Wisconsin-based dynamic alternative rock band ARCHERS have officially released their latest extended play, All That I Have Left. Formed in 2015 by Ben Koehler (guitar) and Nathanael Pulley (lead vocals), ARCHERS have steadily grown from a musical experiment into a cornerstone of the alternative rock and metalcore scene. Their new release follows the success of their earlier work, reflecting their evolution in sound and artistic maturity.
In this interview with Bass Empire, Oscar Porter, the band’s bassist, discusses his choice of instruments and equipment, which play a pivotal role in shaping the band’s sound. “I selected the Lakland 5 string bass, featuring an extended neck,” he explains. “We play in various tunings, anywhere from Drop A# to Octave D tuning, so I wanted an instrument that could handle the heavy strings and low tunings. This made an extended neck a must, but I selected the Lakland because it reminded me of a Fender Precision Bass – punchy, ringy tones without the Fender P-Bass weight, with plenty of clarity from the stock pickups. It’s a powerful guitar that can handle the performance abuse I put all my guitars through, and it delivers the jazz bass quality I really enjoy without the price tag. My main go-to is usually ESP for the same reason, but the basses I normally select end up being active pickups and I’m an idiot so I always forget to swap out the battery.”
Porter’s setup is streamlined for efficiency during live performances. “My current rig is very simple, which is awesome for quick setups/tear downs for shows, not to mention space consolidation in the trailer for tours,” he says. “I run everything out of a Kemper Profile, which is rack-mounted alongside our guitarist’s. The profiles I use were made by a friend. I absolutely fell in love with the tones, so I downloaded the profiles to my Kemper and EQ’d them to my taste. Other than my Kemper, I have a backup ESP 5-string bass, and a 5-string Yamaha for longer tours in case something happens to my main guitar.”
“When it comes to the studio, writing anything that supports the narrative is what’s most important.”
Discussing the new EP, Porter highlights the contribution of his bass lines to the overall texture and emotional depth of the tracks. “I believe a ‘good song’ is made when every instrument contributes appropriately to the overall story of the song,” he notes. “There is a place for shredding, and a place for keeping things simple. In live performances, I’ll change up patterns here and there, depending on the mood of the night and how crazy we’re getting. But when it comes to the studio, writing anything that supports the narrative is what’s most important. A little flair here and there is cool, but not at the expense of distracting from lyrics and melodies. As someone smart once said: ‘Keep It Simple, Stupid.'”
“I’m very lucky that my ‘secret sauce’ is an ability to improvise and adapt to most musical situations.”
During the recording, Porter faced typical challenges but found that adapting and improvising were key to his approach, especially in crafting the EP’s bass tracks. “Challenges are a constant in the studio – lyrics, melodies, production, riffs, fills, etc., everything is always up for debate. When it comes to bass playing though, that’s never been much of a struggle. The job is to deliver a satisfying low end that will support and accentuate the song, and I’m very lucky that my ‘secret sauce’ is an ability to improvise and adapt to most musical situations.”
The release of All That I Have Left is a culmination of years of dedication and artistic exploration for ARCHERS. The EP features a range of tracks that showcase the band’s ability to blend intense lyrics with powerful musicality. From the driving rhythms of Drag Me Out to the introspective tones of Before You Go, each song offers a glimpse into the band’s creative process and their ability to connect with listeners on an emotional level: “Full disclosure, that entire song hasn’t changed more than a note selection since our singer (Nathanael) brought it up to us in the studio. He showed us his thoughts, and we all just had this collective agreement (which is rare) that THAT was the song, perfect from the start. I’ve said this earlier, but whatever you do, you do it for the benefit of the song – simple or complex, it doesn’t matter unless it contributes to the song. So for this one, simple, clean bass lines supporting the guitar were the right decision, letting Nathanael work his vocal magic and shine for this song.”
The new EP All That I Have Left by ARCHERS is now available for purchase.
