The Third Eye

The always stellar Centripetal Force is releasing a new record in May that the Third Eye has had a chance to preview and enjoy. The self-titled The Royal Arctic Institute is the band’s fourth album, a mesmerizing collection of ten instrumental tracks, coming to a speaker near you on May 2nd.

The NYC-based post-jazz ensemble has evolved through shifting lineups since 2016, but this release marks a turning point: their first as a two-guitar quartet, featuring Chris Robertson alongside Lyle Hysen (Das Damen, Arthur Lee), John Leon (Roky Erickson, Summer Wardrobe), and David Motamed (Two Dollar Guitar, Townes Van Zandt). 

Produced by Ray Ketchum (Guided by Voices), the new album explores a richer sonic palette, reviving Leon’s pedal steel as a central force.

The band intends this record to be a refuge and a response to an overstimulated world. It’s the type of soothing yet still intriguing instrumental album where you put on your headphones, press play, and let the weight of modern life dissolve. Fans of Prairiewolf, Luke Schneider, and The Far Sound, take note.

The Third Eye corresponded with John Leon of The Royal Arctic Institute via email, and he was kind enough to answer our questions about the new LP, the bookish inspiration behind their band name, and the blessing and curse of the pedal steel.

Interview with The Royal Arctic Institute

Third Eye: Your new record is the first to include guitarist Chris Robertson, making the group a quartet with two guitars. How did the addition of Robertson change the group’s sound and make this new record more unique?

John Leon: Bringing Chris on board has been a real game changer. Chris is a master musician. He’s very intuitive and quite skilled at listening to and playing off what everyone else is doing. He has brought a whole new sonic language to the mix. 

I first met Chris when we both ended up on a gig playing with the band Gramercy Arms. We immediately clicked both musically and personally. He’s a real joy to play with and to hang out with. 

Very soon after joining the band, Chris brought several compositions to the table that have become cornerstones of the new record. He played an enormous part in the production and overall sound of the album. It’s been a wonderful trip.

Third Eye: This new self-titled record is also noteworthy because it marks your first time working with Ray Ketchum of Magic Door Recording. What was it like working with Ray? And how did Ray help refine the band’s sound?

John Leon: Yes! Ray! We ended up working with Ray because of Chris. They play together in a band called Elk City. I had known Ray for a few years but had never done any recording with him. 

Chris suggested that we do the record with him, and it just made sense. Ray is fantastic to work with. He’s extremely skilled at what he does, and he has a well-tuned and discerning ear. He is a gifted engineer and he seamlessly stepped into the role of producer. 

He created and captured lush sounds in the sonic mix. On top of this, Ray is a very easy-going and sweet-natured person. We laughed a lot and had a great deal of fun. That is such an important thing in making a record. It must be fun. And Ray facilitates that. I can’t say enough good things about working with him. He’s great.

Third Eye: The pedal steel plays a prominent role in the new record. Why did the band decide to reintroduce pedal steel on this album, which had only been used on one previous recording in your discography?

John Leon: This is a great question. Playing pedal steel was my bread and butter for a long time. I love the instrument and it really led me down a musical path that I would not have experienced as just a regular old guitarist. 

But I got burned out on it for a while. As much as I love it, it is a cumbersome instrument. There is a lot of set up on the thing and a lot of accessories to haul around. I guess what I’m saying is that playing pedal steel is wonderful, but it is a gargantuan pain in the ass, a real labor of love. Especially carrying it out to clubs in New York City. 

I continued doing session work from my home studio, but I sort of stopped taking it out of the house. On our last two records, there was an awful lot going on sonically between two guitars and keyboards. I didn’t really hear pedal steel for that material. Once Chris Robertson joined the band, I could hear it. 

I felt it was time to change things up and explore a different sonic territory. I was also excited because I had a new pedal steel built for me. It’s always inspiring to play a new instrument. When I brought it to rehearsal, it just clicked. 

Chris and I played REALLY well off of one another within that configuration. That’s how it happened! The only downside is that I am now committed to having to carry the damn thing around when we play shows! But that’s okay. It’s worth it. 

I love the instrument so much. I have been playing pedal steel for about 25 years now, but I feel like I am only now scratching the surface of what the instrument can do. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But also one of the most rewarding.

Third Eye: Thematically, the new record responds to the unrelenting media-saturated world we live in today. Your record – and many like it – offer an escape from all that, if only for a moment. How do you handle the bombardment of media in today’s world? Do you ever feel like Thoreau and want to retreat to Walden Pond to escape it all?

John Leon: It’s astonishing, isn’t it? It feels like everything is so out of balance. All of us are bombarded with information from the moment we wake up until the moment we go to bed. Even then some of us check our phones when we wake up in the middle of the night. It feels as if it never turns off.

