Meet The Arms of Someone New

Emerging from the heartland’s college towns in the early 1980s, The Arms of Someone New became a beloved synthpop and post-punk duo, crafting moody, melodic soundscapes that are still revered today.

Steve Jones, hailing from Chicago, brought a technical curiosity and synthesizer wizardry to the group. Originally a behind-the-scenes manager and producer (he even managed Mel’s previous band), Steve’s keen ear and knack for songcraft made him the ideal partner to realize an ambitious sonic vision, way ahead of its time. That early experience managing bands also gave Steve a backstage pass to music production, sparking an interest in synthesizers and studio experimentation. Growing up near Chicago’s rich post-punk and new wave scenes, Steve absorbed the minimalist, moody atmospheres and the use of electronic textures—elements that became core to the band’s sound.

Mel Eberle, from St. Louis, Missouri, provided the brooding vocals and poetic lyrics that set the tone for the duo’s evocative music. With a background in songwriting and experimental composition, Mel’s voice and guitar textures shaped the band’s unmistakable aesthetic. The combination of central Illinois sound with St. Louis’s history of genre-blending blues, experimental rock, and alternative fueled Mel’s approach to mixing organic and electronic elements, and his poetic sensibility imposed a narrative structure and depth to their tracks.

Formation and Sound

The band formed in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois in 1983, bonding over a shared love for atmospheric melodies and the burgeoning new wave scene. Drawing on influences like early goth, new wave, and dream pop, they forged songs that swirl with emotion and shadowy hooks, described as “minimalist soundscapes” overwhelming the listener with haunting beauty.

ARMS occasionally collaborated with other indie notables, including Nick Rudd, Glenn Graham, Lynn Canfield, and Tim Hanafee but the core always remained the creative chemistry between Steve and Mel.

Their albums like Susan Sleepwalking and Promise became underground cult classics, standing the test of time in the ever-evolving world of alternative music.

The duo’s sound, sometimes lo-fi, always pre-fi, sits at a campfire where goth, synth, and introspective pop swap ghost stories until dawn.

Legacy

The Arms of Someone New are one of those rare acts whose music conjures nostalgia for late-night drives, rain-slicked streets, and the mysterious allure of the Midwest underground.

Their Midwest upbringings and access to underground new wave imbue the music with restraint; a “less-is-more” approach, shaping haunting, immersive textures.

With Steve Jones and Mel Eberle at the helm, their songs remain a synthesizer-fueled invitation to lose yourself in the comfort of someone new.