Bronx-based quintet MY ARCADIA, led by the soaring vocals of JACQUI SANDELL, have been blazing a trail for the past three years with smart, thoughtful arty alt-rock that deftly navigates the intersection of introspection and exposition.
Unleashing melodies that simmer over majestic dynamics, the band recently released an Ep entitled STAY that straddles the space-time continuum of existentialism and mystical magnificence.
And it's only an apéritif of transcendence as the main concourse will soon transpire.
With a gorgeous breathtaking vocal style similar to her gal pals Sierra Kusterbeck from VersaEmerge and Juliet Simms (of The Voice), Ms Sandell sings her heart out to the heavens each and every time.
In between rehearsals for an upcoming free show at St. Theresa School in The Bronx (on July 26), Warped Tour hangs and exuberant celebrations for her 24th birthday a few days ago, Jacqui graciously took time to indulge in a sumptuous crock pot of mack and cheese.
1. You just released a bloody fantastic 5-song Ep called Stay, produced by Craig Owens (Chiodos/D.R.U.G.S). The songs are a musical tour-du-force and your singing is impeccably cinematic. “Human” is one of my favorite tracks...that’s going to be a fun one to jam on live! What comes first, music, melody or lyrics and what was the inspiration for “Human”?
JS - Thank you for your support, but actually Craig Owens didn’t produce this record the producers name was Dave Andronico from the Bronx where we live. It was great recording with him cause he knows us all so well which made the whole experience more intimate and personal. However, Craig was around during the recording of the album managing us and putting his input onto the production of the album, specifically working with Mike (Costello) and Alex (Cahill) on guitars.
JS - "With regards to the songwriting process, absolutely music comes first. Mike always likes to bring something new and the band quickly feeds off that and a natural organic songwriting process begins. We don’t over think structure and we don’t think about the final product, we take the song and let it flow. The band jams until we feel it’s right even until crazy hours of the morning. While this is going on I don’t speak, I close my eyes, and I listen and just try to feel the music while creating tons of melodies in my head. Once we are closer to a finished musical product I create the lyrics."
JS - "As for the inspiration for “Human,” it is the closest song to my heart because this record in many ways is a break-up record. Every song on the EP is a different part of the ongoing emotional layers of my most recent breakup. “Human,” in particular, is dedicated to this band, the fans, and anyone who has seen us perform. “And the sun will rise, on the floor I see, everyone I need to survive.” It’s a tribute song that sums up the idea, which is no matter what I’m going through; the one thing that always makes any pain go away is to perform and to see all those fans."
2. Another one of my faves on Stay is the epic “Sail On”. Such powerful lyrics! There’s a live acoustic version of it on You Tube (c/o CommonRevolt) that is searing as well! When you hit the soaring chorus against the sparseness of a single acoustic guitar, it’s truly majestic...it makes my minds eye sail into the great big blue. Online, there’s also a gorgeous acoustic version of “Lulea (City By the Sea)” from your last Ep. Any plans to cull some past acoustic renditions with stripped down versions of some of the new songs and release a companion acoustic Ep (btw, I did come across the artwork for a My Arcadia Acoustic Ep from 2010 but just saw Lulea associated with it and didn’t see any further info)?
JS - Out of the 12-15 songs that we originally wrote for this EP, “Sail On” was the first official song chosen to be recorded. I remember the moment Mike and I finished the chorus and we just looked at each other with the most relieved, yet proud, smiles on our faces. Out of all the emotions I had gone through writing the lyrics with Mike for this record, I really wanted to convey them in the most unusual way.
I wanted our listeners to be able to easily relate to the record and still have them place their minds outside their internal box. We love that people connected with the acoustic version we did on the spot with CommonRevolt.
One of our favorite things to do as a band is just strip down the songs that we’ve released, even though it’s the same song, we’ve noticed it gives our fans a completely different feeling when they hear it and the feedback from those fans has had an incredible impact on how we write.
JS - "Unfortunately, the entirety of our first record becoming acoustic was an unfinished product. After almost 2 years of promoting our debut EP City by the Sea, we felt such a hunger to continue writing for the next release and just couldn’t wait to get going. With that said, having “Lulea” be our most popular track at the time, we felt it would be the most appropriate choice as an acoustic release. As of right now, we are very happy to announce that at the end of July we will be working closely with our dear friend Jesse Deflorio to film a whole new set of acoustic sessions from Stay, alongside multiple covers that we have always wanted to perform. Apart from the acoustic sessions, we’ll be getting very personal with our fans and showing them a little more about ourselves i.e., what we love to do apart from the band and what inspires our daily lives to become My Arcadia."
