Zarm

Infusing a pack o’ pop, creole island sway with spoonfuls of desert blues, Zarm is a bona fide contemporary roots music group that is turning heads, with their exhilarating live show beyond compare, soulful music delivered with a swagger and panache, instantly appetizing for hungry listeners, groovers and shakers. A quirky and vibrant fusion of roots island rhythms with soul, reggae, blues, pop, rock and electro colours, Zarm’s debut EP Elephone saw them working alongside exotic world music star Grace Barbé, special guests Bill Rogers, Freddy Poncin, Jamie Searle, Thierryno Gangou, engineers Dan Carroll, Bill Bowden, and visual artists Henrique Kwong and Marek Szyler. They return to the scene with their fresh and raw contemporary roots sound, lead by the versatile, enduring presence of Luke Hutcheson and Joelle Barbé, with Jamaican DJ ‘Flex’ and their band of multitalented musicians. With a growing legion of followers, a top class line up, and having supported the likes of Ziggy Marley, Eddy Grant and Arrested Development, the UK’s Mad Professor, Salmonella Dub, True Live and a myriad of other Australian genre bending acts, shows and festivals, Zarm is original, fresh and cutting edge; merging old and new school sounds, fat beats and rhythms with sentient lyrics and melodious tunes. As Luke puts it; “…We are probably best described as alternative roots with a heavy touch of reggae. Our influences vary from the masterful reggae of Dennis Brown to the sweeping ballads of Neil Young. We love The Roots and many more.” “Roots reggae is heart felt music, also it can be hard edged. It relates to the daily struggles, spirituality and the need to feel good! It depends on what you’re looking for, you’ll always find some reggae to suit you.”