International hybrid alternative rock band ARKTA, consisting members Tak from Los Angeles and kenken from Japan, has been making waves since the release of their debut EP, “From Where the City Lights Burn“. After successful tours across Japan in April and November 2024, the band has announced their highly anticipated first-ever studio live performance, which was broadcasted on Sunday, February 23. The full performance is now available on ARKTA’s official YouTube channel.
The footage, recorded last November during their Japan Tour at CLUB Que in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, captures a pivotal moment for the band. The live video highlighted tracks from their debut EP, “From Where the City Lights Burn”, marking the closure of what the band considers their “Phase 1” – a significant chapter in their musical journey.
The common theme running through the entire EP is the transience of the present reality and the fleeting nature of the life we are currently living. The band explains that the term “transience” is not solely negative; it carries the sentiment that something vague, fragile, and easily crumbling can be beautiful and precious. While some songs touch upon unrequited feelings and eternal farewells, the emotions of longing, yearning for life, and thoughts towards companions on the journey of life are also scattered throughout the five songs. The difficulty in expressing emotions through words alone is why, as ARKTA, they wanted to convey them through sound and it’s the meaning behind creating and singing songs for them.
ARKTA will also be unveiling their new single, “DIVE“, on April 23, 2025. This track will offer an exclusive sneak peek into the band’s next phase, signaling an exciting evolution in their sound.
Stream “From Where the City Lights Burn”: https://ffm.to/fwtclb_arkta
ABOUT ARKTA
ARKTA is an international hybrid rock unit consisting of Tak (vocals), hailing from Los Angeles, California, and kenken (vocals/producer), originally from Tokyo. Tak is also recognized as the ring announcer for New Japan Pro-Wrestling and serves as the screamer for the North American band Quietude. kenken, on the other hand, was previously a member of the metalcore band DELHEZI and played support guitar for the loud band Another Story.
Combining nu-metal and emo seamlessly, the band weaves emotional melody lines and Tak’s intense screams to narrate the “ups and downs of life.” Through their music, they focus on the protagonists’ perspectives on life and death, as well as moments that evoke a sense of living in the present. Tak explains, “While expressing ourselves through music, we want listeners to feel as if they are experiencing a ‘story’ akin to movies or novels.” Kenken adds, “It is based on the emotions and words expressed within the music.”
Immediately after their formation 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 a full-capacity 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 and received high praise.
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. With a full DIY approach and keeping their plans in mind, ARKTA, who shuttles between Los Angeles and Tokyo via the internet, is currently in the process of creating new songs for their first EP, scheduled for release in February 2024. All of the production is carried out remotely, and handled recording, mixing, and mastering entirely on their own.
Website: https://www.ark-works.info/arkta
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkta_band
X: https://twitter.com/arkta_band
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2zHedjlGwM4Z3Q6kp93P96?si=HVYItYjpQP6EULcRaqnilg
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/arkta/1676174152
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arkta_official
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