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Public Enemy had a huge influence on RATM’s music, both lyrically & sonically. They drew from Public Enemy’s hip hop & rap elements, utilising similar phrasing. They share similar commentary on political & social themes in their lyrics, & have shared the stage multiple times. Bassist Tim Commerford when discussing a collaboration between band members - aptly named the Prophets of Rage, described their influence. “The first Cypress Hill record and It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back [by Public Enemy] were two of the biggest hip-hop influences on Rage Against The Machine.” (Greene, A. 2016). Songs like ‘Louder Than A Bomb’ & ‘Show ‘Em Whatcha Got’ by Public Enemy have the same qualities as a lot of Rage against the Machine’s discography.

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The Sex Pistols are the first band that comes to mind when you think about punk & the punk movement. The Sex Pistol’s success from Never Mind The Bollocks influenced an incredible amount of young people. Guitarist of RatM Tom Morello talks about their influence on his future, "...I read about the Sex Pistols in Creem magazine. And I started playing guitar in a band within 48 hours after hearing Never Mind The Bollocks…Hearing it was my punk rock revelation, the moment where the skies open and you go, Oh, a lot of that music which I’ve liked up until now isn’t so important anymore”. (Brannigan, P. 2023). Both bands include the heavy distorted bass & guitar lines & seething commentary on social issues. Bassist of RatM Tim Commerfold calls Never Mind the Bollocks “...simply one of the greatest, rawest albums ever made.” (Kerr, D. 2016).

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Minor Threat have the same vigorous, contagious energy that RatM have. The social commentary & heavily distorted sound inspired a variety of bands in the late 80s & early 90s. RatM bassist, Tim Commerfold describes his love of their energy, “I was really into Minor Threat, too. I’d love to meet Ian Mackaye; he’s one of the greatest frontmen… ever! I’d put him on that list with H.R. and Zack de la Rocha [Frontman of RatM]. He brought the intensity to the stage, for sure.” (Kerr, D. 2016). Minor Threat’s punk sound inspired both RatM & Fugazi, another of RatM's influences, who released their debut album only a few years before RatM.

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Arlo & Clairo have had a close relationship as artists, featuring & collaborating with each other for years. Arlo has “been a big fan of Clairo for a while now” and thinks Clairo's voice “is like honey.” (Hyun Kim, M. 2020). They share similar soft, poetic, phrasing & lyricism. Both artists convey heavy emotions, touching on personal topics. They do however differ a little in their latest releases, Arlo’s being more synthesised sounds & crunchier drum beats, where Clairo’s was more folky & gentle.

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In an interview Arlo described why Tyler was influential to her & her music, “Tyler the Creator and the whole Odd Future group gave me permission to be Black and make experimental music, to be Black and awkward and funny, to be Black and multi-disciplined.” (Giannini, 2023).  Arlo’s use of synth articulations & constant tones in the background of her music has similarities to Tyler’s work - they both use these filters to create atmosphere & thickness texturally in their music. Tyler brings it more to the front of the mix, where Arlo uses it as articulation & in the background as a foundation.

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Radiohead has been a big influence on Arlo's music career, she has named them multiple times in interviews & claimed them as one of her favourite bands of all time. When discussing their influence on her latest album she stated that songs like Weird Fishes / Arpeggi had a noticeable influence on her. “I feel like it [Radiohead’s music] really informed those first few songs I was doing on those first few EPs because I was listening to songs like ‘House Of Cards’ and ‘Weird Fishes’ and ‘Videotape’, just the warmth and the texture…There is this sense of minimalism but everything is so intentional.” (Taysom, J. 2023). Drawing similarities in guitar tones & drum sounds, Radiohead has played an undeniable role in Arlo's writing & composition.

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Introduced to Muddy Waters by his Father, aspects of their music can be heard throughout Hozier’s discography. “I was around blues music a lot, so I was kind of raised on it. It was playing in the house constantly…Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf... I discovered Delta as I kind of grew up and getting into jazz also and gospel.” (Block, M., Cornish, A. 2014). Their influence of expressive blues sound, a slightly distorted guitar tone, & soulful expression is distinguishable in Hozier’s music.

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In an interview with MTV Hozier discussed his varying influences, “I'm influenced a lot by Nina Simone…People who wrote and sang songs that were reflective of their times.” He also stated other powerful artists of the same genre & era like Aretha Franklin & Billie Holiday. Nina Simone’s soulful voice is the highlight & foreground of her music, her vocals draw attention while the instrumentation helps build the foundation, create suspense, drama & build up with her. Hozier has included many of these qualities into his own music.

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Van Morrison’s folky blues influence is evident in Hozier’s work. They share similarities in the phrasing of components that make up their songs, vocally their expression is similar & sonically the call & response between vocal & guitar riff is quite alike. Hozier stated in an interview that “His [Morrison's] influence on me was significant. It offered an example of how soul music could be interpreted through an Irish outlook and voice.” (Anon. 2020). Both sharing Irish ancestry allowed Hozier to form more than a musical connection to him.

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Hozier is an indie, modern folk artist, whose soulful, folky-blues sound was influenced by his Irish upbringing where he was introduced to a range of blues & Motown artists by his father. He incorporates allusions to religion & mythologies in his lyrics that I find really moving & poetic. He has a warm, rich tone to his voice that is incredibly encapsulating. As well as being a highly skilled vocalist, he is an incredibly talented guitarist, much of his music favours a clean, reverbed tone on electric or acoustic guitar - other songs may feature a distorted electric guitar for a punchier effect. Hozier incorporates complex finger-picked patterns & arpeggios into his music, rarely using a plectrum while playing live, which have encouraged me to try some similar techniques.

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Hozier - four songs at The Current (2019)

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RATM has an infectiously explosive & punchy sound, created through the combination of multiple genres - like funk, rap, rock & punk. Their fusion of genres & influences feels powerful & electric - it’s physically moving. Their music discusses political & social issues in such an incisive & powerful way, it’s impossible not to listen in awe. Lead guitarist Tom Morello is heavily influential on their iconic sound, he utilises a wide range of interesting, unconventional techniques to create unique tones & sounds. His use of feedback, distortion, & various pedals is incredibly impressive. His personal influence on the rock & political scene from the 90s to now remains unparalleled.

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Rage Against The Machine - Fistfull Of Steel - 1993

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Arlo Parks is an indie, soft pop artist hailing from the UK. She has a soft, vulnerable quality to her voice that features in the foreground of her music. Her lyricism feels strikingly sincere, raw & poetic. It is thematically universally relatable in its exploration of relationships, identity, mental health & sexuality, yet it feels incredibly intimate & personal. She uses warm, ambient tones in her music that give it a gentle, welcoming quality. The emotion & passion she conveys in her live performances is dazzling & beautifully admirable. Arlo’s growth & transformation between albums is so inspiring, watching her become more confident in herself & her work has been really gratifying.

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Arlo Parks - 'Caroline' (live at Splendour In The Grass)