An Interview With the Soulful Songstress, ARI!

Photo credit: David-Simon Dayan

Ari is an emotive and indie recording artist. This soulful songstress will be releasing her debut single “Baptize” on July 13^th. This track showcases her vocal talent by combining passionate and haunting tones that create a gripping experience.

In regard to the single, Ari notes, “the song is very personal to me. It set my artist project into motion.”

 Born and raised in Tarzana, CA, Ari grew up immersed in the performing arts culture. She began singing at the tender age of six, spent most of her youth ballroom dancing professionally, and went on sing in school choir’s musical theater. While currently focusing on her musical career, she still gets her fix of dancing in at local salsa clubs, calling it “a sweet release.” Similar to singing and songwriting, Ari finds liberation in dancing as a way to connect with her most primal, natural human sensuality free of judgement.

 With a background in the arts, Ari began professionally songwriting at the age of 16, finding her artist inspiration in poetry and photography. She has since written for numerous recording artists, including DJ Whiteshadow and Avi Kaplan (formerly Pentatonix), and The Crystal Fighters. Ari has found inspiration for such in photography, poetry, film and dance. Artists such as Leonard Cohen, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Nina Simone, Sylvia Plath and Patti Smith have influenced the basis of Ari’s own artistry and songwriting. Ari believes the true essence of art, and the source of her inspiration, can be found within portrayals of ‘true honesty.’

Outside of the studio, Ari spends most of her free time in the kitchen. Ari’s love of cooking stemmed from childhood memories of her mother and grandmother constantly coaxing her into the kitchen. Continuing the family tradition, she now loves to cook for the sake of feeding the people she loves – just as her music is food for the soul.

Connect with Ari Here:

Instagram | 20.3K Followers

Facebook

Official Website: www.arisaysorry.com

Read more about Ari in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time today, Ari!

Ah, Thank you!

Where does this interview find you now? What’s on tap for the rest of your day?

I’m staring out my balcony in Laurel Canyon, drinking a fine pour-over in fine silks and petting my very rare and very expensive exotic cat. By silks, I mean, tattered sweat pants that I stole from a former lover and also, I don’t have a cat. I’m allergic.

Overall, how do you think 2018 has been treating you and your music career? What has been one goal that you have had this year and how close are you to reaching it?

2018 has been treating me and my music career “pretty good.” Sometimes 2018 gets scared of its own emotions though and loses its temper and that really hurts my music career’s feelings. But I love it. I just released my new single “Baptize”, and plan on writing, recording and releasing more music in 2018.

Growing up, was music always a big part of your life? Can you recall your first ever musical experience?

I remember making up a nursery rhyme song about my older brother being a duck.. It was a masterpiece. I might resurrect the “Kaya is a Duckie all day long” for my next single.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? Has there been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all?

Photo credit: David-Simon Dayan

The biggest surprise? Well, the music I used to create was out of wanting to be liked and nobody seemed to like it. Now I’m creating music I like and more people like it. What a concept, right?

How do you think you and your music have been influenced by your hometown (I live very close to Tarzana where you were raised!) and where you live today? If you don’t think that it has affected you at all, why is that?

Oh, lovely. Another valley kid. Your secret is safe with me. It’s less of Tarzana and more of what happened in Tarzana that influences my music. I’m very affected by my childhood, naturally. We all are. We’re all a bunch of traumas and experiences with limbs, figuring out how to live the happiest life we can. I don’t mean for that to sound so morbid, I do mean that in a positive way. We can use our junk, I really do believe that.

How excited are you to be releasing your forthcoming single “Baptize.” What was the inspiration for this track? How is it very personal to you?

When I grow up I want to be the Pope, so there’s that. But really, it’s a song about transcending your darkness into something beautiful, into light. This is gonna be a shocker, but I spent the better part of my life subtly destroying myself with a quiet yet insidious self-hatred. About a year ago, it became a little too loud to ignore and I had to begin the deep descend into my brain. Lots of monsters in there, but we’ve come to a mutual understanding so I let them exist and they help me write music. It really is a song of catharsis for me.

How will this new track showcase your skills as an artist and truly introduce you to the world?

By people pressing that play button baby and opening those gorgeous ears that Zenu gave them. (I’m not a Scientologist but Zenu is still cool.)

When do you hope to release a full album of new songs?

By the end of the year. Stay tuned.

How do you think that you have continued to grow and develop as an artist over the years and since you began writing music?

I write the way I talk now. I used to try so hard to be poetic until I realized life is poetry. The people around me are poetry. Poetry happens when you’re honest. I mean, I’m saying this and it feels like, “duh.”

If you had all the time and money in the world, which one of your songs would you make a music video for and what would your dream music video look like?

I’d make a music video of every song I’ve ever recorded playing simultaneously and everyone would be there! You! Me! Ma! Pa! Aunt Esther! Uncle Abe! Everyone! And we’d all be in the Oval Office because we’d all be president.

What do you think makes for an ideal show for you? What has been a favorite performance of yours so far? Do you have any upcoming shows this summer?

Photo credit: David-Simon Dayan

I love a small, intimate venue. Such sweet vulnerability. Makes you feel alive.

We are currently living through a very trying and politically charged time right now so I am curious to know how your own music is reflecting this time period? If you don’t think it is, why is that? Would you say that other musicians are making music that has been influenced by this climate? 

My music is not politically charged. I think the climate certainly influences my mood which then impacts my music, but I can’t say my music is political by any stretch. There are definitely artists creating brilliant art influenced by this climate.

What has it been like keeping up with your social media accounts and all the different platforms? Is it hard to stay up to date on it all?

I don’t necessarily think I do an excellent job keeping up. I am a fan of Instagram stories. Makes us all feel a little more connected than we actually are and I like to feel that false sense of comfort. Loneliness is ouch.

Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely still love to work with in the future? 

One artist that particularly inspires me is Jim Parsons. I’m a real Big Bang head. I know he’s not a musician but I wish he was because that would be so fun to record with him a bunch of hilarious songs about being a nerd. Oh and Moses Sumney.

If you were going to be stranded on a deserted island forever, what musical item would you take with you? 

If the question is what instrument I would take, it would be a piano, because that’s all I know how to play. Although, I’m sure if I were on a deserted island forever, I’d learn to play any instrument I got left with. …But, I don’t want to get deserted on an island.

If your music was going to be featured on any TV show that is currently on right now, which would you love it to be on? Or if you prefer, what is a movie that you love that you wish your music was featured in? 

Well, besides my big jam with The Big Bang Theory. I’d love it to play on the Situation Room. I would just love to see that hunk Wolf Blitzer tappin’ those grey footsy tootsies to my toonie woonies!

At the end of the day, what do you hope your fans take away from your music?

This is going to sound weird, but I hope they like it.

Where can our readers connect with you?

On Instagram: @witchofthewestcoast. Peace and love to all!