Arjuna Oakes

While I'm Distracted LP 2x12"

ALBFLP023

Albert's Favourites

36

Format: 2x12inch VinylRelease: 07.05.2025

TRACKLIST

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• Add to Playlist B2:     Lay Low
• Add to Playlist B3:     Before It’s All Over
• Add to Playlist B4:     The Love That I Feel
• Add to Playlist C1:     Motel
• Add to Playlist C2:     Sell My Memories (Interlude)
• Add to Playlist C3:     Get Me Some Grief
• Add to Playlist C4:     I’m Alive
• Add to Playlist C5:     Caught (Catch Me Reprise)
• Add to Playlist D1:     Won’t Let This World Break My Heart
• Add to Playlist D2:     No One
• Add to Playlist D3:     Mallet Groove

Add to Playlist Play all 16 tracks

DJ Support: Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2), Huey Morgan (BBC Radio 6), Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 6), Deb Grant (New Music Fix, BBC Radio 6)

On debut album ‘While I'm Distracted’, London-based New Zealander Arjuna Oakes draws inspiration from contemporary soul and jazz, touches of global folk, electronica, modern classical, and post-rock, with dynamic arrangements and production. ‘While I'm Distracted’ is an album about fighting for your innocence and right to be a vulnerable and honest human. Arjuna’s songwriting explores themes of identity, depression, existentialism, social media, loss of innocence, and finding hope for the future through artistic expression.

'I'm obsessed with albums,' says Arjuna. 'I've made seven EPs, but needed time to tackle a full length record. I was using the EPs to learn the craft of how to make a great album, much like a director will make short films before they make a feature. I wanted to take the listener on a journey and spark their imagination. Hopefully the album expresses complex emotions, rather than having an intellectual concept. I'd rather ask questions than answer them'.

Across the album, Arjuna performs vocals, piano, keyboards, synths, production, and wrote the string arrangements. He’s joined by Harrison Scholes on bass, Jo Jenkins and Andre Smith on guitar, Sam Notman on drums, Louisa Williamson on saxophone, Nathan Haines on flute, Kate King on french horn, Leah Thomas on clarinet, Hilary Hayes and Emma Colligan on violin, Chris Van Der Zee on viola, Charley Davenport on cello, Zane Hawkins on percussion, James Macewan on trumpet, and additional production by Callum Mower.

• Media Condition: Mint (M)
• Sleeve Condition: Mint (M)
• Genre: FUNK
• Format Type: 2xLP