Armen Firman

Fri 17th Oct, 2008 in Features

Think five strapping young lads. Intelligent and energetic. Contrast that with bitter-lined lyrics and references to painful nostalgia. Wrap that up in sing-to-dance-to, – œgot this song stuck in my head’ tracks and you have Melbourne based band, Armen Firman.

Hailing from Wangaratta, country Victoria, these guys have hit the scene disguised as urban rockers. However, with tracks like Porch Dweller scoring single of the week on iTunes, it’s pretty clear that amongst a sea of musical clutter, we have stumbled across something with the substance and edge to hang around the scene longer than skinny leg jeans.

At a glance of their name, you may think we just missed the E in fireman, but the truth about – œArmen Firman’ is far cooler than a random fireman reference. “We are named after this guy who invented the parachute,” explains vocalist/guitarist Tommy Whitty. “This guy was crazy and strapped straps to his arms and put on a big cloak, and jumped out of a big tower in Spain.”

Armen Firman didn’t fly that day, but he didn’t die either. “It was the first example of a parachute and from there it led onto the parachute we know today. We just like the concept of trying to do something really big and coming out of it, not necessarily achieving what they wanted to, but still coming out of it doing something cool, and that’s how we approach our music.”

Points off for underrating themselves, these guys have only been – œserious’ about their music for 18 months and have already recorded their Debut EP Your Name In My Skin, featuring the stellar production work of Franc Tetaz (Gotye/Lior). Add to that supporting British India, Jebediah and Bertie Blackman, this five-piece has hit the scene with the energy and sophistication that’s reflected in their tightly packaged EP.

“I was a journalist contributing to music publications when I first met Bertie. I reviewed her 2006 album Black for a bunch of publications and was right into it.”

Whitty managed to catch up with Blackman (as you do) when she was playing a gig in Melbourne. “I said g’day, passed her our CD and later down the track she called asking us to support. I was really surprised because I didn’t get much of a reaction from her initially but it turns out she was really into our music and what we do. I love Bertie’s music. She is really cool.”

Does that mean Armen Firman is going to go all deep and – œavant garde’ on us? Maybe not, but they do mix things up on their EP with enough layered indie rock, pop melodies and soulful lyrics to keep the biggest Kings of Leon fan happy.

“With this EP we’ve really pushed ourselves to do something different for us. Something that isn’t all doom and gloom, because over the past couple of years we have done that to death. We also included upbeat elements of pop, and that’s the track In The Water for us. It’s something that’s completely different to what we have done in the past.”

Armen Firman is set to launch their EP Your Name In My Skin on Friday 17 October at the East Brunswick Club. “We have managed to get all our favourite bands in Melbourne to support us. Number Station, who are going to be absolutely massive next year, The Midnight Mass who we played with a while back and The Gabriel Lynch Band.”

If you’re already a fan of Armen Firman you’ll be treated to new material and some surprises. “We plan to do a few things musically that people just won’t expect us to do.”

Maybe they will go all Bertie Blackman on us…

Your Name In My Skin is out now through Creative Vibes. Armen Firman play the East Brunswick Club on Friday 17 October.