London-based New Zealander Arjuna Oakes says the title of his new album, While I’m Distracted, comes from a lyric in the song “Before It’s All Over”, and it perfectly captures the themes woven throughout the record.
“It’s the song I’m probably most proud of,” Oakes says. “I wrote it in a very stream of consciousness way… lyrics like ‘sell my memories so I don’t have to forget’ express the feeling of how we’ve surrendered so much of ourselves to social media and mass consumption, we don’t have so much responsibility for our own lives anymore.”
The track, built around a mix of bass, acoustic guitar and Oakes’ raw vocals, delivers what he described on Instagram as feeling “like a punch to the gut.” That emotion mirrors the anxiety that comes with choosing to be vulnerable, something the song invites listeners to lean into.
Other lyrics, like “I’ll face the darkness alone, so I can stumble by design,” reflect Oakes’ belief in embracing flaws and allowing space to make mistakes, rather than striving for perfection.
To go with the release, Arjuna Oakes recorded a live version of “Before It’s All Over” in his leafy home garden in Wellington. You can watch the clip below.
Since releasing his debut EP The Watcher in 2019, Oakes has released several projects, including First Nights and Final Days, created with longtime friend and co-producer Serebii. Both were released through LA label Innovative Leisure (home to BADBADNOTGOOD and Allah-Las). First Nights debuted at #5 on KCRW’s Top 30 Albums chart and picked up airplay on BBC 6 Music and BBC 1Xtra.
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Recently, he performed for the New Zealand Olympic team in Paris, supported Nathan Haines at The Jazz Cafe, and appeared at the Manchester Jazz Festival. Next, he’ll officially launch the album in London.
Arjuna Oakes’ While I’m Distracted is out now.
