Arjuna Oakes Returns with New Single ‘Blame’
London-based New Zealander Arjuna Oakes is back with new single Blame, a hypnotic groove steeped in Latin-boogie rhythms and the open-hearted soul-jazz energy that’s quickly becoming his signature.
Arjuna says “The instrumental for Blame was recorded when I was making While I’m Distracted. It was just a big jam but it had this irresistible quality to it, especially Sam’s groove. I couldn’t find my way back into the song until recently when I needed a vessel to express some emotions I had been bottling up.”
Arjuna’s ascent feels organic, confidently building a scene around himself. His debut album While I’m Distracted landed earlier this year, a lush and fearless body of work pulling threads from contemporary soul, modern jazz, global folk, electronica, and post-rock. It’s an album about holding onto innocence in a cynical world, about vulnerability as resistance, and art as survival. A whirlwind live run has seen him perform at London’s Ronnie Scott’s, Living Room, supporting Nathan Haines at The Jazz Café, and Bilal at Village Underground for London Jazz Festival ( see attached photo of Arjuna with Bilal and Common), as well as touring Brighton, Manchester, and Newcastle, and being asked to perform for the New Zealand Olympic team in Paris. No wonder he’s been turning heads at BBC Radio (including Deb Grant, Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum, Soweto Kinch) and picking up love across Jazz FM, FIP, Byte FM, NTS, KAWL, Soho Radio and Worldwide FM.
Released through London tastemakers Albert’s Favourites, home to And Is Phi, Scrimshire, Jonny Drop & Andrew Ashong, Irini Arabatzi, Inês Loubet, and Qwalia, Arjuna’s work sits right at the heart of their 10th anniversary celebrations.
Arjuna Oakes – Live in London
16th November: London Jazz Festival, Village Underground, London (supporting Bilal)
26th November: Sofar Sounds, London
14th December: Gilles Peterson & Patrick Forge present Another Sunday Afternoon At Dingwalls, Neon 194, London
