ARKAYLA RETURN WITH URGENT NEW SINGLE “DOCTOR” AND ANNOUNCE BIGGEST HEADLINE SHOW YET

Manchester four-piece Arkayla are back with “Doctor”, a razor-sharp, anthemic cut designed for the stage and brimming with the intensity that’s fast becoming their calling card. Following early support from BBC 6 Music, Radio X, XS Manchester, Clash, Wonderland and more, the band are cementing themselves as a leading force in the new wave of Manchester guitar acts — and they’re doing it their way.

The single arrives ahead of a stacked run of festival dates, an autumn tour supporting The Royston Club, and a landmark moment this December when Arkayla headline the 900-capacity Manchester Academy. It’s a rapid ascent for a DIY band that’s built its fanbase the old-fashioned way: relentless gigging, word-of-mouth buzz, and sweat-drenched shows that leave both the crowd and the band looking like they’ve just climbed out of a swimming pool.

We caught up with Arkayla to talk about Doctor, avoiding the nostalgia trap, and what it means to hit Manchester Academy on their own terms.

Doctor feels like a real statement of intent — urgent, anthemic, and built for the stage. What inspired the track, and how did it come together in the studio?

The song came about on a quiet night in Liverpool while we were recording our first EP. Me and Finley decided to strip it right back and write just the two of us with acoustic guitars — something we hadn’t done in a while. As soon as Fin played those opening chords, everything clicked. We wrote it in about eight minutes. Joe’s bassline really drives the whole track, and once that was in, we knew we had something special. It’s simple, and that’s why it works.

There’s a lot of noise around Manchester’s music scene, past and present. How do you navigate that legacy while forging your own path?

We just focus on doing our own thing. With the Oasis comeback, Manchester’s on everyone’s lips, but it’s important not to live in the past. We grew up on The Smiths, Stone Roses, Oasis — but those bands were forward-thinking. People sometimes expect us to turn up in parkas and bucket hats, but we’re here to forge a new era, not rehash the old one.

Your live reputation has grown fast. What do you think keeps people coming back?

We keep it about the music. No gimmicks, no rambling — just four lads going on stage and giving it everything. We bring energy, we make people feel welcome, and we leave everything out there.

You’re about to support The Royston Club and play your biggest headline yet at Manchester Academy. How does that feel?

Surreal. A year ago, we were playing to three people at Off the Square. Now nearly a thousand are coming just for us. It’s mind-blowing.

Arkayla’s line-up came together through school, college, and chance encounters. How does that mix shape your music?

We’re four very different people from very different backgrounds, but that tension is what makes it work. We all contribute to the songwriting now, and those differences give the music its own edge. It’s not always smooth sailing, but that’s part of creating something worth listening to.