New Digital Single from ARKTA

Alternative rock unit ARKTA released a new digital single on January 19th.

ARKTA consists of two members: vocalist and lyricist Tak and vocalist, guitarist and composer kenken. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Tak is the ring announcer for New Japan Pro-Wrestling and serves as the screamer for the North American band Quietude, while kenken is originally from Tokyo and was previously a member of metalcore band DELHEZI.

ARKTA take a DIY approach to their music, handling the recording, mixing, and mastering entirely on their own. Their music is said to combine nu-metal and emo, aiming to “narrate the ups and downs of life”.

Titled The Lily, the new single is a preview of their upcoming first EP, which is scheduled for release in February. The song is available for download and streaming on various online music platforms here. 

kenken commented:

“Hope and despair, justice and evil, and love and hatred. Everything is precious because it is all back-to-back, transient, and ever-changing. Only by overcoming the conflicts of the mind that waver in the midst of these struggles, can one be true to one's convictions and wish for the happiness of the people one loves. Such thoughts were put into this song.”

Tak commented:

"How does one confront with your human aspects and emotions and continue to move forward despite the struggles? Not on whether it was right or wrong, we wrote the song based on ARKTA's interpretation of Riddhe as an individual person.”

Formed in May 2020, ARKTA provided two songs, Keep me alive and Damaging you, as the ending theme songs for the computer game "Slow Damage" by the game brand Nitro+chiral. This game was released worldwide in 2021. In celebration of the game and music release, ARKTA made their debut live performance in front of an audience of 1,000 people at the CHiRAL LIVE 2022 × Slow Damage event held at Kanda Square Hall in Tokyo, organized by Nitroplus. The live performance was simultaneously streamed worldwide.

On March 11, 2023, ARKTA released their first single, The Last Day, on all streaming platforms. In July of the same year, they had their first performance in the United States at Rising Japan Fest 2023, held in Los Angeles.

Watch a trailer for The Lily:

ARKTA’S NEW LEAD SINGLE JUST DROPPED!

「The Lily」リリースされました！
是非聴いてください！https://t.co/fMOkaoofdH#ARKTA #TheLily #AlternativeRock #Loudrock #NewMusic #アークタ #ラウドロック #newsingleoutnowpic.twitter.com/vUfqwueyGe

— ARKTA (@arkta_band) January 18, 2024

Stream the full version of The Lily: