So I went about looking for their music online, found some songs on MySpace and on YouTube and thanked technology!
I love these girls already. Their sound is like a cross between Alanis Morisette and The Corrs. There is that melancholy refrain in the vocals mixed with a sassy, will-take-over-the-world attitude and large servings of happy-go-lucky fun-seeking that does not take away from the seriousness of their music.
In 2006 Pam de Menezes and Christie Desfontaine came together and formed The Arrows. Their debut single Next Time, became a favourite on the playlists of radio stations across the breadth of South Africa and immediately set them up for some much sought after follow through.
They did not disappoint and started working on an EP. A turning point for the duo came when they got the opportunity to record with the renowned American producer Tim Heintz (Shakatak, Aretha Franklin) while working on their EP released in 2007. “That was the day we started taking what we did seriously,” Christie said. “Up until that point we had no gauge, besides our friends and families, as to whether what we did was worthy of more attention.”
Since then they have received an endorsement from Universal Music, released their first album, titled Make Believe, toured South Africa extensively and performed in Australia, the United Kingdom, the USA and other parts of the world, growing their fan base tremendously. This weekend they will definitely add a few Zimbabwean names to that expanding list of admirers.
Both girls recently got married but this has not slowed them down. A new album is in the works and this September they head to New York to record it.
“We’re not playing by the supposed rules of pop or jazz or even rock for that matter,” Pam has been quoted as saying. “We’re undefined by our band members, or lack thereof, because we are partnered to a sound that is constantly evolving rather than aligned to other musicians.”
The two say they enjoy working as a duo as they challenge each other but there is no leader. An often repeated quote from them is, “none of us wears the pants because we both wear skirts.”
Well, I’m definitely bringing out my favourite skirt (or pants depending on the weather) this Saturday and I will be there to hear Lonely Soldiers, Entropy, In the Words of Satan and Make Believe, songs that I only started listening to this week but already love, live from a front row seat at the 7Arts.
