Tom Lark
North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand | INDIE
Music
Press
Australia’s indie pop darlings, San Cisco, made a smart move by naming their catchiest head-bopping tune after the popular (and often overused) catch phrase “Awkward.” It is arguably this tune that drew a packed crowd to The Echo in Los Angeles this past Tuesday.
It’s rare when a support act nearly upstages the headliner. New Zealand’s Tom Lark did just that, busting out some electric energy with his crowd rocking garage pop. Lark’s piercing blue eyes, sandy blond locks, and jolting shimmies were reminiscent of a Radish-era Ben Kweller. Even though he is billed as a solo act, Lark’s band backs him with an equal amount of moxie.
Tom Lark
From San Cisco frontman Julian Miner’s tight opening set, we would have guessed the band had been playing together for years — instead, this was the first public gig from the folk-pop outfit. Miner has been playing music under various monikers for years, however, his newest group is bound to go far, fitting in with the likes of The Head and the Heart and Of Monsters and Men. - The Owl Mag
So much brilliant guitar/noise pop music has originated from Christchurch people, like those of The Reduction Agents and Dictaphone Blues. Tom Lark is a worthy new addition. Catchy, clever tunes, and not over-produced into blandness. On stage they’re just as lively as this single. And it’s so good to hear some quality satire from a generally earnest scene. My favourite parts are the chorus “yeah!”s. 1 point off for not playing this at Parachute. [9/10]
Devon Kemp: Chastise yourself nightly for not having crossed Thus Spoke Zarathustra off the reading list? Ever wanted to get really down and dirty with the man behind the mustache? I know I did… but hey, chastise no further: Tom Lark’s got Nietzsche summed-up in two minutes and thirty-two seconds, and he does it with such style! Everything from the on-crack backing track, to the ‘Yeah!’, to the Clean-esque acoustic track, had me feeling much more optimistic about the direction NZ music is taking this year. Lark really captures the danger of any ideology that discards feelings at the expense of logic or common sense: ‘I just can’t get myself in the vibe’ – heard it far too many times! Great song. [8/10]
Nicky Andrews: Opening with a wave of paranoia, this song quickly gathers speed as a clever ditty reminiscent of Conan Moccasin. I’m going to sing this unrepentantly any time I encounter some half-assed slacktivism, which may get me into trouble in the cubefarm, but it will be worth it. Christians who don’t do shit. Bloggers that don’t do shit. Facebook-likes that don’t do shit. Yeah! Yeah! Tom Lark, you are my dystopian folk hero. [8/10] - The Corner
MUSIC NEWS
Live Photos: Cut Off Your Hands, Tom Lark, Space Ventura, Auckland
Live Photos: Cut Off Your Hands, Tom Lark, Space Ventura, Auckland
Monday, 5th November 2012 9:16AM
Cut Off Your Hands, Tom Lark (just back from CMJ Music Marathon in New York) and Space Ventura all played Cassette Nine on Friday night. Georgia Schofield was there and you can check out her photographs of all three acts below.
- Under The Radar
It's New Zealand Music Month - the perfect opportunity to go in search of something new. Each day we're asking a member of our local creative fraternity to throw a little limelight on an artist or group they want you to know about.
It's New Zealand Music Month - the perfect opportunity to go in search of something new. Each day we're asking a member of our local creative fraternity to throw a little limelight on an artist or group they want you to know about.
Rodney Fisher.
Rodney Fisher.
I'd heard All Night Long on the radio and forgotten my mental note to investigate them, but when I was up at bFM, Charlotte (Ryan, Morning Glory host) gave me the CD," says Rodney Fisher - solo artist and frontman for a rejuvenated Goodshirt - of how he came across Tom Lark.
"A week later I checked them out at the Kings Arms and had a beer with them, they were all super chilled and modest and we shared tales of DIY and vocoder effect units.
"Their live sound definitely held up against the lush layered recordings on the EP. They played together with a great feel and a tasteful choice of sounds, their use of the vocoder was genuinely inspired, creating a choice-as wide vocal sound... like a million school kids singing backing vocals.
"I guess they really remind me of some of my favorite pop music, I'm not sure if they listen to him but its definitely reminiscent of The Sleepy Jackson in its textural beauty and pop sensibility. The Beach Boys, Weezer and The Flaming Lips also come to mind.
"For me it was really nice to come across some new music on the radio whilst driving around and then for it just to pop up effortlessly into my hand almost like magic."
- New Zealand Herald
Discography
Single: ALL NIGHT LONG
Single: GIVE YOU ALL MY LOVIN'
EP: TOM LARK EP
Photos
Bio
With a sound described as “a million school kids singing" Tom Lark's unconventional, yet timeless pop tunes are sweet candy to the ears of an alternative audience bored of feel good folk.
Lark's solo career came to be after the devastating Christchurch earthquakes. He made friends with his temperamental laptop and broken-stringed guitar, as half the city closed and his regular band's practice space became rubble. Having little more than a sunlight-starved bedroom for inspiration the TOM LARK EP was born. The resulting work marries ricocheting samples with folk guitar work, a plaintive voice and a deft sense of storytelling. The songs often produce a sombre, lethargic feel before swaying into mockingly happy, pinball machine-like excitement.
First single 'All Night Long' combines the woozy lilt of a Sparklehorse record with a sprinkle of The Shins and some Brit-pop melodicism. Interesting, the soft dreamy vocals were an unintentional style – the result of late night vocal takes recorded with sleeping flatmates in neighbouring rooms. Later in the EP, track 'She Gone' starts with a folky 2/4 stomp that builds to a crescendo of interlocking electronic beats and ghostly counter-melodies, while the reverb soaked ballad 'Tea Sets' comes across like Beck with a killer hangover.
Initially released as a pay-what-you-want download, the songs quickly expanded to a wide and appreciative audience, much farther than their humble bedroom beginnings. The EP picked up strong alternative radio play throughout New Zealand and presented the opportunity to tour nationally, even before a live band had even taken shape. After only three weeks in the charts, “All Night Long” was cemented in the top 50 songs of 2011 for RadioActive NZ. Songs were featured on the website of well-known Australian magazine Frankie and also began surfacing on various international music blogs.
“I don’t often stray from my (self-enforced) Australian-only review policy, but New Zealand’s Tom Lark is worth a policy review… One of the best New Zealand releases I’ve heard in some time.” – Indie Shuffle AU
Garnering strong live reviews and industry buzz throughout Australasia, Tom Lark journeyed to America for a number of LA showcases and a key performance at New York’s CMJ music festival.
A warm reception from US music critics generated support on American college radio and saw singles All Night Long and Give You All My Lovin’ featured on the international WE ARE HUNTED discovery charts. Rage ABC selected the All Night Long video as Indie Video of the week and iTunes featured Tom Lark as their “Breakthrough Artist of 2012”.
Growing from simple bedroom beginnings, to international appreciation, 2013 is set to be a huge year for Tom Lark and the release of his debut album.
Links
