Rising rocker, Arankai, is charging into a new era and he's captivating fans along the way. His latest release, "Choke", is a tantalizing showcase of his songwriting prowess: provocative, raucous, and unapologetically explosive. After signing with Hopeless Records in 2025, Arankai has relentlessly been stampeding his way to the top, cultivating an audience of over 2.5 million followers through viral social media posts and energetic live performances. He released his debut album ‘A Portrait of Red’ last year with standout tracks including ‘Contortionist’, ‘Conquer (Feat. Josh Mowery of Catch Your Breath)’, and viral fan favorite, ‘Dead Throne’. Now, Arankai is kicking off his next chapter with the leading single, "Choke".
“CHOKE addresses the one-sided relationship, yearning for mutual love and respect. In our world where there is division, disunity and conflict I think CHOKE reflects the current climate while also being a metaphor for personal relationships - which is a topic I cover frequently in my music. I wanted a raw, visceral sound for this song: the guitar leads almost sound like they’re begging, the rhythms sound so saturated that the distortion practically goes in and out of phase. This plaintiff, desperate instrumentation is what I needed to express this song properly, and it sets the tone for this next record: heavy, saturated and aggressive.
I didn’t know where exactly I was going to start for this new series of songs - I just knew I needed something different, something raw and visceral that sounded like the lyrics I was writing. So we went back to the roots of the bands that inspired me when I first got into rock music: Switchfoot, Deftones, 10 Years, Sevendust, Korn, and we came up with a sound somewhere between playing your guitar in a garage with your friends, and the polished tones people expect from a well produced record. And that’s how we came up with CHOKE, and this sets the precedent for the new era of Arankai."
Hailing from the Midwestern United States, Arankai first emerged in 2022 with a series of independent releases. Blending elements of metal, alternative rock, and emotionally driven storytelling, he quickly built a loyal following through his raw sound and striking presence across social media. In 2025, he unveiled the first installment of his long-anticipated three-album series with the release of A Portrait of Red, cementing his place as a rising force in the alternative metal scene.
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