Warm Feeling

By Marley

In between Innibos and the By Die Maan 2012 I’ve managed to get an interview with one of the coolest guys I know. He recently relocated from Nelsparta down to the Mother City and can jam a mean guitar solo.

I met Dylan Bolton officially at Blue Moon a few years ago but I remember clearly how his band use to band practise next door to our house way back when. I also remember a few wild parties at Blue Moon with the band we know as No One’s Arc. And if you have been following the blog you will know that this is my favourite South African band if not the world.

They have come a long way, had shared the stage with guys like Seether, The Kongos, Ali Campbell (of UB40), aKING, Fokofpolisiekar, Jack Parow, Die Tuindwergies, Tidal Waves, Karen Zoid, The Black Cat Bones and many more. Played at festivals like Up The Creek, RAKA, Avontoer, Innibos, By Die Maan and Picnic in the Garden series.

Dylan aka Deez Nuts (don’t ask) is well known for his drumming and guitar skills and let me not get into his song writing which is just freaking awesome. Friendly fellow who enjoys his coffee as much as I do and you can be certain to have good time with him no matter where. One of my favourite Up The Creek 2012 moments came from Deez and I’m greatly honoured to share with you all our little virtual chat. We would have preferred it over an ice cold vodka and coke for him and a glass of red for me but these days you just have to imagine it while sitting behind your PC screen.

I know the band was formed when more or less when you guys were still in school (you, Lee, Goose and Robby) did you guys just decided “Hey let’s start a band!” or was a process over time?

Dylan Bolton (DB): It actually started with Robby pitching up at my place with his drum kit... at the time I was a drummer for a metal band. So we set up both drum kits and proceeded to make a shit load of noise. This obviously didn’t work and seeing as though I was the only one between us that could play the guitar, I sacrificed the drum kit for the guitar and “presto” a band in the making. 

That’s one way to put it but it’s the first time I hear of you jamming in a metal band! The unsolved mystery that I can’t seem to crack is where does the name ‘No One’s Arc’ come from? I honestly don’t know or seem to remember… (Or looking in the right places)

DB: ...from the start of the band I have made it clear that there is no real front man. We are about the music and not an individual: like a country without a president or a ship without a captain... or an Ark without Noah... therefore NO ONE’S ARC (Spelling “Arc” was just to be different)

Robby and Dylan at Stilbaai, Avontoer 2011 - photo courtesy of AJ van Niekerk

The band started over 10 years ago. I remember you use to drum for 10c Short and in between the lead vocalist/guitarist for No One’s Arc. Both bands entered the same battle of the bands and 10c Short won that time – how did you manage to keep your head together during that time?

DB: Wow that was a long time ago. It was very hectic back then – I was also playing lead guitar for the Dave Michaels band at the time. 10c Short was an amazing experience and I loved being the drummer and not having much responsibility. Being the lead vocalist is way more stressful but also a shit load more rewarding to me.  To answer your question, NOA and 10c Short were all close friends and supported each other like brothers. I was doing what I loved and that made it all easy. 

Yea I know you guys are still supportive of each other which are awesome, no boundaries. What inspired you to play lead guitar instead of drums?

DB: I started playing both instruments pretty much at the same time – so the love was evenly spread, I still miss being behind the kit.  Guitar it a lot more expressive though and I love making the strings scream

I got the mental picture in my mind of you playing U.F.O with that answer. You have travelled the country full, all those hours spent on the road between our hometown and the Cape. Is there any specific place you love to stop at for a quick hacky game or smoke break?

DB: There’s a mountain range between the Kalahari Desert and Oudtshoorn... freaken beautiful spot. But anywhere is good for a quick game of hacky sack. 

I think it’s the Swartberg Pass, indeed a beautiful spot. Drove through it on our way to UTC2011 and yes hacky can be played where ever. Out of all the festivals that you have played (and it’s been a few) do you have a favourite?

DB: There are a few favourites: STRAB, Splashy Fen, Synergy, RAKA... but my #1 has to be Up The Creek.

I was at two Up The Creek’s with you, some of my best memories comes from there. I love that vibe, it’s so chilled out with a Titanic in hand, hanging out with a lilo (or the lost Moon Arc) on the river, getting no sleep and of course the best damn music in the country. Do you have something that stands out from UTC that separates it from the rest?

DB: I think it’s the people that make the festival, not just the venue. UTC is in the middle of nowhere so you know that the people that have travelled all the way to the fest are true music fans. The venue is odd but still seems to work perfectly, the vibe of UTC is amazing and intermit.  

2010 was a big year for the band, you played at the FIFA World Cup FanPark opening, and the album was launch along with the video “Fire” (which did amazingly on MK). Do you think that was the break through NOA needed at the time? I do because suddenly everyone had your name on their lips; people were asking when the next show will be etc.

DB: I think that was a very small piece of a massive puzzle but a very substantial piece.  