I think we were reacting to all these things when we made this record. Our weekly rehearsals and writing sessions are a real escape from the noise for all of us. It’s wonderful to get lost in a piece of music or a piece of art. I know it really grounds me. 

I would love to escape to Walden Pond! I try very hard to disconnect from it all as much as possible. Listening to music on noise-cancelling headphones while cooking is quite relaxing. Reading is a wonderful escape. Daily exercise helps me immensely. 

But the thing that helps the most is spending time with people face to face in the same room. Spending time with loved ones, family, friends, bandmates, colleagues… It is so very important. 

Last summer a friend of mine asked me when was the last time that I took off my shoes and let my bare feet touch grass. I could not remember! So I tried it and it was incredible. Something so simple made such a difference. It was quite compelling. 

So I try to stay centered on simple things, little things right in front of me. Grounding rituals like morning journaling also help turn the noise down. It’s hard, but it is either that or fall apart. So let’s take our shoes off and touch some grass.

Third Eye: Your band name references the fantasy fiction trilogy His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman. What is it about those books that has inspired you?

John Leon: Phillip Pullman is a genius! That trilogy is categorized as “young adult fiction.” But it is oh so much more than that. Those books are such a magnified view into human nature. 

I didn’t read them when they first came out. I missed them at the time. It wasn’t until about 12 years ago or so that I finally got around to reading the first one. I was astonished at how incredible the narrative is. 

They are “young adult fiction” books that are really Phillip Pullman raging against the Church. His storytelling is so masterful and so compelling. He is so good at making all the characters completely believable and relatable. I actually know someone who met his husband because he saw him reading The Golden Compass in a bar!

Pullman is currently finishing up the third book in his second trilogy The Book Of Dust. It takes place in the same world as the first trilogy with all the same characters. The first is a prequel and the second and third are a continuation of the larger story. 

I have been waiting for him to finish that third and final book in this series for a few years now. When it is finally released, I will drop whatever I am reading at the time and completely devour it.

I can tell you that I feel a deep obligation to keep making art, keep putting music out there, keep on top of the craft. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that we are going to keep playing shows and making records in an attempt to make the world a better place and put smiles on people’s faces.

Third Eye: Speaking of books, what’s the best book – fiction or otherwise – that you’ve read lately and can recommend to us? And why? I’m currently slogging through Dostoevsky’s Demons, which feels fitting for 2025.

John Leon: Oh, man. That’s a wonderful question! We could sit here and talk about books all day long! I’m an avid reader. Every night I try to read for at least an hour before bed. I sit in my chair and one of my cats will crawl up in my lap and we delve in. So many great books come to mind! 

Over the past few months, I have been fortunate to read several REALLY good books in a row. But what’s popping up for me right now is Emily St. John Mandel. She has written three books as a sort of “loose trilogy”: Station Eleven, The Glass Hotel, and Sea Of Tranquility. 

I say “loose trilogy” because each one can be read separately without the reader getting too confused. But they share similar histories and characters. They are wonderful. Her writing style is stellar. There are exceptional twists and turns, but everything is believable. I love love love those three books. 

But right now, I am currently reading This House Is Haunted by Guy Lyon Playfair. It’s a first-hand account of very intense poltergeist activity in a house in England in the late 1970s. And when I’m done with this, I intend to read all 24 of James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux books. If you aren’t familiar, they are a series about a Cajun detective in Southern Louisiana. And every one of them is at least a B+. I would read James Lee Burke’s grocery list at this point…

I am so interested in getting your thoughts on Dostoevsky’s Demons! I read The Brothers Karamazov twice, but I am ashamed to admit that I haven’t gotten around to reading his other stuff. The Idiot is hanging out somewhere in the towering “to read” pile next to my chair.

Third Eye: Last question – What’s next for The Royal Arctic Institute? What are some short- and long-term goals for the band?

John Leon: The plan now is to do a bunch of shows in support of the new release. Our drummer, Lyle Hyson, has been working tirelessly on booking shows. He’s the backbone of this band and his skills as a manager are stellar. 

He’s trying to put together a tour of sorts, but it has been really hard. Venues are booking four to six months out. But there are some good ones coming up on the horizon. Our record release show is on April 26th at Berlin Under Ave. A in Manhattan. That’s going to be a very fun show.

Long term, we just want to keep on keeping on, so to speak. We want to continue writing and making records and playing shows. As we touched on earlier in this interview, we are living in some pretty trying and dark times. I can tell you that I feel a deep obligation to keep making art, keep putting music out there, keep on top of the craft. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that we are going to keep playing shows and making records in an attempt to make the world a better place and put smiles on people’s faces.

Pre-order The Royal Arctic Institute on Bandcamp here.

The Royal Arctic Institute: Official Website | Instagram