Breaking A Fold

Future Lullaby

Sierra

The Storm

Craving The World

Until You

Twilight Fade

Arjuna Oakes’ debut single is the story of a dysfunctional relationship set to an ambient and soulful soundscape, featuring some of New Zealand’s talented young jazz musicians. 

Recorded at Roundhead Studios.

Produced by: Arjuna Oakes
Co-produced/Audio Engineer: Paddy Hill

Musicians:
Arjuna Oakes: Vocals/Rhodes/Piano/Synths
Loxmyn Mcdonald-Ness: Sax
Rhohil Kishore: Drums
Zane Hawkins: Bass

Additional Credits/Special thanks:
Callum Mower, Gene Rivers, Max Gunn, Bobby Kennedy, Merrilee de Simas, David Oakes, Ian Oakes, Lynne de Simas, Andrew Stevens, Zoe Everingham, Sarah Fabrin, Brandon Haru.

Deep End

21-year-old New Zealand musician Arjuna Oakes's debut EP, The Watcher, is a showcase of his ability as a singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and producer, and a testament to his depth of engagement with music. The first two tracks on the EP fit neatly within the jazz-infused soul music landscape he is quickly becoming part of, but the latter half of the EP is far harder to categorise. Featuring instrumentation from some of New Zealand’s most exciting young jazz musicians, The Watcher explores a wide variety of themes and musical ideas, with Arjuna’s charismatic soul vocals and robust sonic palette serving as a connective thread. From big social issues to personal relationships and internal self-discoveries,  across The Watcher, Arjuna takes his cue from the title track and exploration of mass surveillance, and it’s relevance within our everyday lives. This watcher theme continues throughout the rest of the EP, with the stories told rendered as if being observed by an outside force. Decorated by cinematic soundscapes, hypnotic grooves, creative improvisation and catchy melodies, Arjuna's debut is a test palette for his future projects, one that makes his enthusiasm to develop and explore themes and style in song abundantly clear.

The Watcher

Lost

Old School Heart

Follow:
https://www.instagram.com/arjunaoakes...
https://www.facebook.com/arjunaoakesm...

Stream One For:
https://open.spotify.com/album/2v8DnH...

Written and performed by Arjuna Oakes
Mixed by Callum Mower
Recorded/audio engineered by Patrick Hill (Roundhead studios)
Mastered by Kelly Hibbert (Almachrome)
Illustration by Sarah Willis
Animation by Matt Worthington

Lyrics

I let her find me
She smiled and I was hers
Our spirits binding
We didn't have to say a word
I live in the golden place

One for me
One for her
One For
x2

I took my time
I let it cover me
Hold in the sublime
Hold it all until I go
I live in the golden place

One for me 
One for her
One for
x2

All those times
All those lonely nights
I reckon they were worth it in the end
All these days
All these nights
We spend together
We spend together

One for me
One for her
One for
x2

One For

This song is about the importance of communication when suffering from depression and other mental health issues, told in a fun and funky way, which I think is important now more than ever :)

Follow Arjuna Oakes:
https://www.instagram.com/arjunaoakes/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/arjunaoakesmusic/

Stream Nobody Knows:
https://open.spotify.com/track/6Xg1D2r45RyjLcsgikdULA?si=ALN7l4vqQkO92NVNgW4AlQ

Produced by Arjuna Oakes
Written by Arjuna Oakes, Harrison Scholes and Dean Gibson
Recorded by Patrick Hill at Roundhead Studios
Mixed by Callum Mower
Mastered by Kelly Hibbert (almachrome)
Filmed by Matt Silcock

Keys/Vocals - Arjuna Oakes
Guitar/Vocals - Jo Jenkins
Trumpet/Vocals - James Macewan
Bass - Harrison Scholes
Drums - Sam Notman

Lyrics:

Verse 1

I wait my turn
I've done my time
But then my heart slips away
Until all I see is grey

I try to run
I try to hide
But then I realise alll I needed
Was someone to confide in

Chorus

Nobody knows but I'm feeling real hazy
Nobody knows but I think I'm going crazy
Nobody knows so I'm on my own
Nobody knows

Nobody knows but my inspiration's sucked up
Nobody knows but the world is really fucked up
Nobody knows
Nobody knows

Verse 2

I face my foes
They're back again
With the anger of men
And the slyness of the pen

The system cracked
Without a sound
But what good are tools to mend it 
If our hands are still bound

Nobody Knows

Cautionary Tale

Produced by Arjuna Oakes
Mixed by Jim Macrae and Callum Mower
Mastered by Kelly Hibbert
Recorded by Paddy Hill at Roundhead Studios
Distributed by Russell at Prime Direct Distro and Jeremy at Rain and Shine Records
Artwork by Sarah Willis

Arjuna Oakes - Vocals/keys/synths/percussion/production
Jo Jenkins - Guitar/backing vocals
James MacEwan - Trumpet/backing vocals
Harrison Scholes - Bass Guitar
Sam Notman - Drums

Special thanks to everyone at Squaresums&co, Te Aihe Butler, Merrilee de Simas, David Oakes, Ian Oakes, Lynne de Simas, Andrew Stevens, John Psathas, Ben Morgan, Daniel Waterson, Josh Parker, Max Gunn, Zane Hawkins, Henry Milne and Jeremy Moris

Escapism

Watch the World Burn

Arjuna Oakes is a 21-year-old singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer from Auckland, New Zealand, currently based in Wellington. Following the release of his debut EP in 2019 with a combined 300,000+ Spotify listens, Arjuna and his band have spent a jubilant summer impressing crowds at some of New Zealand’s most exciting music festivals including Rhythm and Vines, 121 Festival and Tora Bombora. With the current lockdown and being unable to perform live, Arjuna and his band are releasing new music and live sessions in the coming months that feature an entirely different sound.
 
With an act comprising some of New Zealand’s most exciting young jazz musicians, Arjuna and his band present a euphoric live experience and recorded sound, with his charismatic soul vocals and robust sonic palette serving as a connective thread. Decorated by cinematic soundscapes, hypnotic grooves, creative improvisation and catchy melodies, Arjuna’s recordings and performances displays a musical sensibility well beyond his years.
 
With tracks from The Watcher EP playlisted by tastemakers as diverse as Tokyo’s influential DJ Taro of J-Wave FM, as well as Vogue Paris’ 2019 selection, and a review from UK record store, Juno records saying “as debuts go it's an absolute stunner”, Arjuna’s appeal is truly international. Arjuna’s next project will be focused more on live performances from him and his band, presenting an entirely different side to the rising talent.
 -Rain and Shine Records

Arjuna Oakes

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