Arctic can refer to two bands.

ARCTIC is an alternative acoustic band from Vancouver, Canada.
Arctic is a rock band from Brisbane, Australia.

ARCTIC was formed out of frontman Marcus Martin's desire to never, ever be in another band again.

After a childhood spent on the land in the isolated Northwest Territories of Canada, the guitarist travelled to the metropolis of Toronto and became involved in projects ranging from jazz to metal to rap. After dealing with the roller‑coaster frustrations of band politics, he went solo, and headed west to Vancouver to write his own music. He began performing using a looping device that would allow him to record, modify, loop and layer his acoustic guitar performance into a haunting moodiness evocative of a cold Northern landscape. With a rich, unique sound of his own that was already gaining an audience, he had no need for backing musicians.

But strong music always attracts interest, and as time went on, others expressed a desire to join the project. Following two solo cross‑Canada tours as ARCTIC, Martin was invited to open for a CD release party. On a whim, he put a trio together for the show. The full band version of ARCTIC was instantly picked up by a local promoter, and began to perform regularly around Vancouver. Despite his initial wariness, Martin found that adding band members added new dimensions and possibilities to his music — and by working with colleagues who were equally inspired by his music and vision, the band's spirit became collaborative instead of confrontational.

Kirsten Starcher, already involved in the production of ARCTIC's second EP, Today Brought Me Here, became the band's bassist, keyboardist, and backing singer. In 2007 they were joined by Todd Biffard on drums, whose creative blend of acoustic and electronic percussion would round out the trio's spacey sound.

Always seeking contrast, ARCTIC is still sometimes a solo project, sometimes a full band, never exactly the same from one show to the…читать далее ↓

Arctic can refer to two bands.

ARCTIC is an alternative acoustic band from Vancouver, Canada.
Arctic is a rock band from Brisbane, Australia.

ARCTIC was formed out of frontman Marcus Martin's desire to never, ever be in another band again.

After a childhood spent on the land in the isolated Northwest Territories of Canada, the guitarist travelled to the metropolis of Toronto and became involved in projects ranging from jazz to metal to rap. After dealing with the roller‑coaster frustrations of band politics, he went solo, and headed west to Vancouver to write his own music. He began performing using a looping device that would allow him to record, modify, loop and layer his acoustic guitar performance into a haunting moodiness evocative of a cold Northern landscape. With a rich, unique sound of his own that was already gaining an audience, he had no need for backing musicians.

But strong music always attracts interest, and as time went on, others expressed a desire to join the project. Following two solo cross‑Canada tours as ARCTIC, Martin was invited to open for a CD release party. On a whim, he put a trio together for the show. The full band version of ARCTIC was instantly picked up by a local promoter, and began to perform regularly around Vancouver. Despite his initial wariness, Martin found that adding band members added new dimensions and possibilities to his music — and by working with colleagues who were equally inspired by his music and vision, the band's spirit became collaborative instead of confrontational.

Kirsten Starcher, already involved in the production of ARCTIC's second EP, Today Brought Me Here, became the band's bassist, keyboardist, and backing singer. In 2007 they were joined by Todd Biffard on drums, whose creative blend of acoustic and electronic percussion would round out the trio's spacey sound.

Always seeking contrast, ARCTIC is still sometimes a solo project, sometimes a full band, never exactly the same from one show to the next. In either form it combines diverse influences in unexpected ways: progressive rock, jazz, industrial rock merge with ambient textures and acoustic singer/songwriter melodies to create something fresh, unconventional and intriguing.

ARCTIC is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.


Arctic started in the winter of 2007 with the collaboration between Zeyn Suliman and Joel Arnold. After many months of what some may call creative jamming, Zeyn and Joel decided it was time to take the next step. With the addition of Aaron Lake on bass and then shortly after Liam Bryant on lead vocals the boys were ready. The scene was set for the band to go forth and set a new trend in Australian music.

In the coming months that followed, Arctic were invited to share stages with some of Australia's most credible acts. Recent supports include well known bands Melodyssey and Repeat Offender.

With a continuous stream of new material in the making, Arctic aggressively defined their sound to include elements of their influences whilst maintaining the originality that had always set them apart from the others.

Having earned unprecedented respect through their recent demo recording, the wheels were set in motion for 2009 and the band has moved a step closer to recording their debut EP expected later this year.