Arthur Ahbez Premieres the Music Video for His Audacious Single “Reckless”

If you take a look at Arthur Ahbez’s music video for his latest single, “Reckless,” and you’re old enough, there’s a good chance it’ll remind you of television from the ’70s. From the washed-out colour scheme to the style of clothes to the clips of an old Western, it’s got retro vibes all over it. But that’s the kind of artist Ahbez is, old-school and no-nonsense in his approach.

He’s likely to remind you of the music of generations long gone when it was more about the music and less about the ostentatiousness. “Reckless” is the first single from Ahbez’s third record, Arthur Ahbez & The Flaming Ahbez, set for a November release. The song is defined by its gritty vocals and raucous guitars, pontificating on the absurdity of teenage alcoholism and Hollywood factory farm shootings.

Describing the song’s origins, Ahbez tells us:

“‘Reckless’ initially emerged from a catch-up with my bandmate Joe after my return from Prague. We found ourselves lost in the music, jamming over two chords that would become the foundation of the song. Inspired by Neil Young’s ‘Bite The Bullet,’ I later created a dynamic hook and experimented with pushing my vocals into different ranges and timbres, aiming for a gritty sound reminiscent of Barry McGuire. The result was what Joe described as a ‘power nugget’ of a song.”

Hailing from Auckland, New Zealand, Ahbez is more of a DIY artist, if you haven’t guessed. He began working with his band, The Flaming Ahbez, in 2019, which marked a major departure for him. Before this, most of his recordings were done by himself at home. Eventually, he began to seek more variation to his sound and more energy which led to more elaborate recordings. From album to album, Ahbez has demonstrated great growth as an artist and a songwriter. His songs are developed in his unique way with his unique philosophy. They are centred around core themes like love, existential angst, joy, and trepidation.

Those themes remain at the core of Arthur Ahbez & The Flaming Ahbez. There are serious moments, but he operates firmly with a tongue-in-cheek approach most of the time. The new record promises to be Ahbez’s most elaborate work yet, a set of distinct, time-honoured jams driven by his eclectic electric guitar playing.

Arthur Ahbez & The Flaming Ahbez Track Listing:

1. Sister
2. A Simple Medication
3. A to G
4. A Song For Jim
5. Late Night Empty Pocket Blues
6. Take It Easy
7. Reckless
8. Hot Poop!
9. Lost Sleep
10. Cool Water

Arthur Ahbez & The Flaming Ahbez ‘Reckless’ album artwork