, complex, and unpredictable construction of sound. How do you translate this intensity and energy from the stage to the recording studio?
Warsaw was recorded with Seadna McPhail at Airtight Studios in South Manchester. First and foremost, Seadna is a top guy and a great engineer. We brought to him the idea that we wanted to track it live, and I think any scepticism about this dissipated when he came and saw us play it live- it’s a track that needs that raw edge that we felt like only a live take would give it. We separated the amps into different rooms so the sound wouldn’t bleed, but were all in the same room while playing the takes through. As a band, we play best when we are playing off each other’s energy, and it was no different in the studio.
Martial Arts seems to have a focus on creating an immersive experience for your audience, making them feel like they're partaking rather than spectating. How do you achieve this level of engagement during your performances?
We like making the shows an experience in the sense that we don’t like the sound to stop. We like interludes between tracks, and we don’t speak to the audience. You could argue that this is counter-intuitive for engagement, but we all decided that the gigs we feel the most in to are the ones in which the music speaks. None of us enjoy the five-minute soliloquies or call-and-response craic that you often get from frontmen, and we decided to steer clear of this.
Your upcoming live dates include shows in Manchester, London, and Sheffield. What can fans expect from your live performances, and are there any surprises in store for these shows?
The vast majority of people who come to our shows have never seen us before, so hopefully the whole thing is a pleasant surprise. The crowds can expect intensity, noise, and someone starting a song in the wrong tuning at some point during the set.
Can you elaborate on your approach to songwriting and the creative process behind "Warsaw"?
Warsaw is us at our rawest. We took this guitar line that we loved (the main hook of the tune) and wrote around it, complimenting it basically. Our approach was collaborative, with an overarching end goal that we all shared, which was making a tune people could get involved to. The creative process involves debate and fine tuning, but it would be weird if it didn’t. We wrote this one very quickly compared to some of our others, we didn’t overthink it!
The band is comprised of members from disparate UK-wide origins, but you're currently based in Manchester. How has the city influenced your music and your identity as a band?
The great thing about being in Manchester as a band at the moment is the abundance of talent in the scene we’re in. We’re constantly going to small gigs in and around the city, and are constantly being inspired by what we see, and we’re lucky to have played with many of these Manchester-based bands that we love.
As a band, you've emphasised the importance of focusing on your ideals and manifesting your radical, experiential deep state. Can you elaborate on what this means for Martial Arts and your artistic vision?
I think lyrically it comes from a place of experience- but you can say that about most musicians. I think the five of us have a set of political and societal principles that we share, and I think we want to express ourselves lyrically, definitely. Having said this, we are still learning about our place in the world, and we want to make loud music.
What do you love right now?
Jim- Toblerone.
Jack- Riders in London.
Matty- William Faulkner.
Jude- Radiohead.
Tom- Blue Steeling.
What do you hate right now?
Jim- Jury service.
Jack- Pints in London.
Matty- Michael Beale and Benjamin Netanyahu.
Jude- The Tory Party and Avanti West Coast.
Tom- The Duolingo Bird.
Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?
Jim- Dexy’s Midnight Runners - Searching For The Young Soul Rebels. It’s one of the first records I got and I don’t think I’ve gone eight weeks in a row without putting it on since. ‘I'm Just Looking’ is my favourite, just a great album with plenty of passion in its delivery and some northern soul thrown in.
Jack- The Smiths’ Self-Titled album. My dad used to bang it in the Peugeot 307 with the retractable sunroof on the way to football training.
Matty- I think the only album that has properly accompanied me throughout my whole life is Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan. It still slaps as hard as it did when I was 11. It’s still important to me as it’s the most complete album I’ve ever heard- not a second wasted.
Jude- Probably the London Calling by the Clash. This album got me into Punk, which then made me want to listen to everything that came after. Listening to it now reminds me of being a teenager and getting excited about finding a whole world of music I instantly resonated with.
Tom- I’d say The Bends by Radiohead. As a kid, it was probably the first bit of guitar music which I listened to that actually did something for me. It’s timeless.
Beyond the release of "Warsaw," what's next for Martial Arts? Are there any future projects or aspirations that you can share with your fans?
We’re releasing another tune in the spring, and, beyond that, we want to just keep gigging and hopefully make it on to some bigger bills. We’re also going back into the studio soon. We don’t want to lose momentum. Once you’ve started, you can’t stop.
