Atakarma is an indie/alternative four-piece from the UK with a memorable mix of Strokes-esque riffs and Clash-like soul. The band is composed of; frontman Leo Garbutt, lead guitarist Gideon Olney; bassist Elliot Roffe and drummer Kieran Toft.

The name "Atakarma" was chosen largely because of Leo's Chilean ancestry: the name originates from the Atacama desert in South America, a region which has inspired many of the band's rhythms and their more occasional ambient leanings.

A large part of what drives Atakarma's appeal is their wide range of influences, from indie groups including Arcade Fire, Bright Eyes and Sigur Rós - to blues acts such as the Allman Brothers Band, from pop rock groups such as Green Day and Blink 182 - to folk based legends Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylan.

Lyrically, Atakarma aspires to deconstruct their listeners' personal struggles and resonate with their ambitions, acknowledged by Stephen Morris for the BBC: "there is something about the lyrics and the momentousness of the music that acts as a release".

Atakarma's unique style is completed by their compelling live performances across the UK.

Visit their Facebook page and join the conversation on Twitter. Their music is available to stream and download for free on BandCamp.

Producer, musician and songwriter in London, UK

Leo Garbutt is following