INTERVIEW W/ Arkayla: "Its shaped who we are completely"!

Manchester quartet Arkayla are one of the hottest Indie newcomers in the North-West right now. Their 2024 EP 'Ella Malone' seemed to ignite their careers, gaining the attention of music lovers and industry tastemakers alike. Since then they have been growing at a rapid rate. It's no surprise; their sound is an infectious one blending all the irresistible sensibilities of 00s Indie with a sharper modern edge.

They have now arrived with 'Doctor', their first new music since the acclaimed EP. We caught up with them to chat about their rapid growth, the new single and how their hometown of Manchester has shaped them...

Q. How did it feel gaining such a big following in such a short space of time after the release of your Ella Malone EP? Did it suddenly change your approach or plan for the future?

A. "Yeah its been so great seeing how much people have enjoyed it. I think we always knew that it would do pretty well so it didn’t have any major effect on our future plans. We’ve just gotta keep writing better and better music and not get too caught up in the outside noise".

Q. How do you feel your new single 'Doctor' differs from the sound of the EP?

A. "I think it’s just more mature songwriting. Especially on this track we’ve strayed away from the classic indie sound of the last EP which I think has given it a pretty unique sound. It's also the first sing we've put out with Dylan drumming on it and he's definitely brought his own style to it".

Q. What are the main lyrical themes running through Doctor?

A. "Its just about screaming out for something that feels like it would fix all your problems, whatever your doctor may be. Definitely not drugs though".

Q. What kind of people would you say you make music for?

A. "We make music for anyone who wants to listen to it. I dunno, it’s not really a question we ever think about, we just make what we want and if people like it then they like it. We have such a wide array of influences that I think theres something in it for everybody. We love rock, reggae, funk, soul, hip-hop and thats why you see a pretty diverse crowd at our gigs".

Q. How much of an influence has Manchester had on you as a band, both musically and personally?

A. "Its shaped who we are completely. Manchester’s a city with such a strong sense of identity and pride in whats its given the world and so all just consumes you when you grow up here. We were raised on the music and the lore of Oasis, The Smiths, Stone Roses, Joy Division and our music has been more heavily influenced by those bands than anyone else. We're a city thats always trying to create something new, thats why its had such a cultural impact on the world, and we like to think we're trying something similar".

Q. What have you learned from your experiences supporting the likes of Seb Lowe and the Lathums?

A. "Yeah its been great supporting the Lathums and Seb it was a great oppertunity for us. With artists like that you can tell they’ve been playing those stages for a while. Both great performers and really knew how to play to big rooms. When you’re playing to 2,500 people it takes something a bit extra for it all to work but I think we managed pretty well and we’re only getting better".

Q. What can fans expect from your biggest Manchester headline to date later this year?

A. "Its gonne be pretty mad. 900 capacitys pretty insane but we cant wait and were gonna make sure its an amazing show. Hope to see you there".