CalArts graduate Ariella explored life’s emotional depths and personal experiences in the new album embracing vulnerability and heartbreak. “From heartache to healing, CryBaby stands as an intimate diary of Ariella’s life lessons, kept secrets, and deepest feelings, and will draw listeners in with its sincerity and depth.” This authentic approach to music lays a solid foundation for relatable music so we felt it was time to get to know Ariella a bit better as an artist and as an individual.

Kateryna Topol: Hello Ariella, how’s it going?

Ariella: Hey! It’s going good, all things considered. I’m based in LA and we are going through some hard times over here due to the wildfires. I am lucky to not have been directly affected and the community has really been coming together to help out.

KT: Glad to hear you have not been affected personally, our hearts go out to all of those who have been… Do you recall any specific moments growing up that set that passion in motion?

A: While my mom always says that I would sing the Barney theme song as soon as I could talk. I think the first artist that I heard that completely blew my mind was Bon Iver. Hearing “For Emma” was an extremely formative moment in my music-making. It was the first time that I heard folk music that broke the rules and pushed the boundaries of production and arrangement within that genre.

KT: And I am sure you are not the only one. Congratulations on the release of your debut album, CryBaby, how do you feel about it now a few months in?

A: Thank you! Having CryBaby out in the world feels surreal. Each song is truly a piece of my heart and it feels great to finally be able to let go of those stories. To me, it is a marking of a new chapter of my life. Now that we are a few months in, I feel so grateful and excited to keep playing these songs live and I have also begun to make new music!

KT: The album immerses listeners into your life experiences, are all songs personal stories?

A: All of these songs are personal and true stories. I sometimes get nervous about what the individuals I refer to in these tracks will think if they realize the songs are about them.

KT: Some artists have shared that writing about personal experiences often feels like therapy. What is it like for you?

A: Writing music is definitely like therapy for me! Just yesterday, I was talking with a friend about how songwriting allows you to express your most dramatic and intrusive thoughts. I am very grateful that I have been able to find this outlet in my life. It truly keeps me sane and gives me a space to process all of my strongest emotions.

KT: There are quite a few live instruments on it, do you record with a live band?

A: I do record with a live band! I recorded this record at Balboa Recording Studio in the Cypress Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. At the time, I was working as a studio assistant there and the owner Danny Nogueiras and I ended up working really well together and decided to make this record. The space has a huge live room, so it was great to be able to bring my whole band and some other musician friends together.

KT: Do you play any instruments yourself?

A: I play some of the guitar parts and sparsely some percussion. The other musicians involved were James Paul Sklena on lap steel, guitar, and a little bass, Tommy DeBourbon on Pedal Steel, Nate Ramer on drums, Christopher Eisland-Birch on cello, Quejo Al Shaikh on bass and a little sax, Andrew Durkee on trumpet, and Lamb Carsey on guitar and a little banjo.

KT: You did a year-long residence in Nashville, can you please talk about that experience?

A: Living in Nashville for a year was honestly such a formative experience. While I have always focused on making folk-leaning music, my year in Nashville exposed me to much of that world that I may have never come across here in LA. It really solidified my love for country music and inspired me to lean more in that direction when making this record.

KT: What’s next for Ariella? 

A: I am currently working on so much music that will be released sometime in the next year! Other than that, I’ll be on tour throughout Texas in March, and I am playing a festival back here in LA on April 5 at the Echo.

KT: Putting music aside, what do you like to do in your free time?

A: In my free time I love to cook and bake nourishing meals for my friends. I have always been into food and I always say that if I wasn’t a musician, I’d want to be a chef. Maybe one day I can be both!

Cover photo: Christian Soriano

The post Get to know Ariella through her music and personal reflections appeared first on Quip Magazine.