UNFD Announce New Signing, Banks Arcade: 'This Is A Band Pushing Musical Boundaries'

UNFD has announced the signing of New Zealand via Melbourne group, Banks Arcade. 

The five-piece formed in Auckland and shared their debut EP Endnote in 2018, following up with 2020's Fever Dreams. 

"Earlier this year, we got an email from producer George Lever telling us about this incredible record he’d just made with a young New Zealand band called Banks Arcade," said UNFD's Luke Logemann of the signing. 

"From the moment we hit play on their new music, everyone at the label fell in love. We managed to spend some great time with the band and see their first Australian show earlier this year. This is a band pushing musical boundaries and pouring themselves into their lyrics and art, and we can’t wait to share their music with the world."

The group have also officially announced their partnerships with management group Future History Management (Holding Absence, Loathe, Sleep Token), and booking deals with Select Music (AU/NZ), Sound Talent Group (The Americas) and United Talent Agency (ROW).

"Future History are delighted to welcome Banks Arcade to our management roster, and to be once again working with our good friends at UNFD," said Future History Management's Ryan Richards. 

"With the band’s genre-defying musicality and vision, coupled with their ambition and tenacity, we look forward to building their live profile in Australia and New Zealand for the rest of 2021, before taking Banks Arcade global with the stellar Worldwide team in place from the offset."

To celebrate the announcement, the group have shared their latest single, Don't Start.

"It has an unwavering confidence to it,” said Banks Arcade vocalist Joshua O’Donnell of the track. 

 "The song is aimed at those who try to tear us down behind closed doors but would never have the guts to front up and say something in person. It also speaks to the fact that most people talking shit the loudest are only doing it because they are threatened by you. It’s important to back yourself and not get too caught up on what others say.

"We are all trying to do this life thing right and we have to heal from shit, and most of the time people saying negative things are just using that as a way to deal with their own trauma. I just let it roll off my back and choose to focus on getting better at what I do."

Check out Don't Start below.