After supporting MUNA and Fletcher, conquering Glastonbury, and overcoming health hurdles, ARXX are poised for their biggest year yet. Hanni Pidduck and Clara Townsend discuss their evolution, secret projects, and spreading queer joy. Check out the latest cover story for our New Music Friday playlist edit, PLAY.

Words: Stephen Ackroyd.
Photos: Rosie Powell.

ARXX are having a moment. Fresh from supporting MUNA and Fletcher, playing Glastonbury, and releasing their latest single 'Trouble', Hanni Pidduck and Clara Townsend are poised to unleash their second album 'Good Boy' upon the world. It's a whirlwind of activity, but for ARXX, it's just another day in a year that's been nothing short of transformative.

As the dust settles on 'Trouble's release, Hanni's excitement is palpable as they prepare to head to Wembley for Taylor Swift and The Eras tour. Meanwhile, Clara basks in the afterglow of their recent European adventures, savouring a "little pink cake we brought back from Rotterdam". You know a band are heading in the right direction if they're sampling continental confections.

"It's been wild; it's truly felt like dreams coming true," Hanni reflects on their recent live experiences. The duo have been living out fantasies they once considered far-fetched. Clara elaborates, "There have been a lot of ticks off our band bucket list this year, stuff we put on as a completely wild card, never going to happen kind of thing."

One such wild card moment came courtesy of MUNA, a band ARXX had recently supported. "MUNA asked us to come up and sing 'Silk Chiffon' with them in Belfast, which was just crazy," Clara recounts. But this dream come true came with its own set of challenges. "I can't sing, so I was frantically trying to find something to do on stage and thankfully had a tambourine in my bag. Although I am notoriously bad at it, there is video footage that will be there forever and ever."