INTERVIEW: Arankai On Backing Yourself, Inspiring Freedom & New Album ‘The Shape Of Blue’

Oscar Porter says a period of intense pressure over whether to continue with his band Archers or commit to his solo project Arankai led him to choose to back himself. That decision shaped his new album, ‘The Shape Of Blue’, which explores vulnerability and uncertainty while marking a new direction for his music.

Porter says he reached the turning point in October last year, after writing three songs for the record, including ‘Convince Me’ and ‘Have Faith’. He describes feeling pulled between competing demands and says choosing his solo work brought both fear and relief. The album combines heavy, varied production with darker, more ambient ideas, and its songs are arranged to connect with tracks from his earlier “red” album.