Ariel Rose – In Paraiso

By starrymag | June 9, 2022

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) I would describe my sound as a Spanglish tropical Latin and pop fusion.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) Some of my musical influences are Shakira, Ricky Martin, Barbra Streisand and Camila Cabello. I think that there is so much to learn from other incredible artists. Growing up, I was constantly exposed to so many different genres of music. My dad is a classically trained pianist, and my grandfathers were also musicians. In fact, my great grandfather wrote Ukrainian Polka music and was also a composer. As a kid, I was a part of many local musical theater productions and sang for many charity and civic events. I am classically trained and studied opera. I always try to go to as many concerts as possible and see as many artists perform as I can. It’s important to continue growing not only as an artist and performer, but as a human being, and I feel that the arts are a very essential and wonderful way to express that.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “En El Paraiso.”

 

A) I wrote “En El Paraiso” during the pandemic where everyone in the world was isolated and going through a tough time and it really laid the foundation for my new EP. The concept was built around it. I collaborated with the Latin Grammy nominated talented duo Mike Munoz and Gio Fernandez. I was dreaming about being somewhere else when I was staying home during the pandemic. And who doesn’t want to be in paradise?! I had this idea to write a song about wanting to end a chapter and begin a new one. I think a lot of people can relate to wanting to end a relationship, doing what’s best for them. I wanted the song to be empowering, very tropical and I knew I wanted it to be in Spanglish!

 

Q) What made you decide to release the song in Spanglish?

 

A) I was born and raised in sunny and beautiful Miami, Florida! And the incredible thing about Miami is that we have a melting pot of cultures with so much diversity. People from all over the world come to Miami for events, vacations, work and school. From a very early age, I was exposed to Latin music. My cousins are all half Hispanic! The rhythms, instrumentation, lyrics and the way it makes you want to dance are what always attracted me to it! It is my absolute favorite style of music, and there are many genres within Latin music that are so diverse and unique. I have included some of those influences in my new EP. I always loved Spanish. The language is so beautiful, and I find lyrics in Spanish to be very poetic. The first album I released when I was younger was in English and Spanish, too! I feel very connected to the different Hispanic cultures from growing up in Miami, and I wanted to incorporate that in my music.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) I think fans can connect to wanting to move on from a relationship. We’ve all been there—where we’ve tried so hard to make something work when it just doesn’t!There are many reasons why relationships fail, but ultimately, it’s how we pick ourselves back up and how we move on that can make all the difference.

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

 

A) I think we all have our own vision and idea for what our version of paradise is. I use paradise not only as an actual physical place, but as a metaphor for one’s inner peace and happiness. In the video, directed by the incredible Jose Alejandro Gonzalez, we used neutral scenes of me in my bedroom juxtaposed with colorful and vivid animated scenes, that were hand created by an insanely talented animator, Ariana Aguilera, who made me in cartoon form! We really wanted to show me dreaming of being on a beautiful beachy tropical oasis away from all of life’s problems!

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) The songwriting process is different for every song. I actually write a lot of poetry, so sometimes the lyrics are written beforehand and sometimes after the musical production. Usually, I’ll have a general vision or idea of the direction of where I want the song to go. Then, I’ll tell the producer or co-writers that I’m working with about the vision and make sure they are on board with the idea.Next, they’ll create a demo beat and we will go back and forth with lyric ideas, and music ideas to finish the song!

 

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) I have a big hand, not just on the music end, but in everything involving my career! I am very detail oriented and a perfectionist and want to be able to say with 100% certainty that I back my projects and believe in everything I do completely. I am involved in every part of the production. I am very lucky to have a team of insanely talented people who support me and believe in me. I think those are really important aspects as an artist – to really believe in your product, to be able to sell it and to also surround yourself with a team who is positive and also believes in you.

 

Q) Your new EP In Paraiso comes out this month. What are some themes you explore in it?

