Formed in Bakersfield, CA, in 2016 after a charity concert Art and the Resistance brought together unlikely local musicians to play songs written by Art himself. Over time, multiple musical styles made their way into the band's revolutionary sound, and the term poly rock was first coined.
Appealing to an audience that familiarizes themselves with the sounds of rock, pop, Latin, funk, symphonic, and prog, Art and the Resistance continues to garner attention from a fan base across the globe. Tapping into the undeniable zest of their latest single and music video release, Art and the Resistance provides us with the enticing and distressed sounds of “Serenity.”
We’re sinuously eased into the resonated bellows that collide with colossal instrumentation through the minimalistic commencement of chugging guitar riffs provided by Art Machuca and black and white footage honing in on close-ups of Art Machuca playing into the graceful approach that accompanies the musical complexity that is about to infiltrate our speakers.
Introducing the groove-filled bass component delivered by Gilbert Machuca and the enigmatic piano chords performed by John Calanchini, we hear the tempo resting perfectly in the mix as colorful hues release a full-blown performance from each member of Art and the Resistance showcasing their dynamism.
To say the performance in the filmic component is fueled by energy is an understatement. There are so many layers to depth uncovered in “Serenity,” however the thunderous percussion thanks to Jeremy Bridgdam sweeps us into full throttle. Just when we think the visuals couldn’t be any more prominent in our mind, the abstract artistry that is provided by a femme figure in a black bodysuit in the outdoor landscape introduces a foreboding essence of ambiguity.
As the sonic and visual spirits coincide as they unleash an inner beast, the intensity picks up and we’re fixated on the vocal layers accompanying the boisterous roars of Art Machuca. Letting loose and breaking free in all aspects, the “Serenity,” that is achieved shows that it comes from within, and we’re the only cure to save ourselves.
Welcome to BuzzMusic, Art, and the Resistance, and congratulations on the release of “Serenity.” We love how the sonic and visual components fit seamlessly within one another. Could you please take us into the inspiration behind the song's meaning?
Hi! Thank you for having us here as well as for the kind words. This video is still fresh in our minds and we’re happy for all the positive feedback we’ve been getting. Art (our singer) was fresh out of a breakup when he began writing this song and, without getting too in-depth (we like to let the listener draw their own conclusion) this song is about letting go, especially of things that are poisonous and tempting. There are subtle hints about that scattered through the music video on YouTube, so give it a watch!
How did the vision for the “Serenity” music video come to life? With the energy being portrayed in such a major way, what were the vibes like on set?
We’ve been actively working to build a team of strong creative people to support and inspire us. Two of those people, Dstructive and Petey J. Agalos are visual artists whose ideas and technical abilities helped to bring our initial ideas about the music video into being.
Filming music videos, especially this one, is incredibly fun! Everyone in the band brings high energy and positivity to the shoot and when we’re not working, we’re barbecuing, playing pranks, making jokes, and having an overall great time. Positive vibes all the way.
Are you able to share a glimpse of what the creative process looked when fashioning “Serenity?” What was it like working with all parties to give this track its desired sound?
The time that we recorded "Serenity" was an interesting one; it could be described as a time of transition. Not only because of the breakup mentioned earlier, but we had just started working with our then-new guitarist Spencer, who was finding his voice within the band. You can hear this transitional quality when you compare Serenity to our previous works, it has a much deeper and more emotionally raw quality to it.
How does it feel to have this piece of work out into the world? What is the significance that it holds to you as individuals and a band?
It’s always exciting to release a song out into the wild and watch what happens with it. We have high hopes that it will exceed the performance of our previous music video for Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game”, but no matter how the world appreciates it, it holds a value to us as a band as a point in time that marks a new direction for our songwriting and creative evolution.
What's next for you?
We have another new music video coming out in June, and we’ve recorded three new singles which will be released throughout the spring and summer. Until things open back up, we will be in songwriting/recording/music video mode, and then when the day comes you can see us back on stage! We’re really hoping that happens sooner rather than later, we miss seeing everyone!