Arrows Made of Desire
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History
The son of a Dutch food-supplier father and a Chinese writer mother, Joewi (pronounced "Joo-ee" for those English speakers) began writing songs on piano and guitar at the ripe old age of 15 while growing up in the small Dutch town of Zeeland. Upon graduating high school he packed up and caught the first flight to Beijing, China to study Mandarin and film directing at the Beijing Film Academy. In his free time he manages to record infectiously peculiar lo-fi indie-pop.
"Before I got into rock music I was a frequent listener of Dutch 'Gabba' music, also called Hardcore, basically really aggressive electronic bass/drum music," says Joewi. "The moment that music really started to mean something to me was when I discovered the world of rock music. Nirvana was my gate to this world. They were the band that made me pick up a guitar and start a band, like so many others. A lot of my current musical influences are from the older days. I especially like folk blues: an acoustic guitar, a harmonica, and tapping feet for rhythm. Then there is jazz, which I think is really exciting to listen to, it's like a new world I'm still exploring. On the other hand I'm also listening to modern music. I like a lot of post punk bands and also a lot of noise rock like Sonic Youth and Polvo." - Joewi
Taken from Tag Team Records Website:
You have a lifetime to create your first album, then the real work begins. If you are as fortunate as Beijing based musician, Joewi Verhoeven, the mastermind behind lo-fi indie rock mavericks Arrows Made of Desire, and your debut full length does snag a substantial devoted fanbase then the pressure to produce a worthy follow up can be significant to say the least. It's called "the Sophomore Slump". Out are the days of lackadaisically noodling around on guitars with an infinite amount of time to write your well crafted songs, and in is the hectic breakneck touring schedule, press junkets, the thunderous ticking of the studio clock, and most of all: raised expectations. The pressure is enough to break the creative backs of most worthy artists. Deliver the mirror image of your debut and you're pegged as a one trick pony. Stray too far into sounds unknown then you've lost the plot and your fanbase. The trick to the success of a make-or-break sophomore album (and they all are) is progression, not only in the right direction, but in the correct amount. This is something Joewi Verhoeven has proven to understand all too well.
Enter the antithesis of the sophomore slump, Songs That Sell Out, the sequel to Arrows Made of Desire's lo-fi predecessor, Songs That Sell Fish. Upon contrasting the two there is no doubt Joewi's signature sonic stamp remains intact on his latest batch of material: rollercoaster song structures, dangerously addictive hooks, and a cornucopia of lyrical wit litter Songs That Sell Out yet the progression of quality, not only in technique and recording but in songcraft, is undeniable. But before we dig into the present, we must first revisit the past.
2007
On May 12th, they performed at the 2 Kolegas.
2009
On May 29th 2009, AMOD's second record Songs That Sell Out is released by Tag Team Records.
2010
On March 26th, 2010, they performed in the Mao Live as support act to Shanghai band The Mushrooms. According to Alex of Beijing Gig Guide: There’s just something about the music that’s different from a Chinese group, and I could theorize about how the legacy of rock music somehow gets implanted in the Western psyche from childhood, but this isn’t a blog about psychology. All I know is that there’s something different about bands with foreigners in them, and Arrows Made of Desire is an example of that. The vocalist seemed to be channeling a bit of Pearl Jam in his appearance, but the music was one of everything — there were songs with traces of blues and jazz, and every song was a different type of rock. I didn’t catch their whole set, but I’d definitely check them out again.[1]
Appearances in Press/Books
- Mentioned as one of "Beijing's hottest bands" in the Insider's Guide to Beijing 2008.
Discography
Albums
Songs That Sell Out - 2009, May 29
Songs That Sell Fish - 2006, June
Appearances in Podcasts
Pissing On The Bamboo Curtain - 2008, January
Further Information
Official pages
Articles & Interviews
Videos
- Depenency! MV (directed by Gamal Istiyanto)
References
- ↑ Beijing Gig Guide (2010-03-27). "Gig Review: Mushroom @ Mao Live, 2010.03.26". Retrieved on 2010-03-30.
