After supporting MUNA and Fletcher, conquering Glastonbury and overcoming health hurdles, ARXX are about to embark on their biggest year yet. Hanni Pidduck and Clara Townsend talk about their evolution, secret projects and spreading queer joy. Check out the latest cover story on our New Music Friday playlist PLAY.
Words: Stephen Ackroyd.
Photos: I’m Rosie Powell.
ARXX are having their moment right now. Hanni Pidduck and Clara Townsend have just supported MUNA and Fletcher, played Glastonbury and released their latest single ‘Trouble’ and are now ready to unleash their second album ‘Good Boy’ on the world. It’s a whirlwind of activity but for ARXX it’s just another day in a year that has been nothing short of transformative.
As the dust settles following the release of Trouble, Hanni’s excitement is palpable as they prepare to head to Wembley to see Taylor Swift and The Eras tour. Clara, meanwhile, luxuriates in the afterglow of their recent European adventures, enjoying a “little pink cake we brought back from Rotterdam.” You know a band is on the right track when they’re sampling continental sweets.
“It was wild; it really felt like dreams were coming true,” Hanni says, looking back on their recent live experiences. The duo have lived out fantasies that they once thought were far-fetched. Clara explains: “We’ve been able to cross a lot of things off our band bucket list this year, things that we considered to be complete unknowns, things that will never happen.”
One such surprise moment came with MUNA, a band that ARXX had recently supported. “MUNA asked us to come to Belfast and sing ‘Silk Chiffon’ with them, which was just crazy,” Clara says. But this dream come true brought its own challenges. “I can’t sing, so I was desperately trying to find something to do on stage, and luckily I had a tambourine in my bag. Although I’m notoriously bad at it, there is video footage that will be there forever and ever.”
It’s this self-deprecating humor, coupled with genuine reverence for their own path, that makes ARXX so endearing. They live their dreams, but they do it with a wink and a nudge, never taking themselves too seriously.
Their performance at Glastonbury, another item on their bucket list, had its own surreal moment. “Bear Grylls was in the crowd watching us at Glastonbury!” Clara adds, as if the presence of the world’s most famous survival expert at a music festival was the most natural thing in the world.
But it wasn’t all tambourines and celebrity spots. The road to her second album “Good Boy” was riddled with many obstacles. Hanni recently had to undergo an operation on a polyp on her vocal cords, a situation that can potentially jeopardize any singer’s career.
“Yeah, I’m not lying, it was a nightmare,” they admit. The timing couldn’t have been worse, with a big tour coming up. “I’m just so grateful that I got the treatment I needed in time to go on our big tour with Fletcher.”
But in the spirit of ARXX, Hanni manages to find a ray of hope. “My voice is fine now; it actually feels better than before. I’ve definitely learned a thing or two about taking care of myself and being more grateful for what you have when you have it.”
This resilience, this ability to find the positive in even the darkest moments, seems to define ARXX. They have taken the challenges thrown their way and turned them into fuel for their creative fire. The result is “Good Boy,” an album that promises to be as brave and uncompromising as the band themselves.
“It was a really fast and instinctive album,” says Hanni of the writing process. The creativity flowed freely, almost overwhelmingly. “We started working on it in November last year; we started practicing and came out with about seven song ideas each time.”
This burst of creativity seems to have been triggered by a phase of profound personal growth for both band members. Hanni in particular discovered new aspects of her identity through her songwriting.
“I always know what I want to talk about, what’s important to me. Those things come up in the songs and I’m like, ‘Oh damn, yeah, I feel that really strongly,'” explains Hanni. This subconscious exploration led to some significant realizations. “I came out as nonbinary last year and I think I always knew this record would explore those themes more deeply.”
This exploration of identity and self-discovery is at the heart of Good Boy. It’s an album that builds on the foundations of their debut, but with a newfound sense of confidence and clarity. “We’re more confident as a band about our sound and everything we want to be,” reflects Hanni. “It’s allowed us to be freer and more honest both creatively and emotionally.”
This newfound freedom is evident in their latest single, “Trouble.” “‘Trouble’ is one of our favorites on the record. It’s so fun and cheeky,” enthuses Hanni. The track seems to embody the band’s evolving sound. “It also connects a lot of the sounds on the record.”
The creation of “Trouble” reflects the intuitive, organic process that seems to define ARXX’s approach to songwriting. “I loved making it,” Hanni recalls. “Clara went into the studio for a couple of hours and came back, and I thought, we’ve done something really weird; you’re going to love it.”
However, this instinctive approach to songwriting is not necessarily the norm for ARXX. “There’s no real rule for how we write. It’s changed a lot,” explains Hanni. The vocal cord surgery has given her creative process an unexpected twist. “On this record, we had to write lyrics and melody last because of my surgery, which I think is why we’re more daring instrumentally on this record.”
This boldness extends beyond their musical choices to the band’s ethos. ARXX are on a mission to spread queer joy, a mission that has become increasingly central to their identity as artists. But how do they balance this joyful message with the more serious themes explored on “Good Boy”?
“I think there is so much joy in representing others and seeing yourself in others,” Hanni reflects. For ARXX, it’s about creating a space where people can see themselves in music. “By speaking openly about personal experiences, I hope we can give that to people.”
But the album isn’t just about exploring heavy topics. There’s plenty to celebrate too. “We have some songs on this record that celebrate queerness, like ‘Good Boy’ and ‘Swim,’ and playing those will feel magical.”
The title of the album itself is a tribute to this queer joy, inspired by a “queer and cheeky” slogan on a t-shirt, as Hanni describes it. When asked if they had considered other titles, Hanni’s answer is unequivocal: “No, I never changed. I knew it would be called ‘Good Boy’; even when we didn’t have any songs yet, I was sure of it.”
As ARXX prepare for the release of ‘Good Boy’, they are also gearing up for another high-profile festival appearance: Reading & Leeds. For Hanni, it’s a chance to rewrite some less pleasant festival memories. “I was in Leeds once and got a cup of piss to my head during Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, so I want to improve that experience.”
Clara, on the other hand, experiences the anticipation of a newcomer. “I’ve never been there before, but I’m so excited! I used to see it on TV all the time and since then I’ve really wanted to be in a band and play at festivals. Hopefully without pissing!”
Their excitement extends not only to their own performance, but also to the acts they will be sharing the stage with. “We’re really looking forward to seeing The Beaches,” says Hanni. Clara adds: “I’m so obsessed with this Beaches album. Dream Wife is also playing; they were our idols when we started out, so it will be nice to see them again.”
But ARXX’s ambitions go far beyond the festival tour. They’re going on tour in October and November. “This is our biggest headline tour to date,” exclaims Clara, “and in many cities these are our first headline shows.”
The tour is just one part of the duo’s busy schedule. When asked about their recent activities, Hanni reveals, “We have a few secret projects going on that we’re dying to share with you.” They’ve even found time to start a podcast, ARXX Us Anything, which Hanni describes as “very silly” and full of “awkward conversations.” Like all good bands, ARXX are constantly on the move, always moving on to the next thing before the ink is dry on the last one.
ARXX have overcome personal and professional challenges, embraced their identity, and created an album that promises to be both a celebration and a statement. With “Good Boy” on the horizon, ARXX are ready to take their place in the spotlight and spread their message of queer joy one song at a time. ■
ARXX’s new single “Trouble” is out now. Their new album “Good Boy” is out October 4th. Follow Dork’s PLAY Spotify playlist here.
