Date/Time: Fri 15 Aug 2025, 9:00PM
Tickets: €12.50
ARXX is a dynamic power-pop duo from Brighton, formed by lifelong best friends Hanni (guitar & vocals) and Clara (drums & percussion). Known for their high-energy performances and unapologetic songwriting, ARXX has made waves with their electrifying live shows. They’ve released two albums, played over 100 gigs—including festivals like Glastonbury, Leeds, and Reading—and even had original tracks featured in the BBC series Riot Women. Their music, a fusion of garage rock and punk-inspired power pop, is celebrated for its anthemic sound, raw lyrics, and its inclusive, indomitable spirit. ARXX is, without a doubt, one of the most wholesome rock bands around!
ARXX is on a mission to spread queer joy—joy that they wished for when they were younger and are now proudly champions of. This message has always been at the core of the band, but it has grown louder and more confident as Hanni and Clara have explored and embraced their identities. Their second album, Good Boy, is a vibrant testament to this journey.
Hanni explains: “This album is queer in its very nature. Everything about it is queer, and you can’t get away from it. The songs are personal celebrations of being unapologetically yourself and being honest about it. By the time you reach your thirties, you think you should know yourself, but actually, you’re always learning who you are.”
Formed in 2017 after a mutual admiration for each other’s playing, ARXX initially began as an “angry punk band.” It took a few years of playing shows with bands whose music didn’t quite align with theirs before they began to reassess their sound. “We kept getting put on bills with bands that were lovely but didn’t match our vibe,” says Clara. “Then we discovered MUNA, and we became obsessed with how they blended pop and rock. That was a pivotal moment for us.”
Embracing their pop influences and inspired by artists like Maggie Rogers and Charli XCX, ARXX’s debut album Ride or Die marked a turning point. The album mixed sparkling melodies with their signature electric energy, showing the duo’s refusal to limit themselves. “When we perform live, we’re still heavier than the average pop band, but I think that’s exciting,” says Hanni. “On record, we have the freedom to explore, never saying no to any good idea.”
The 18 months following their debut have been full of highs and lows. They ticked off a bucket-list moment supporting MUNA, bonded with fellow queer artists on Fletcher’s all-queer tour, and released a charity single benefiting the trans collective We Exist. However, personal challenges arose as well. Just before the Fletcher tour, Hanni underwent vocal surgery, and despite being on vocal rest for two weeks, the first day they could sing was during a 2,500-person show. During this time, both Hanni and Clara underwent significant personal transformations—Hanni came out as non-binary, while Clara, raised in Dubai where homosexuality is still illegal, embraced her queer identity.
“It’s been a massive experience of relearning myself,” Hanni reflects. “As a trans person, you realize how tough life can be, but I’m genuinely happy to be discovering who I am. I want to aggressively celebrate that!”
Clara, who grew up in Dubai, adds, “When I moved back to the UK, it took me a while to realize that it was okay to be myself. I never saw queer people represented on TV growing up. But over the years, I’ve found my people in this community, and I feel really confident in the scene now.”
Good Boy—named after a cheeky slogan on a t-shirt Hanni loved—is a celebration of this journey. Written quickly and produced in Brighton with longtime collaborator Steve Ansell of Blood Red Shoes, the album captures ARXX’s growth. For the first time, they focused on writing music first, crafting songs that felt expansive and joyful. “We’ve experimented more on this record,” says Clara. “It’s about removing the pressure to be one thing and realizing we can make whatever we want.”
Good Boy features a mix of upbeat, euphoric anthems and introspective ballads. The recent single Crying In The Carwash epitomizes ARXX’s love for euphoria, inspired by the surreal moment of discovering they’d be supporting MUNA. “We played it on tour, and it was a real shift for us. It gave us the confidence to think, ‘We can do anything!’” Hanni shares.
Tracks like Swim reflect Hanni’s gender journey, while Trouble channels the angst of a breakup with a dark, experimental edge. Forgive and Forget presents raw, honest lyrics set against straightforward guitar, while Dublin, a sparse piano ballad, honors an important father figure in Hanni’s life.
Good Boy might come less than two years after its predecessor, but it marks a lifetime of growth. With their biggest summer of festivals ahead—including slots at Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds—along with an upcoming October tour and a soundtrack for Riot Women, ARXX is proving that when you fully embrace who you are, great things follow.
