Arch Femmesis are an eccentric double act based in Nottingham who are proudly genre and gender non-conforming. This DIY band has an eclectic style where they can comfortably play a punk rock show or hit the club scene. On vocals there is Zera Tonin and Princess Stephen on the synthesisers and bringing the beats. Aggy Gillon caught up with them after their set and chatted about their unique approach in gaining a spot on the bill, their next single and their plans to take on Europe.
Is this your first Rebellion?
Zera Tonin: This is our first Rebellion. I snuck in last year and threatened Johnny Wah Wah *laughs* I threatened him and handed him a poster. He booked all our mates and I was like well me next year! Better be next year!
So what does it mean to you to be here now?
Zera Tonin: I think to be genre bending and gender bending in a space like this I think means a whole lot more as being a punk. I think especially in the times right now this is as punk as you can get.
How did you find your set earlier today?
Zera Tonin: I think we fucking smashed it! We had punks from all different kinds of subgenres coming. People were dancing! People were intimidated. People were loving it. There were lots of smiles. A lot of joy.
Princess Stephen: People smiling were smiling when you were screaming in their faces.
Zera Tonin: Oh yeah, they loved it! *laughs* They liked being screamed in their face.
For those not familiar with Arch Femmesis, how would you describe yourselves?
Zera Tonin: People like to describe us as suicide-ish *laughs* but I disagree. I would say we are more like peaches.
Princess Stephen: There is a lot of mix of things. There are gothic influences, punk, queer and camp influences.
Zera Tonin: Avant garde as well, like Yoko Ono kind of vibes.
We love that. I have never ever heard anyone say that before. Yoko Ono vibes, I love that so much *laughs*
Princess Stephen: A lot of screaming *laughs*
Where are you guys based?
Zera Tonin: We formed in Nottingham but living in Manchester and London.
Nice, Nottingham is amazing!
Zera Tonin: We love Nottingham!
Princess Stephen: Nottingham is our home. It’s our ancestral home.
How did you guys meet?
Zera Tonin: We met at a poetry night. Stephen was headlining and I was filling in with some spoken word. Stephen rocked up with these synths doing a song about Alexander Mcqueen. I was like, I fuck with that!
Princess Stephen: It was a few months after we started to have a jam together.
Zera Tonin: The first time we jammed we literally whipped out like five songs. It just happened so naturally.
So when did Arch Femmesis come to fruition?
Zera Tonin: 2019.
Princess Stephen: It was right at the end. I’m sure our first gig was in December right before Christmas.
Zera Tonin: On Christmas eve, eve.
Princess Stepehen: At The Maze. Which are now something like luxury apartments. Maybe not luxury but fancy flats.
That would have been right before lockdown…
Zera Tonin: Yeah we just started and then we played for a couple of months.
Princess Stephen: Yeah we were starting to get a bit of momentum and then we had to stop which was a hard thing to deal with. We quickly got back into the groove. We did a few shows when the restrictions would slightly open up. We did a few sit down socially distanced gigs.
Zera Tonin: It was like a cabaret show. Then people would get up and dance and they had to stop the show to tell people to sit down.
Like, stop having fun! *laughs*
Zera Tonin: Yeah, it was so weird.
Can you tell us about the releases you have out at the moment?
Zera Tonin: We have a couple of singles out and we have an EP out from 2022. We are in the process of finishing a new single. With being long distance it’s been a bit hard for us to get that boring shit done but stuff is on the way.
Princess Stephen: Our next single is going to be ‘Pussy Bitch’ which is going to be released soon. It’s a gay anthem. Especially for the lesbians in Nottingham.
We saw you had a lot of ‘Pussy Bitch’ things on your merch table.
Zera Tonin: Yeah, it’s very popular in the lesbian scene.
Nice, we’re looking forward to hearing it. Have you got many shows coming up after Rebellion?
Zera Tonin: We have got a few secret things here and there. A little bit of this and a little bit of that…You’re just gonna have to wait and see.
Princess Stephen: Follow us on our socials to keep up to date. It’s currently undisclosed.
What do you envision for the future of Arch Femmesis?
Zera Tonin: I dont fucking know man because were just trying to take it as it comes. Burnout is real because we are both working full time jobs. We just want to live in a way that’s more efficient and healthy. I envision us playing more club venues. We really want to go back out to Europe and really smash the club scene there.
Princess Stephen: We want to do some of the big cities. We want to play Berlin properly, we played there once but we want to play there properly. We love the Netherlands as well. They really get us. We want to do more European gigs for sure.
What’s the process for when you are coming up with new music? Are you able to come together and jam or work on your own pieces individually?
Zera Tonin: Some of it just happens instinctually through the pirate studios’ little practice and we just end up vibing and creating some really silly shit.
Princess Stephen: Yeah and I’ll have some beats that I have made. Half of them, they will be like, oh that’s shit Stephen! *laughs*
Zera Tonin: No!
Princess Stephen: And the other half they will be like…
Zera Tonin: That is amazing!
Princess Stephen: Slut pop banger *laughs* Zera writes lyrics a lot. Sometimes they will write some lyrics to the bass.
Zera Tonin: Yeah sometimes I’ll write some stuff while on the bass guitar.
Princess Stepehen: Then we will transfer that to the synths and create a new sound from it.
Throughout your career in Arch femmesis what is something that has stood out to you? It could be a milestone moment, or a funny moment. Something you look at with your time in the band that sticks out in your memory?
Zera Tonin: There have been a few. I think when we were asked to open for The Comet Is Coming at Rock City. I never thought that would happen. Monumental.
Princess Stephen: They are such amazing musicians and to do Rock City mainstage. I mean, I am not formally musically trained. Zera is. To be around musicians that are that good it felt like a big milestone.
Zera Tonin: Also going on tour with The Lovely Eggs and getting every city to shout “ay up slags” *laughs* Everyone on The Lovely Eggs tour was amazing. I think working with them. Holly and David have been so supportive of us.
Have you guys been here all weekend and have you managed to see or hoping to see any other bands on the bill?
Zera Tonin: We arrived yesterday. I arrived a bit earlier but they arrived during the lockdown of the venue. That was scary. I want to see Meryl Streek.
Princess Stephen: I want to see Twat Union again. I saw them last week but they are so much fun I want to see them again. They are playing the Loud Women stage.
Zera Tonin: The Loud Women stage I think is so important. They have gotten so much feedback that it’s so amazing to see something different. That’s why it’s been so popular.
Princess Stephen: All the styles on that stage have been very different as well. People are bringing different things.
Zera Tonin: Every single band is unique.
What would you like to say to your fans and anyone reading this article? What would you like to say to them?
Zera Tonin: Fuck off *laughs*
Princess Stephen: I was gonna say they are sexy and beautiful!
Zera Tonin: I’m only joking!
Princess Stephen: Stay cunty.
Zera Tonin: Stay cunty. And we really appreciate you. For people like us, DIY, non-conforming we have had to work super hard and having fans like that just helps elevate us so much and we are so grateful. So grateful.
Interview And Photos By Aggy Gillon