3. The artwork for Stay has a Salvador Dalí ‘Persistence of Memory’ impressionistic feel to it. Were you involved with the concept? What does the artwork signify to you?
JS - That is exactly how we wanted our listeners to feel when they saw the cover. The artwork I have to say is closely connected to our title song “Stay,” which has the most relation to how we feel when we dream. It relates to where our minds go and how possibilities are just endless, how something so unreal can change everything about you. For me it’s just where I go to reconnect with songs I’m writing.
4. Simultaneously, you’re also working on a 14-song full-length album to be released this fall. Will any of the songs on the Stay Ep or “My Pioneer” or “September” be on the full-length? Will you be self-releasing the album or via a label/distribution partner?
JS - These past few months we have been working on a full length and it has certainly had its rewarding moments as well as its breaking points. We honestly wrote the record in a very short amount of time because, at that moment, things for the band had changed quite drastically with the interest we gained from Craig (Owens), he really wanted us to get in the studio and start working as soon as possible."
JS - "We recorded this record in Michigan with Matt Dalton, who is an incredible producer and my favorite person to get goofy with. I worked very closely with him and Craig on vocals, even until 1am we were still writing. It was a lot of stress but this record is going to come out exactly the way we envisioned it."
We really aren’t sure when we want to release our full length because we’ve been trying to focus all of our energy into Stay which we are so proud of because it took us years to complete and refine to something we’d hope our listeners would appreciate and notice the hard work we put into it. There also may or may not be a few comebacks with previous recordings that we’ve added into our full length but that would be terrible of me to give away so soon!"
JS - "Writing with My Arcadia is the only way to even come close to the way I want to feel all the time. My dreams are the most inspirational thoughts in my head because they are fully out of my control, which is why I connect my writing with the ocean as much as I do. The sea is a lost void of mystery and possibilities that can’t be controlled by man. Sometimes it gives you beauty and perfection and sometimes it gives you tragedy."
We really aren’t sure when we want to release our full length because we’ve been trying to focus all of our energy into Stay which we are so proud of because it took us years to complete and refine to something we’d hope our listeners would appreciate and notice the hard work we put into it. There also may or may not be a few comebacks with previous recordings that we’ve added into our full length but that would be terrible of me to give away so soon!"
5. Listening to My Arcadia makes me daydream of a bold new world, the likes of which are seen in the fictional worlds depicted in “Avatar” and “The Hunger Games”. What inspires you?
JS - "This is an incredible compliment thank you! I mean, for me personally, it’s so hard to explain what really inspires me because, thankfully, most of what I’m trying to portray comes out quite naturally and sometimes I don’t even know where it’s from. I can say I like to honor everything and everyone that’s passed through my life so far, from the spiritual mind-fuck dreams I have about what my perfect world might be like, to the memories of my most tragic love that I hold onto everyday."
JS - "Writing with My Arcadia is the only way to even come close to the way I want to feel all the time. My dreams are the most inspirational thoughts in my head because they are fully out of my control, which is why I connect my writing with the ocean as much as I do. The sea is a lost void of mystery and possibilities that can’t be controlled by man. Sometimes it gives you beauty and perfection and sometimes it gives you tragedy."
6. Are you familiar with a college on the outskirts of Philadelphia called Arcadia University? The campus features Grey Towers Castle, a National Historic Landmark and their mascot is a Knight formally named Sir Castor. Sounds like a perfect place to play a show or shoot a music video. The school’s student web portal is called “My Arcadia”. Are you familiar with the University?
JS - Yes I am! I remember when we first created the name for the band this college always popped up and it made me laugh and I’ve always wanted to play there just to say that we did. What most people don’t know about why we are called My Arcadia is that it is in fact connected to a utopian land in Greece. The idea of your perfect place, your perfect mind set where you feel most comfortable. I chose this name because it’s where I go when I make music…to my arcadia.
7. You’ll be doing a lot of touring this summer/fall. What are your Fave Five apparel brands and/or accessories that you can’t leave the Bronx without?
