Didya think Arlie would end up in the Dale?
Arlie, an alternative indie-pop band based in Nashville, Tennessee, was founded in 2015. The touring group includes singer Nathaniel Banks, Michael Salabrino on guitar, Luke Saison on bass, and Aaron Umberger on drums.
Their first full-length debut album, “Break The Curse,” will be released on June 3, which will include new merch and vinyl records. But before that, on April 23, Arlie will perform at Centralhallapalooza.
Arlie began as the solo effort of singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Banks, who started recording songs in his dorm room on the campus of Nashville’s Vanderbilt University.
“Arlie really began in 2015 as my bedroom project,” Banks said. “I wrote and produced the songs that became the ‘Wait’ EP over the course of three years and started putting them out as Arlie in 2017, around the same time I put a live band together.”
But what started as a college hobby quickly turned into a campus band, and now a famous band touring across the U.S. with more than 800,000 streams on Spotify.
In a typical meeting of friends through friends, Banks formed the band after he was introduced to Adam Lochemes and George Miller—the three of them were recruited by Sam Boyette to work on a soundtrack for his short film, “Arlie.”
“I loved the name instantly,” Banks said. “I showed my 10 demos to Adam and George, who both happened to be looking to join a band and play shows, right around the time I needed to put a live show together for the homecoming battle of the bands.”
After officially taking up the name Arlie, they began to actually make a name for themselves on Vanderbilt’s campus, beginning with their debut single, “Big Fat Mouth,” which Banks said is his favorite song.
“I spent nine months evolving, tweaking, and dialing the production, composition, arrangement, mix, and tones,” Banks said. “I fell in love with every part of that track.”
Since then, Arlie has shifted around with different band members coming in and out of the group.
“Adam from the original lineup is still a close friend and frequent collaborator,” Banks said. “He’s not on tour with us this time because he’s more focused on producing than performing these days.”
Arlie released “Crashing Down” in 2021 and “Sickk” just weeks ago. Their music blends alternative sounds with the funk, pop, and indie genres, though Banks said he wouldn’t put Arlie in a strictly indie-rock or indie-pop category.
“I’m influenced by a lot of artfully minded pop-alternative artists like Vampire Weekend, Tame Impala, Porches, Blood Orange, all of whom bring a lot of intention and context and refined taste to everything they make,” Banks said.
Along with these alternative artists, Banks said he’s also influenced by music from the ’60s, including The Beatles, The Kinks, The Who, The Zombies, T-Rex, and The Beach Boys.
This April, Arlie will be on tour in Missouri, Utah, California, and Arizona. But right after their first show, Arlie is making a pitstop in Hillsdale.
“I’m very excited,” said Zane Mabry, director of student activities, who has helped plan CHP and worked to bring Arlie to campus. “A lot of their songs I’ve listened to are genuinely good. It’s easy to say that and pretend, but theirs are actually good. I’m excited for that because I love music in general.”
Many students have also expressed their excitement for CHP and Arlie.
“I really enjoy their music just because of the down to earth quality of their writing,” freshman Gavin Listro said. “I think it’s gonna be really cool to see how they connect with the crowd. Their whole persona as a band just seems like a group of guys having a good time and making music, which I really love. I think people can identify with and get behind as fans.”
Banks said he’s excited to come out to campus, and hopes to serve the world through his creative, artistic ventures.
“I want to make the world a better place by developing my musical and creative gifts to my fullest potential, and be an uplifting force in my community,” Banks said. “I would love to tour the world and play arenas at some point. But more than that I want to be able to make music for the rest of my life, and spend my time how I want, creating what inspires me, and hopefully inspire others in the process.”