Aarktica is a music collective based out of Southern California that makes droning but melodic, shoegaze rock with rich ambient textures. The group primarily features the songwriting of founder and frontman Jon DeRosa, who sings with a warm baritone that brings to mind Joy Division's Ian Curtis or The National's Matt Berninger.
Aarktica began as a solo project for Jon DeRosa ten years ago. While studying music technology and composition at NYU, he developed permanent hearing loss in one ear. DeRosa conceived Aarktica as a way to "execute the soundtrack of life in mono... one of audio distortions, aural hallucinations and reliance on painkillers."
DeRosa recorded his first album, 2000's No Solace in Sleep, on a 4-track cassette recorder in various NYU dorm rooms. Two years later he signed with Darla records for Or You Could Just Go Through Your Whole Life and Be Happy Anyway, Bliss Out v.18.
Aarktica's latest album is Matchless Years. The opening and standout track, "Seventy Jane," borrows heavily from '80s post-punk groups like The Jesus and Mary Chain. With ringing guitars and driving bass, the track is a melancholy meditation on the eternal search for meaning in a world where "there are no happy endings."
Aarktica's revolving lineup includes recent members Chris Carrico, James Duncan (of Le Systeme Records), Mike Pride and Seth Misterka (of Dynasty).
Aarktica recently finished work on a film score for the indie feature film Apology which combines some older Aarktica material with an entirely new score written specifically for the film.
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