 

A) In Paraiso is about new beginnings and I wrote it like a book. Each song reveals a new chapter or a new part of the story. The first song, “Let Me Go,” I collaborated on with the two-time Latin Grammy winning Producer Tony Succar, his talented brother Kenyi and the Dominican rapper LORS. “Let Me Go” is about questioning a relationship. I begin the whole EP with the line, “You got me thinking this is how our story ends.” and I go on to sing, “If I left would you go right? Would you chase me through the night? Or would you let me go?” I wanted to begin the whole EP starting with the end of an old chapter. I think we can all relate to holding on to something a little longer than we should and “Let Me Go” explores that theme. The second song, “En El Paraiso,” is about ending the relationship and finally moving on to find your own version of happiness or paradise. The third song, which is my big salsa track on the EP is called “Atrapada.” I wrote it with the Latin Grammy winning salsa masters Tony Succar and Jorge Luis Piloto. “Atrapada” is a fun, flirty song that will make you want to dance! It’s about meeting someone new and not thinking much about it, but just enjoying the journey. “Atrapada” is full of explosive rhythms and is a very exciting song that I cannot wait to release into the world! The last song off of the EP is called “Your Lovin’” and it’s a romantic guitar ballad. I wrote it thinking about what I would want to hear looking up at the stars with someone I admire, on a romantic getaway, lying on the beach at night. “Your Lovin’” is about feeling love again. It’s about finally being at peace with where life has taken you and I feel it is the perfect end to my EP, on the journey to finding paradise.

 

Q) What tracks on the EP challenged you the most creatively and which hold a special significance for you?

 

A) To be honest, they all challenged me in some way. But the one that challenged me the most was the ballad – “Your Lovin’.” I wanted to encapsulate that romantic and exciting feeling that you feel in the beginning of a new relationship, with the setting being at night towards the end of a beautiful tropical beach vacation. I didn’t want to necessarily say that I was “in love,” which is why I sang, “Caught up in your lovin’, You make me feel something. I don’t know what this is, lost in your kiss, I could get used to this.” It’s about the start of something new. The other song that holds a special significance for me is “Atrapada.” I have been wanting to work with Tony Succar and Jorge Luis Piloto for such a long time and finally having the chance to do a salsa song with them is such an honor. I happen to love salsa! It has always been a dream of mine to do an original salsa song. Getting that opportunity has been incredible and it is my favorite song I have ever written.

 

Q) Will you be doing any live performances or touring to promote the EP?

 

A) I am currently working on that! But yes, I will be doing live performances of my original music! Make sure to follow me on social media to stay up to date on everything!

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from checking out In Paraiso?

 

A) I hope listeners are transported on the journey and feel connected to the different emotions that each song conveys. The beautiful thing about this EP is that it explores difficult emotions, as well as beautiful and wonderful emotions. I hope listeners can relate to the frustration and back and forth questioning of whether to stay or end a relationship. I hope they can relate to saying “Forget it, I’m going to do what’s best for me and move on.” I hope they can relate to saying “I’m just gonna dance and have a great time and meet people and whatever happens, happens.” And I hope they can relate to saying “I think I feel like I may be falling for someone again.” Because those are the feelings and emotions that are conveyed throughout this project. This EP not only represents me as an artist, but it represents me on a personal level, as well.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) Ricky Martin, Chayanne, Camila Cabello, Maluma, Sebastian Yatra and Gloria Estefan! There are many artists I’d love to collaborate with in the future. But I do think it would be really wonderful to team up with another Miami based artist!

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

A) I love an artist called Call Me Loop. I think her music is super fun and fresh! I also love Camila Cabello’s new album, Familia.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) Social media is a really important way to connect with fans because you can connect one on one with people, and it’s also a great way to put out your brand and music the way you want to. I think that social media can be a struggle just because it’s hard to find that balance between life online and life in person. But I feel like once you find that balance, it can be a great tool for artists. It’s also a very necessary tool to use in this day and age.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) I would like to say thank you so much for all of the support. I am an artist and performer because I love it. And as a performer, all I hope to do is make someone’s day even the slightest bit better. I hope that through my music and my art, you feel more understood and more connected to yourself, and the person you want to be. I also hope that I can inspire you to go for your own dreams. And if there’s anything you take away, it’s that nothing worthwhile is easy. I’ve certainly had my fair share of obstacles, but if you love something and you believe in yourself, go for it with everything you have.