...written and compiled by spank.

“We want world domination,” says James, DJ/Guitarist for Arkarna. After following in the footsteps of Fluke and hooking up with Levi’s for their University tour, they recently released their second single ‘The Future’s Overrated’. Arkarna’s sound is born of the different musical backgrounds of the three members; James has been into live techno since he was a teenager, working with Megadog and Spiral Tribe, whilst singer Ollie J’s studio in Kilburn, Rollover, has played host to Leftfield, amongst others. “It’s just a beacon for the finest dance music around”, he affirms. Guitarist Lalo, whose Dad used to be in 10CC, came up through the LA club scene before settling in London and joining Arkarna.

There has been much comparison, particularly in a live context, with Underworld, who also combine live mixing with live vocals and guitar. “Yeah, but I don’t think we’re compared to them favourably, really,” says Ollie, “because they’re not really doing songs like we do. We’re really trying to put songs across. Live, they’re fantastic, go see ‘em live, man. But I reckon you could buy our album and be quite satisfied with that, because it’s got different elements”.

The album will be coming out in the summer, and after the chart success of ‘House On Fire’, should see them filling out their fanbase. “We want to go back underground,” says Ollie, “We’ve seen the Top 40, and we don’t like it. We want to go back underground. No, we love it really, it’s awesome. World domination. Or failing that, female domination would do”.