In their latest album, Disappointment Machine, Arliston dives deep into the emotional landscape of heartbreak, regret, and self-reflection. At the heart of this introspective journey is the raw experience of unrequited love, which sparked the creation of an album both intimate and cinematic. With their signature blend of atmospheric arrangements and confessional lyrics, the duo crafts a sound that transforms sadness into something oddly beautiful. In this conversation, Arliston opens up about the personal catalyst behind their music, the creative process that birthed this emotional rollercoaster, and how their distinctive sonic identity came to life. Prepare to hear from the "sad song specialists" themselves as they share the heartache, humor, and healing woven into every track of, Disappointment Machine.
What was the emotional catalyst for this album, and how did that shape its sound?
Jack had a bit of a run-in with unrequited love, and so the topic came up very organically and often in the writing of this album. Sadness can be strangely beautiful when it's fully embraced. That’s why the sound has this cinematic scope, as we tried to balance the intimate, confessional lyrics with expansive, atmospheric arrangements.
You’ve called yourselves “sad song specialists.” What draws you to explore themes of heartbreak, longing, and loss so deeply in your music?
There’s something inherently compelling about sadness—it’s honest and universal. All of that stuff- heartbreak, longing, and loss are emotions that connect us, and music has this unique way of making pain feel less isolating. I love the idea that sadness isn’t just something to endure; it can be transformative.
The album was largely written in just two weeks. Can you take us inside that creative process? Did the speed of writing change the way the album took shape?
It was a pretty intense process! We didn’t set out with a strict concept; instead, we let the songs emerge naturally. There was this momentum that kept building, and the short timeframe meant we didn’t overanalyse things. We had to trust our instincts, which gave the album a certain immediacy.
'Scratches' is an incredibly intimate track that captures a moment of regret. Can you tell us about how that song came together and why you chose it as a focus track?
"Scratches" started as a quiet idea—just a simple piano progression and a vocal take. It’s actually a moment of departure from the rest of the album, which is all about this singular episode of unrequited love, and instead focuses on a fictional scene ,which was a welcome break for us during the writing process!
Your sound blends ambient tones, experimental textures, and brooding baritones. How did you develop this unique sonic identity, and who are your biggest influences?
It’s been an organic evolution. We’ve always been drawn to creating something immersive but personal. We pull from artists like The National, Bon Iver, and Radiohead, but also from film scores and ambient textures. There’s a lot of layering in our music, small details that might not stand out on the first listen but hopefully add up over time.
There are moments of wry humour in the album, like 'Sleep Well Bean' and 'Monks of Lindisfarne'. How do you balance the melancholy with these playful, self-aware moments?
Melancholy can be heavy, so we like to let a little light in. Those moments of humour or absurdity keep the record from feeling too weighed down. Sometimes, even in your lowest moments, something ridiculous happens, and you have to laugh!
Many of the songs reflect on time, regret, and the question of “what if?”—particularly in 'Time Lost' and 'The Older I Get'. How do you view the role of nostalgia in your songwriting?
Nostalgia is such a powerful thing in music. I think most Artists go to the nostalgia well at one time or another and get huge rewards. "Time Lost" and "The Older I Get" are meditations on how time alters perception. Looking back, you wonder if things could have gone differently, but you also realize how much those experiences shaped you.
The album closes with 'Stay in Brixton', which feels like a moment of resolution. Do you see this song as a turning point, and does it hint at where Arliston is headed next?
Absolutely. "Stay in Brixton" feels like a closing chapter and is a bit more upbeat than the rest of the album. The song ends on the more major key notion that even if a place reminds you of bad memories, you can, in time, overlay new, better memories and bring it back to being a positive place.
Your music has been compared to artists like The National and Bon Iver. How do you feel about those comparisons, and what do you hope listeners take away from 'Disappointment Machine'?
Those comparisons are massively flattering because they’re artists we love. We’ll take the comparisons all day! I hope listeners take away a sense of sadness but also catharsis from Disappointment Machine.
If you could sum up the journey of this album in one sentence, what would it be?
Sad, sadder, then comforting.
Listen to their latest release, Disappointment Machine: