Unquestionably, the aesthetics of the 2000s are making a comeback. Low-rise jeans are back, and pop music with Timbaland and Darkchild influences is gradually making a resurgence. However, the 2000s encompassed more than simply Britney, and few bands place as much emphasis on the era’s complexity as South Arcade.
Style
Pop punk, nu metal, and other 2000s music were major influences on South Arcade. Y2K core is how they characterize their style. Pop vocalists like Gwen Stefani and Britney Spears, as well as Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, and Avril Lavigne, were their primary influences. Ollie Green, the bassist, went on to say that there was a lot of crossover between rock and pop music in the early 2000s and that there would be a lot of interesting and strange things to discover at this time. The band’s four members each have distinct influences that were prominent in the 2000s, according to singer Harmony Cavell. According to Andy Price of the online journal Music Radar, South Arcade blends pop punk bliss with nu metal guitars. The online journal Distorted Sound’s Jack Reedsdale called South Arcade’s music «arrogant» pop-punk and likened the melodies to those of the band Pale Waves. The online publication Screen Rant’s Alicia Davie called South Arcade’s music «retrofuturistic synthwave.»
Fans of the new hybrid style of music
The band soon discovered they were not the only ones looking for this «strange» new mixture. Due in large part to Cavell’s timeless vocal appeal and the nostalgic yet exotic beauty of the orchestration, South Arcade soon gathered a swarm of devoted fans online. The dynamic sound of their 2005 debut mini-album, intriguing practice videos, and exciting live performances, however, swiftly elevated them to a new level.
Now, with new music, a UK tour, support slots for Bilmuri, and several festival appearances, 2025 symbolizes the beginning of a new chapter for South Arcade https://znaki.fm/teams/south-arcade/.
Although the 2000s are your main inspiration, it’s clear that you refuse to limit your sound to a specific genre. Is that what you were looking for when you formed the band?
Harmony Kavell: «It’s an important factor for us because you can combine so many different elements. We like to draw inspiration from anywhere in the 2000s and mix them together. This leads to something new, and it means that each song has its own world.»
Did this combination of nostalgia and novelty lead to anything?
Cavell: «I can definitely feel it. We don’t purposefully blur the lines, but it’s interesting since it creates a pendulum-like effect. We wanted to recreate that authentic, vintage sound, even if some of these 14-year-olds are only now becoming aware of the band! They have never had the opportunity to hear it or see it firsthand.
Green: «However, the pendulum has two sides. People tell us that we reminded them that they used to attend these amazing bands’ shows. It’s hilarious because we’re in this weird middle ground and don’t fit in either camp.»
Cavell: «We have such a wide range of fans because of this place. The fact that we’re so well greeted in every camp and that it’s not just us who enjoys it is awesome! However, not taking ourselves too seriously is part of the charm. Our goal is to bring this enjoyable area back to life.
