MARTIAL ARTS: Building a platform for positive change

MANCHESTER’s rising stars MARTIAL ARTS are back with second single, ‘Defector,’ (via Akoustik Anarkhy) the five-piece’s restless commitment to ‘playing the studio like the stage’ scorching through to new layers of incessant, experimental new-wave/post-punk, nearly-pop.

“The song is about the introspective struggle, helplessness and feelings of responsibility towards the disparity that our generation is faced with,” explains singer and co-songwriter, James Marson. “Knowing that you have the potential to benefit others, but not knowing how to, and this creates frustration due to deception in the society we exist in.
 
“We’re trying to build ourselves a platform to be heard with an emphasis on positive change instead of self-indulgence, despite the world itself feeling selfish. This encapsulates the motive behind not only the track itself, but also us as a collective.”

In the process of toying with tunings and reading about early-20th Century Chinese military general, Shi Yousan – nicknamed ‘Defector General’, Martial Arts hit an effective mid-point between Defector’s looping guitar hook, and long-trusted forms of expansive, shoegaze-mirroring song construction.

Joining Marson in the band, are Matty (guitar/vocals), Browny (guitar), Jude (bass), and Tom (drums).

Defector was produced by Seanda McPhail (Airtight Studios) and mixed by former Spring King leader, Tarek Musa.

Catch MARTIAL ARTS on one of two mutually arranged, co-headline gigs with friends and peers, Nice Swan-signees, splint, before their overseas debut in Paris next month.
 
LIVE:
May 24         Halifax, Grayston Unity (w/splint)
May 25         Manchester, Akoustik Anarkhy at The White Hotel (w/splint)
Jun 27 Paris, Supersonic (w/They’re Gonna Be Big)
 
CONNECT: https://www.instagram.com/martialartsband