Archer & Light
Perth, Western Australia, Australia | SELF
Music
Press
Archer & Light will certainly take you by surprise. Within the first 30 seconds of their infectious track titled “Melbourne,” I had already found myself hooked; and I feel that you will find yourself in the same position.
Hailing from Australia, Archer & Light is very much a best kept secret from down under. Blending catchy indie pop, with a heavy dose of folk and electronic influences respectively, this unique combination will have the listener craving more of what this band has to offer. Sonically intense keyboards wrap around the perfect alliance of sultry and static-driven guitars. The harmonious and brilliant mixture of singer James Luscombe's vocals is wrapped in a heavenly swirl with backup vocals from fellow band mate and multi-instrumentalist, Steph Ryan.
“Melbourne,” certainly takes you for a ride, both musically and emotionally. “Trying to find some heat, the night was newly born; Our hearts were younger still, we'd fought the day and won,” sings Luscombe with such fierce passion. Every lyric that spills from Luscombe's lips will send shivers down your spine, as each word is truly heartfelt. The blend of electronic and folk is quite an intriguing sound, that when done right, really has an impact on the listener. Archer & Light seem to have this formula down to a science, and it leaves you wondering what else this phenomenal band is up to. Luscombe's vocals are soft, yet boisterous, grabbing the very depths of your soul and heartstrings. Archer & Light is far from your average band as everything from guitars, samplers, synths and glockenspiels are fair game. They will have you dancing around your house in no time, singing every word into your hairbrush. They will be the soundtrack to your weekend parties. The perfect background to a first kiss with someone special. A band that becomes immediately one you cannot live without. “Melbourne,” proves to be the perfect introduction into the world of Archer & Light...a world you will not want to leave anytime soon.
5 out of 5 stars. - Melissa Nastasi - City Bird Publicity
The latest band to emerge from the Australian music scene is Archer & Light - a brand new indie pop band. The band is composed of James Luscombe, Rob Di Giallonardo, Steph Ryan, Damien Goerke, Jeremy Turner, and Zack Visser. Cohesively, the members of Archer & Light formulate a dynamically layered band that emphasizes stylistic difference, hinting at influences of folk, electronica, and catchy indie pop music. The influences that drive Archer & Light’s music is evident with their single, “Melbourne.”
“Melbourne” delivers from the beginning with an introductory electric guitar lead - a lead that fades into the equally strong drumming. Though the guitar layers wash into the immediately demanding drumming, the combination of the softly performed guitar and strength in the striking over the drum kit’s drums foster the environment for the remainder of “Melbourne.” The male vocalist soon joins the instrumentals, delivering in a calming nature. The male vocals begin only to be met by the chiming of the female vocalist, harmonically delivering. Both voices do not struggle with pitch or tone, but rather strengthen the song’s dynamic with the synchronization of their voices that blend effortlessly. The song appears as an alternative track until the competition of its first chorus. The conclusion of the composition’s first chorus features reverberating vocals - a technique that is commonplace in electronica music. The wash away of the primary chorus is catalytic for the remainder of “Melbourne.” The guitar layers aren’t washed underneath the strictness and strength of drumming, but instead command the composition. The electric guitars dynamic seems intuitive for Archer & Light, as the immaculate guitars scream of consistent power.
In a song that hints at the likes of Coldplay and 30 Seconds to Mars, Archer & Light delivers. The rock-inspired guitar strumming, consistently supportive drumming, and calming yet still demanding nature of Archer & Light’s vocals allow them to surpass restraints and embrace originality. Archer & Light cannot fit into one genre, which is evident on “Melbourne.” Nevertheless, Archer & Light creates a solid single to build a foundation for future music. “Melbourne” establishes Archer & Light with individuality, tackling the difficulties of relinquishing love and the pitfalls of a relationship’s conclusion: “I used to be your all, the sky turned black.” Fortunately for Archer & Light, the darkness and heaviness of the lyricism doesn’t divert listeners from the certain individuality the band manages to institute with “Melbourne.”