In 2011 the biggest thing to happen to a Nelsparta band that has never happened before, you guys were invited to play on Live (5) on one of SA biggest radio stations, 5FM, how was that experience for you?

DB: It was crazy, live national radio is a scary thing but once we started jamming all the nerves disappeared. The fact that we are the first NST band to do this is an honour because there is a shit load of amazing talent in NST. All they have to do is stick to their guns... and GET the locals to support!!

No One's Arc at 5FM studios

AMEN! I’m all on about how the lack of local support is causing Nelsparta (and the surrounding areas) loosing either great venues or great talent. I was in that 5FM studios with you and you all did great!  And playing at the Mbombela Stadium for the Ali Campbell concert on 16 December 2011, that was some craze party! But the biggest came with 5 000 people at Kristenbosch Gardens on New Year’s – what is your memory of that gig?

DB: That was a mind FUCK! At one point of our set they switched the lights off to reveal a sea of 5’000 glow in the dark wrist bands waving to the beat... it literally took my breath away. 

Goose bumps! Last year the band second video “UFO” was released, what an excellent video! Catch That Rabbit took the energy that you guys have and moulded it into that video. Obviously you are not a big follower of UFO’s and aliens but where did that song come from? What was the inspiration behind it?

DB: I wrote the song years ago after one of those deep, intoxicated discussions with a friend about conspiracies / illuminate. I believe that we all believe in too many things... if that makes any sense. 

Backstage at Langebaan on Avontoer 2011 - photo courtesy of Milla Koskela

  

For me it does... Now you have moved to Cape Town in March and two of the boys have joined you now over the course of June/July, how has it been so far? A lot different to Nelsparta and probably a lot more gig opportunity for NOA, will you re-join the seerowers this year for Avontoer?

DB: The Cape is beautiful and filled with amazing, creative people but so cool as it is and my heart will always be in NST. I don’t think they have even started booking the bands for Avontoer yet but we will definitely be bribing the DBK team over a few glasses of wine. 

I’m sure the DPK guys won’t mind some wine at all. I have to ask, what does Blue Moon mean to you as Dylan?

DB: Blue Moon is the only thing that is keeping Nelspruit on the map when it comes to National live acts. We still get bands across the country asking us to help get them a gig at Blue Moon. Locals just need to learn to go out and enjoy the live music! Blue Moon was where it all started for NOA and I don’t think we’d still be around if we didn’t have this venue in our back yard.  

Bands and other performing artists even managers asks me on regular bases as well and yet it comes down to locals who needs to support local venues. Is there a venue you always dream about playing at?

DB: I don’t day dream about playing at a specific venue... I dream of playing to a crowd that sings so loud to my songs that I can only stand back and point the mic at them.

Ah man AWE! I can see that happening very soon in the future. If you could buy any guitar, which one would you buy?

DB: I wouldn't buy another guitar... that would be like cheating on my Fender Telecaster Deluxe. 

Muso’s always needs some kind of endorsement or sponsorship, what do you need the most as a musician? (Besides an endless tab at the bar and bottomless case of guitar strings)

DB: A bus with a built in bar and that endless tab you mentioned. 

Hehehe I volunteer as the bar tender! Obviously you guys will properly want to travel aboard with your music, which countries would you like to tour through and why?

DB: UK – some of the best music has come from there, I’d like to experience the scene. The States – just because.

When you sit down and write songs do you like create the music and lyrics then play it to the rest of the band or do they all have some involvement with the song writing?

DB: Song writing is weird, it changes all the time. Sometimes we come up with the basic tune together 

and I go home and fill in all the blanks. Other times I'll bring the song to them and they give me their interpretations. It is never a one side creation, everyone has a say in how the song turns out.

Have to ask this as this it’s a fan question (from Sunè Halderman) – Do you have a favourite NOA song?

DB: I don’t really have a favourite but if I must choose it would be between “UFO” from the older material and “Warm feeling” from the newer stuff.

I love “Warm feeling” no matter where I am and I hear that song I think of the roads leading back to Nelsparta and as the song picks up it’s like you almost in Nellies and picking up speed towards town. Of course I have to ask you do you have a favourite local and/or national band/artist you enjoy watching.

DB: Shit this is a tough one! Mike Stry Trio, My Aching Monotone, Gibraltar...  Jeremy Loops, Tidal Waves, Black Cat Bones, aKing, Mr. Cat and the Jackal, Dan Patlansky... there are hundreds of great bands in SA – I don’t have a favourite but these are a few that rank high on my list of musicians.   

   

Some great answers from a great guy and friend, if you are in the Cape Town area make sure you like the No One's Arc page on Facebook and to see where you can catch them live next. Get your fingers tapping to a free download of “UFO” on their Facebook page, a huge thank you again to Deez for the making the time for the blog.

Till later Spartans!