Aratik

alternative rock · rock

Aratik is a femme-fronted Denver, Colorado band whose music draws on goth rock, post-punk, shoegaze, emo, dream pop and indie rock. By the band's own account it began when two friends, Kara and Clara, decided to write together after bonding over horror, vampires, oddities and wine, and formed a band with their friend Jasmine; the three later found Ariez and Jasper, who became the rhythm section, making Aratik a five-piece. The group names Black Sabbath, Cocteau Twins, Siouxsie and the Banshees, My Chemical Romance, Blonde Redhead, Jack Off Jill and Dazey and the Scouts among its influences. Aratik released its first single, Velveteen, and played live for the first time in June 2025. Its debut EP, Hummingbird Heart, followed in March 2026 and collects four songs, Hummingbird, Zombie Song, Only Daughter and Vampire Song, running a little over sixteen minutes; it is self-released through Bandcamp in 24-bit audio and tagged there with alternative rock, dream pop, grunge, gothic rock, post-punk and shoegaze. Since its live debut the band has played Denver-area bills including Soupstock 3, Death 2 Genres and Out of the Box in Longmont, and says it is looking to open for more alternative, femme-led and queer-scene shows.

Past shows