After establishing his sound with his stunning initial offerings 'King Of The Crossroads' and 'Breaker Boy' last year, Rhode Island-based artist and producer Peter Dorrien Traisci aka Green Arthur is back once again to deliver his sweeping new single 'Pine Needles'.
Capturing more of that warm and effervescent aesthetic he is quickly building for himself, 'Pines Needles' makes for a wonderfully rich and immersive listen. With his sprawling ethereal voice layered across an atmospheric production from start to finish, he is cementing himself as one of the more enchanting names on the rise right now.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
I picked out tunes on my family’s piano when I was young, but my first real instrument was the guitar. My dad bought me my first acoustic guitar when I was 15. I fell in love immediately. I couldn’t learn songs fast enough. All I wanted to do was listen to records and learn the songs. I was hooked.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I was a teenager in the mid-90s, so grunge was all the rage during that era. I definitely listened to my fair share of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, but our house was filled with the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Carly Simon. There was a real disconnect between the music that I was into and the music of my parents, but somehow it all worked.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first actual record that I bought was ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ by Rick Astley. It’s sort of funny to think about that now given the fact that this song has become such a modern day cultural sensation. At the time I thought it was the most amazing song that had ever been written. I also remember owning cassette tapes from a variety of artists. Everything from that Europe record to Guns N’ Roses to Young MC.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
It sounds kind of silly, but I am sort of in awe of the song ‘Comfortably Numb’. You can strip away all of the production and at the core it’s just a really great song. I’m also quite in awe of Paul Simon’s writing. I really love that song ‘Late In The Evening’ from One Trick Pony. He is able to reference very specific musical influences but also make it his own. That song evokes such a specific emotion, which is a quality that I admire in songwriters.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I really need time and space in order to write music. My days are busy and I find it difficult to write without setting aside time specifically for writing and recording. I don’t really have any rituals but I do find that keeping myself open to inspiration is super important. It can be easy to talk yourself out of ideas or convince yourself that you’ll never write anything good. It’s all a matter of putting yourself in the position and allowing the ideas to come. When I try to force something, it never works.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I am really obsessed with the Canadian band Alvvays. Their guitar tones and production are really amazing and Molly Rankin’s lyrics are super nostalgic and smart. She knows how to inject just the right amount of humor into her songs which I appreciate. I’m also a really big fan of Gorillaz latest record. I have a massive man crush on Damon Albarn. I could listen to him singing tax code and be perfectly content. His creative journey is really inspiring to me.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
I think I would have to say Blur. Their music was super influential to me when I was younger. A lot of my guitar voicings and tones are directly influenced by Graham Coxon. Opening a show for them would be a true dream come true.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
More than any other aspect, I find that creating songs and bringing ideas to fruition is incredibly rewarding. The idea of making something that wasn’t there a few minutes ago is endlessly intriguing to me. I love performing as well, but it’s that act of creation that keeps me coming back for more.
And what is the most frustrating part?
The most frustrating and challenging part for me is promoting myself. I love making music and playing music, but promoting and social media, and all of that stuff doesn’t come naturally for me.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
This isn’t exactly a piece of advice, but I really admire the career of my good friend and collaborator, Isaac Alexander. He is an amazing songwriter and makes great music, but doesn’t take himself too seriously. I think there’s a fine balance between making good work and being proud of it but also realizing that at the end of the day, they’re just songs. It should be playful and not overly earnest.
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Green Arthur's new single 'Pine Needles' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.