ARCTIC

ARCTIC began as a solo expedition from the North, but has expanded into a cross-Canadian adventure.

The project emerged from frontman Marcus Martin's desire to never, ever be in another band again. After a childhood spent on the land in the isolated Northwest Territories of Canada, the guitarist travelled to the metropolis of Toronto and became involved in projects ranging from jazz to metal to rap. After dealing with the roller-coaster frustrations of band politics, he went solo, and headed west to write his own music. He began performing using a looping device that would allow him to record, modify, loop and layer his acoustic guitar performance into a haunting moodiness evocative of a cold Northern landscape. With a rich, unique sound of his own that was already gaining an audience, he had no need for backing musicians.

But strong music always attracts interest, and as time went on, others expressed a desire to join the project. Following two solo cross-Canada tours as ARCTIC, Martin was invited to open for a CD release party. On a whim, he put a trio together for the show. The full band version of ARCTIC was instantly picked up by a local promoter. Despite his initial wariness, Martin found that adding band members added new dimensions and possibilities to his music - and by working with colleagues who were equally inspired by his music and vision, the band's spirit became collaborative instead of confrontational.

The new members brought their influences from the furthest edges of the country. Kirsten Starcher, an east-coaster from St. John's, Newfoundland, became the band's bassist, keyboardist, and backing singer. On drums, Rob Sheldrick from St. Catharines, Ontario represents Canada's southern border. Combined with Martin's Northern roots and based in the west coast city of Vancouver, British Columbia, ARCTIC touches every point on the Canadian compass.

Always seeking contrast, ARCTIC is still sometimes a solo project, sometimes a full band, never exactly the same from one show to the next. In either form it combines diverse influences in unexpected ways: progressive rock, jazz, industrial rock merge with ambient textures and acoustic singer/songwriter melodies to create something fresh, unconventional and intriguing.