Cal Blakebrough getting stood up could have been just another forgettable night – a bruised ego and a story told on bleary nights at the pub.

Instead, it sparked “Waste of Time,” one of the standout tracks on Arkayla’s 2025 EP Don’t Look For Answers, and a reminder that sometimes rejection can be the best kind of inspiration.

The song quickly became a highlight of Arkayla’s sets, with fans belting out every line like it’s their own story, setting the tone for the band’s infectious live energy.

“We weren’t setting out to ‘make an EP’ this time,” says Blakebrough. “We just wanted to supercharge our live set with as much excitement as possible. That energy really comes across in the songs and the production – they were built for the stage.”

DON'T LOOK FOR ANSWERS - Arkayla — DON’T LOOK FOR ANSWERS – Arkayla

Blakebrough and his bandmates – Joe Harley, Finley Rubens, and Dylan Murphy – spent 2025 sweating it out on stages that have launched generations of Manchester talent, turning what could have been a one-off moment into anything but a waste of time. Support slots grew bigger, crowds grew louder, and by the end of the year, the four-piece headlined their biggest hometown show yet: a 900-capacity sellout at Manchester’s O2 Academy, confirming their status as one of Britain’s most talked-about rising indie bands.

Praised for their nostalgic undercurrents, Arkayla have drawn comparisons to The Smiths, the La’s, and Oasis, setting them up for a comfortable spot among Manchester’s illustrious music alumni.

That nod to the past is evident on their record, which channels the band’s live-wire energy into a batch of tight, guitar-driven songs – from the breezy and “criminally underrated” (according to one fan) “Doctor” to the explosive “Long Way Back.”

Compared to their previous release, Ella Malone, which many have described as “Beatles-esque,” this EP feels more natural and self-assured, signaling a band growing into their sound.

Building on the momentum earned last year, the band is gearing up for a run of shows across Europe starting in February. Atwood Magazine caught up with Arkayla to talk about the unbelievable moments standing on iconic stages, staying optimistic, and why, when the world is f**ed, that’s exactly when some of the best music gets made.

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:: stream/purchase Don’t Look for Answers here ::

:: connect with Arkayla here ::

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Stream: ‘Don’t Look For Answers’ – Arkayla

A CONVERSATION WITH ARKAYLA

Atwood Magazine: You capped off the year with a headlining performance at Manchester Academy. How did that feel, what stood out about that night and how do you top it in 2026?

Arkayla: Headlining Manchester Academy in December felt surreal. There was a real feeling of “we’ve built this brick by brick and it’s finally starting to look like something is happening”. The crowd that night were just unreal, and it really stood out to the four of us how much people connect with certain tunes. The room was genuinely electric. As for topping it in 2026, it’s a case of a bigger room, a lot of new music and taking it from Manchester to the rest of the UK.”

Massive congrats on the EP release! You’ve said this one was written properly as a four-piece. What was that first jam session like where things just clicked?

Arkayla: Thank you! I think things really clicked when Dylan came in to drum for us just over a year ago. Writing just seemed to come so much quicker once we had the full line up we have today. We never set out to write necessarily as a group, but the first Jam session we had where things clicked we wrote the entirety of waste of time which made us realize that this was the way forward.

Don’t Look For Answers is such a striking title - it feels like it carries some weight. Is that a reflection of where you are emotionally or creatively as a band right now? Does it speak to embracing uncertainty, or maybe letting go of needing to have everything figured out?

Arkayla: I’ve always been a fan of slightly paradoxical project titles, Definitely Maybe, whatever people say I am that’s what I’m not etc.

“Doctor” was written in an Airbnb in Liverpool. How often do you guys find yourselves writing on the fly like that?

Arkayla: I would say a vast majority of our songs are written at least somewhat on the fly. I know some artists have a very methodical process to writing music but I can’t remember that last time I ever set out to write a song. I think it was Noel Gallagher who said that his tunes would just seem to fall into his brain, so it never really felt like he was working to write them. I’d say the same is true for us.

“Waste of Time” has such a big, live energy. What’s the story behind it? Who's the serial late one in the group?

Arkayla: It’s about a time when I got stood up on a date a short while ago. I remember feeling so pissed off on the way home just thinking what a waste of time that journey was and what a waste of time that person was (who’s laughing now though eh?). The song just seemed to write itself from then on. If you’re asking who’s the serial late one in the band I’d have to say Joe. We even have to tell him to get to places half an hour earlier than he needs to because we know what he’s like.

You were the face of Pretty Green’s Autumn campaign is a huge look. How important is the fashion side of the band’s identity for you guys?

Arkayla: Hugely important. It’s really important to us that we look good because naturally people see and judge you before they hear you.

You’ve been described as having “urgent indie guitar lines worthy of The Smiths.” Do you feel the Manchester music legacy pushing you or inspiring you?

Arkayla: Yeah for sure. We’re all very proud of our roots and the music scene that came before us. We were raised on bands like the Smiths, Stone Roses, Oasis, etc. and there would definitely not be an Arkayla without them. At the same time though we want to create something that this new generation of Mancs can be inspired by and not to feel too restrained by what came before us.

Supporting The Sherlocks on release day at the Albert Hall feels like a full-circle moment. How does it feel to hit that stage on such a big day?

Arkayla: Just fate I suppose isn’t it haha. The Albert Hall is one of the most iconic venues in Manchester and one we’ve all dreamed of playing since we were kids. I remember seeing Johnny Marr here when I was about 17 and if you’d told me then we’d be there five years later there’s no chance I would’ve believed you. To do it on the day we’re releasing our second EP just makes it all the more sweet.

You’ve played with names like The Lathums, Seb Lowe, and now The Sherlocks. What’s been the biggest “we’re really doing this” moment so far?

Arkayla: Those “we’re really doing this moments” seem to come every other week at the minute! My favourite one so far was probably the neighbourhood festival in Warrington. The turnout was absolutely insane, and it was the fact that it wasn’t our headline gig and still the crowd were singing every word was incredible.

You’ve racked up two million+ views on Instagram reels leading up to the EP. How do you balance being present online while staying grounded as a band?

Arkayla: Now that we have our core audience it’s easier than you might think. In the early days it’s definitely difficult, like you’re screaming into the abyss. We used to post twice a day everyday but It’s much more about quality over quantity these days. Our guitarist Finley does all the editing for our socials so much of our online success is down to the fact that he’s got a great eye for what works.

Is there anything you’d like to add?

Arkayla: Stay optimistic people. The world may be f*ed, but it was also f*ed in the ‘70s – and look at all the great music that came from then.

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