We recently connected with A Murder Of One and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, A Murder thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

As a band, we have a lot of different crafts happening simultaneously, and that’s more work than one may think! We each have our own instruments, or course, but there is also a lot that also goes into the band creatively and operationally. We each need comparable capabilities musically to work well together, so there is quite a bit of individual practice and learning that takes place to ensure we sound in sync with each other. The song writing, performing, financials, social media, merch, booking events, etc is a lengthy list! To help things run efficiently, we each help own band operations and the band as a brand/business. A personal commitment to showing up creatively ready and open helps our time together be productive. We are learning something new everyday through AMO. Obstacles do present themselves, like having the money and/or time to invest in moving the band forward. Differences of opinion occasionally come up, but are committed to mutual respect and hearing each other out.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

A Murder of One is an original Southern California queer rock band established in 2019. The band formed when long time friends and band mates, Lindsay Parks (Jane Friday / popbandALICE), Berta Arzate (Jane Friday), and Chris Bolm (popbandALICE) joined forces to create a new rock band, with a new rock sound.

In 2020, the pandemic ushered the band into a lengthy hiatus. The pause resulted in a recalibration of focus and the decision to add a second guitarist. After several attempts to find their fourth member, AMO found Megan Burton. This evolution of the band added depth and context to the previously two dimensional vibe of the band’s original sound. Since achieving their ultimate form, the band has been working on growing a fan base, releasing new music, and expanding their reach by performing across a diverse variety of medias and live venues.

You may like A Murder of One if you like any of their influences:

Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Bikini Kill, Sleater Kinney, Local H, Blondie, 10,000maniacs, AFI, the Cure, New Order, the Gossip, Joan Jett, Fleetwood Mac, Jimi Hendrix, The Get up Kids, Cursive

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

From our perspective, the more a person can invest in their local music scene the more our creative ecosystem will thrive. It’s important to us to get feedback, encouragement, criticism, and inspiration from our local fans and neighbors. Go to shows, buy band merch, watch the content, share the music with people. All of these actions can be significant to a band trying to be seen in the sea of talent out there. It’s very much like a small business. If you shop local, rock local!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

AMO was formed with the idea that we would carry forward the feminist riot grrrl influence we were inspired by starting out. We aren’t really a punk band anymore but the sentiment of social equity, women’s rights, queer rights, and resistance to patriarchy are very much in the fabric of the music we make today. Being a rock band can put us in sexist, homophobic, and otherwise hostile situations. We intentionally want to be in these spaces to disrupt the archaic ideas of what rock bands are.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amurderofone.com
• Instagram: @amurderofoneband
• Facebook: @amurderofoneband
• Youtube: @amurderofone
• Soundcloud: @amurderofone
• Other: TikTok @amurderofoneband

Image Credits

King Crow Entertainment