JS - Ok so I’m a girl, which means I bring about 1,000 extra unnecessary items more than the rest of my band! The top 5 brands/items that I just can’t live without on the road are my collection of vintage Harley shirts, my high-wasted pants from American Apparel because they hide your food baby…they call me Jacqui “high-wasted” Sandell, my assortment of crazy rings from my favorite store Gypsy Warrior, my suitcase of MAC cosmetics (my best friends work for the company so the hook up doesn’t help my addiction), and my dry shampoo cause a girl’s got to look clean!
8. Let’s touch on some more favorites:
Midnight snack: Veggie gyoza from Trader Joe’s
Adult beverage: Cosmopolitan (because I’m a lady)
Animal: My dog Dylan
Phone App: Instagram. I absolutely get a thrill out of examining people’s homemade lunches and nail colors. No really I do!
Brand of make up: MAC of course! The best lipstick you can own from them is “Shy Girl”
Travel Destination: Sweden, I go to Stockholm a lot and visit my family. I can’t wait to live there one day.
Singers: Oh man, this is hard. As of lately Ellie Goulding, Jesse Harris, Anthony Raneri and Birdy, but my all time favorites are Mariah Carey, Dan Layus, Anthony Green, Fiona Apple and Ben Folds.
Movie: Annie Hall by Woody Allen
Sports Team: The Rangers!!
Disney Song: Oh don’t get me started I love Disney. “A Whole New World” without a doubt, that’s my jam.
9. There’s a glut of televised singing competitions monopolizing the airwaves. There’s a new one with John Legend, Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Nettles called Duets on ABC. With that theme in mind, if you could duet with anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and what song would you want to sing?
JS - A Duet… It’s got to be with Dan Layus from Augustana singing their song “Fire”. It’s one of my favorites!
10. Staying in that arena, last summer on Warped Tour, you joined Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows to perform ‘Laminated E.T. Animal’ and MA has covered Alkaline Trio “Maybe I’ll Catch Fire” but you also have a penchant for pop music divas like Mariah Carey. With that diversity in mind, if you could front one of your favorite bands or favorite singer’s band for an encore, who would it be and what song would you sing?
JS - This is going to sound completely out of left field but if I had to join a band for an encore it just has to be Every Time I Die performing “The Marvelous Slut”. I don’t know how I’d fit into the song but I would make it work! Performing with D.R.U.G.S was one of the biggest thrills!
JS - "I’ll be honest, there is just nothing like playing the Warped Tour for the first time and just waltzing on the main stage to see a ton of screaming faces. It’s why I love what I do and I’m so grateful for every opportunity given to me and my band mates."
JS - "I’ll be honest, there is just nothing like playing the Warped Tour for the first time and just waltzing on the main stage to see a ton of screaming faces. It’s why I love what I do and I’m so grateful for every opportunity given to me and my band mates."
11. Are there any charities or organizations that you support that you like to give a shout-out to?
JS - I’ve recently been exposed to an up and coming organization called SHEDDING HOPE.
Right now, they are traveling all over the country visiting animal shelters, and are looking to bring awareness to them and help people understand why adoption and giving an animal a home is one of the most rewarding selfless acts.
I’m also excited to say that my toy fox terrier Dylan and I will be doing a photo shoot for their book coming out which I believe you will be able to purchase with a donation to the organization.
I am also a big supporter of Keep A Breast, they have come so far as an awareness organization and their message alongside the support they bring to breast cancer patients and survivors is beautiful. I was lucky enough to perform an acoustic set with my band at their tent on the Vans Warped Tour and I felt honored to be a part of a great organization supporting an amazing cause."
Right now, they are traveling all over the country visiting animal shelters, and are looking to bring awareness to them and help people understand why adoption and giving an animal a home is one of the most rewarding selfless acts.
I’m also excited to say that my toy fox terrier Dylan and I will be doing a photo shoot for their book coming out which I believe you will be able to purchase with a donation to the organization.
I am also a big supporter of Keep A Breast, they have come so far as an awareness organization and their message alongside the support they bring to breast cancer patients and survivors is beautiful. I was lucky enough to perform an acoustic set with my band at their tent on the Vans Warped Tour and I felt honored to be a part of a great organization supporting an amazing cause."
12. If you could spend a day with anyone (dead or alive), whom would it be and why?
JS - If I could spend a day with anyone it would have to be Ben Folds. I just want to take a piano lesson from him and just awe in his ever-so-majestic presence.
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