Arjuna Oakes - While I'm Distracted (2LP) [Albert's Favourites]

Format: 2x12" in printed inner and outer sleeves.

On his debut album While I’m Distracted, London-based New Zealander Arjuna Oakes draws on contemporary soul and jazz, with hints of global folk, electronica, modern classical and post-rock, offering dynamic arrangements and production. While I’m Distracted is an album about the struggle to retain innocence and the right to be a vulnerable and honest person.

Arjuna’s compositions address themes such as identity, depression, existentialism, social media, the loss of innocence, and the search for hope in the future through artistic expression. “I’m obsessed with albums,” Arjuna says. “I’ve made seven EPs, but I needed time to tackle a full-length record. I used the EPs to learn the craft of how to make a great album, in the same way a director makes short films before a feature. I wanted to take the listener on a journey and spark their imagination. Hopefully the album manages to express complex emotions, rather than an intellectual concept. I’d rather ask questions than answer them.”

Throughout the album, Arjuna performs vocals, piano, keyboards, synths, handles production, and wrote the string arrangements. He is 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, and James Macewan on…