NEW SINGLE 'SODA' OUT NOW

W: Mandy Morgan

Brighton four-piece LAIKK are a collection of socially anxious and sensitive twenty-somethings who just so happen to make angsty indie rock music together. Their sound is deliberately all over the place, shifting seamlessly between sweet, floaty dream-pop and heavy, dark grunge with the occasional subtle jazz breakdown. Behind the scenes, their pre-show rituals reflect that same eclectic energy—while their bassist reaches for a paracetamol and a satsuma, their lead guitarist practices tai chi, their drummer fusses over his hair, and their singer runs through vocal warm-ups in the venue toilets.

"We describe ourselves as floaty indie rock, but it's a bit grunge and a bit dark... It's indie rock with a bit of a twist!"

Refusing to be neatly pigeonholed into a single sub-genre, the band gravitates naturally towards alt-rock on stage while pushing their studio writing into heavier, more melancholic territory. That evolving identity is front and centre on their new single, Soda. Written a couple of years ago at the start of an ill-fitted relationship, the track captures the feeling of being enthralled by a fictionalised composite of past infatuations—someone with a lot of bad habits who feels way cooler, and a bit more messed up, than you are.

"Soda is about falling in love with someone who's not good for you... someone way cooler, and a bit more messed up, than you are."

Practically speaking, having a drummer with a car keeps the operation moving, even if the band lightheartedly claims they all hate each other and that half the line-up is going bald. Their trajectory, however, points to a clear sonic evolution: steering towards a weightier, darker sound without abandoning the distinct identity of their earlier singles. Their live set often catches audiences off guard with just how heavy it can get.

"I think people who've only heard our singles would be surprised by how heavy our set gets at times."

Drawing inspiration from female-fronted alt-rock acts like NewDad, midwest emo bands like Turnover, and classic UK indie rock staples, the group also feeds on the diverse individual tastes within the band. With members bringing background experience from jazz to classic indie, their writing reflects a rich blend of influences, alongside inspiration drawn from local Brighton contemporaries like Larlin, Die Twice, and Ellis-D. High on their wishlist for future collaborations is Far Caspian, whose layered, driving guitar work and dreamy production align perfectly with the band’s vision for a raspy, moody alt-rock track.

"Us all having such different music tastes is both a blessing and a curse... now it's such a huge part of our DNA."

Finding that collective groove didn't happen overnight. Early line-up changes—spanning three guitarists and a brief stint with a drum machine—made settling on a definitive sound difficult. Today, their strength lies in an ego-free songwriting process where ideas are tried, dropped without hard feelings, and refined until they hit the mark. They deliberately avoid relying on a single formula, aiming instead to innovate within the indie-rock lane and constantly subvert expectations.

"We never want a set that is the same song over and over again, or have a formula that we over-rely on."

Soda serves as the ultimate bridge between their recorded output and their live energy. Unlike their previous releases, it delivers a driving, dark, and moody attitude that mirrors what fans experience on stage. Only six months into their journey as an active band, LAIKK are actively carving out their place in the local scene with the aim of becoming a recognizable household name. If you spot them on a bill across Brighton, get down early and check them out.