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Q: What's the history of Arkade?
A: The majority of Arkade; Jon Cashmore, Stuart Oliver, Eddie Kingdom, Olmo Cassiba, Joe Longridge and Fliss Gorst met while studying music at Exeter College from 2001 - 2003. We formed a jazz ensemble which performed regularly around Exeter.

Since then we have separated into various colleges and universities across the county. Jon and Fliss are both studying music degrees at Birmingham Conservatoire whilst Olmo and Eddie are studying jazz at Middlesex University.

Stuart is currently studying and teaching guitar in Exeter and Joe - the organiser of the band - is studying Music Technology at Rose Bruford College in Kent.

The band reformed in the summer of 2005 under the name Arkade. We were inspired by Joe's ambition to play funk music again after a memorable funk gig we did with Exeter College a couple of years ago at The Phoenix.

We asked Louise Lloyd, an opera singer from Birmingham Conservatoire to join the band and also local trumpet player Aaron, who also studies at Birmingham.

We then got down to writing songs for the band, recording an EP and planning our opening gig.

Q: Where did the name Arkade come from?
A: Arkade was chosen by Joe. We were originally going to be called The Amusements as we thought it a bright, fun name but Arkade was shorter and sounded a bit more retro!

Q: Which three words best describe your music?
A: Funky, jazzy, lively.

Q: What's the name of the track you've chosen to demo and what's the story behind it?
A: Stay With Me was written by Fliss with the funk band in mind. "I wanted to write something happy and catchy which would make people smile," says Fliss.

"I began with the opening riff (which some people think sounds like a children's TV theme!) and then worked out a smooth chord progression. The melody followed soon after.

"I admit to not being the world's best lyricist though!"

Q: What do you think of the current music scene?
A: The Exeter jazz scene seems to be thriving. If it continues in this way it may well be a contributing factor in deciding where we settle after university.

Q: What has been your most memorable gig and why?
A: Our opening gig at Exeter Phoenix was phenomenal! We were all nervous and worried about numbers, but we packed the place and partied the night away.

The audience were lively and supportive. We had a huge screen with great graphics which gave the place a real atmosphere.

We all enjoyed it so muchΜύ because it was the gig we had all been working so hard together for, throughout the summer. It was also the release night for our debut EP which sold well.ΜύΜύΜύΜύ

Q: Whose records do you have in your collection?
A: We're all fans of Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind and Fire. Other influences in the band include Dexter Gordon, Jamiroquai, Elvin Jones, Canonball Adderley, Peter Green, Muse, Bill Evans and The Crusaders.

Q: If you could have three guests to dinner (fictional or factual, dead or alive) who would you invite and why?
A: Hmm... Stevie Wonder, so we could just sit down and have a drink and ask him where all his song ideas come from.

Then maybe one of the early jazz musicians so they could share tales of the early jazz scene in America.

And Fliss would like Ewan McGregor to ask him if he would appear in a musical she's writing!

Q: Complete the sentence; "When we become famous..."
A: ...we want to be respected composers, arrangers and performers and have a nice tour bus so we don't have to travel around with all our gear.

Q: Arkade - in your own words...
A: Arkade is something new; a bit different. We are performers who love playing REAL instruments. There are no fakers in the band and we are all in it because we can play - and play well.

Our songs are well crafted and catchy. We're not a pop band, not a jazz band, not even a funk band - but a mixture of the three!

The different tastes in the band mixed together have given the band its original sound, but one we feel would still appeal to mass audience. We are in this for fun and love of music.

Whether this band makes it or not, we will all undoubtedly be playing music for the rest of our lives. Whether we become famous or not is not really a priority, although it certainly would be great to do massive gigs.