Rating 5 out of 5 stars. - Alexa Spieler - Love In Motion
Archer & Light are an exciting new indie pop band from Australia who is set to release their self-recorded and self-produced debut EP Our Love Is Confetti to the masses this coming Spring. The relatively new six-piece band led by the complementary male and female vocals of James Luscombe and Steph Ryan, effortlessly combines elements of the current neo-folk movement that are reminiscent of The Lumineers along with the soaring and shimmering synths and arena-filling pop hooks of Coldplay to create their own unique modern folk-pop sound that is sure to explode just as soon as it hits the radio.
In anticipation of their bold debut, they have just released the stunning first single, “Melbourne” as a teaser for the 5-song EP. The radio-ready first taste is an energetic slice of Technicolor synth-driven pop with a propulsive yet stuttering rhythm that builds into a danceable groove and comes complete with an infectious, sing-along chorus of universally relatable themes such as love, loss and regret. A can’t miss!
Archer & Light made their recording debut back in December of 2011 with the release of The Black & White Demo, a 3-song release that was made available as a free download on their Bandcamp page. These fully formed sketches were impeccably written, arranged and produced and only hinted at the huge promise this band holds. And the ridiculously catchy new single, “Melbourne” definitely heightens the already feverous anticipation for their proper debut EP, Our Love Is Confetti. So you better latch onto this band now and tightly, before they break out or you will be sorry and they will leave you in their sparkling dust!
Rating 4 out of 5 stars. - Justin Kreitzer - Fabricoh Magazine
Archer & Light are an exciting new indie pop band from Australia who is set to release their self-recorded and self-produced debut EP Our Love Is Confetti to the masses this coming Spring. The relatively new six-piece band led by the complementary male and female vocals of James Luscombe and Steph Ryan, effortlessly combines elements of the current neo-folk movement that are reminiscent of The Lumineers along with the soaring and shimmering synths and arena-filling pop hooks of Coldplay to create their own unique modern folk-pop sound that is sure to explode just as soon as it hits the radio.
In anticipation of their bold debut, they have just released the stunning first single, “Melbourne” as a teaser for the 5-song EP. The radio-ready first taste is an energetic slice of Technicolor synth-driven pop with a propulsive yet stuttering rhythm that builds into a danceable groove and comes complete with an infectious, sing-along chorus of universally relatable themes such as love, loss and regret. A can’t miss!
Archer & Light made their recording debut back in December of 2011 with the release of The Black & White Demo, a 3-song release that was made available as a free download on their Bandcamp page. These fully formed sketches were impeccably written, arranged and produced and only hinted at the huge promise this band holds. And the ridiculously catchy new single, “Melbourne” definitely heightens the already feverous anticipation for their proper debut EP, Our Love Is Confetti. So you better latch onto this band now and tightly, before they break out or you will be sorry and they will leave you in their sparkling dust!
Rating 4 out of 5 stars. - Justin Kreitzer - Fabricoh Magazine
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Archer & Light are not your typical band by far. Perhaps Australias best kept secret, they have been on quite a ride since 2006 when they were first formed as singer/guitarist/programmer James Luscombes solo project. The group started to make a name for themselves in the indie folk scene in the years to come with various lineups in tow, playing shows and taking part in band competitions around Perth.
Though a hard-working band from the beginning, 2009 brought on a complete transformation for the group as they went into hiding and perfected their sound for 2 years. December of 2011 marked a new beginning for the group as Archer & Light. With a near sold out show at The Rosemount Hotel in Perth, Western Australia, the band released their debut recording entitled The Black & White Demo. In 2012, they wowed music listeners again with the brilliant single, Melbourne. 2013 proves to be fair game for the band, as they are set to release their highly anticipated new EP Our Love Is Confetti in the coming months.
Drawing from a wide range of influences - including the likes of Bright Eyes, Bon Iver, Wilco, The Temper Trap, Death Cab for Cutie and Radiohead, to name but a few - Archer & Light bring to the masses a refreshing sound all of their own. Their infectious brand of indie-electronica-folk-pop will have you in awe and on the edge of your seat wanting more.
The outfit takes the fundamental structure of a simple acoustic song, and surrounds it in elements of carefully designed electronic and acoustic instrumentation. On the lyrical side, Luscombe is inspired by the desire to tell stories, whether they are directly personal or not. Taking subjects of feelings, he writes a story in a way that may portray the subject in an indirect metaphorical way. Luscombe is obsessed with imagery; constantly trying to push himself to describe feelings, emotions and situations in new and thought provoking ways.
Band Members
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