Arca Will Return With New Album 'XXXXX'
Arca has announced her new album, ‘XXXXX’, arriving on 31 July via XL Recordings. It marks her first full-length release since the groundbreaking 'KICK' series, bringing an end to a five-year wait for a new studio album.
Across 16 tracks, ‘XXXXX’ sees Arca moving into darker, more abrasive territory. Originally conceived as a mixtape, the project gradually evolved into an album that leans into unpredictability rather than polished perfection. "It seems playful, also mischievous, to interrupt that autopilot," Arca says of the record's instinctive approach.
To introduce the album, Arca will stage a new Diva.Experimental livestream on 23 July. Directed by Daniel Sannwald and styled by Akeem Smith, the two-hour performance will stream live from Barcelona via Twitch and YouTube, featuring unreleased music performed across seven different locations. Supported by Feeld, the event promises to offer an early look into the world of ‘XXXXX’ before its release.
The album artwork continues Arca's fascination with transformation, depicting her as a biomechanical figure flanked by two owls — symbols of protection and the underworld in Greek mythology. It's a fitting visual for an artist who has long blurred the boundaries between electronic music, performance art and visual culture.
The announcement follows another busy period for Arca, who recently released the double single ‘Puta’ / ‘Sola’, collaborated with Tokischa, remixed tracks for Addison Rae, Robyn and Hikaru Utada, contributed production to Madonna's 'CONFESSIONS II', and debuted her first painting exhibition at London's ICA.
Five years on from the 'KICK' era, ‘XXXXX’ doesn't feel like a return so much as another reinvention.
'XXXXX' releases on 31 July via XL Recordings.
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