ARI tells us about her new single Cold War
And the Spongebob inspiration behind her EP title.
A must-know rising star, ARI has just released her brand new single, “Cold War,” which will also be included in her EP IDIOTGRL.
The up-and-coming singer-songwriter prepares to share more new music with her fans to continue the momentum of 2020. After making her debut in the music industry this year with her single “Nothin but a Monster,” ARI received an intense amount of support from fans around the world. Her passion for music and connecting with listeners shines through both her lyrics and interactions with fans across social media platforms.
In an exclusive interview with United by Pop, ARI opens up about “Cold War,” inspirations, and more.
What can you tell us about your new single “Cold War” and the inspiration behind it?
“Cold War” is the second single off of my new EP IDIOTGRL. At its core, it’s about struggling to blend the two different worlds that define me. Growing up in Toronto, I had a very small circle of friends, so when I went to LA to pursue music and met all of these amazing people, it was something I never had before. I worried that if I mixed these sides of me, the people I love would clash and not get along. The song is about those worlds colliding and being terrified that they wouldn’t be able to exist as one.
We shot the music video during the lockdown and I think it perfectly represents the duality that I feel sometimes with my life back home in Toronto and the experiences I’ve had as an artist in LA.
How does this track differ from the singles you have released in the past?
This is by far my favorite track that I have released to date. Sound, aesthetic…it’s not anything that you would expect based on what I’ve put out so far. The last two tracks have been more in the lane of pop / R&B and this track has a lot of live instruments with elements of pop and a bit of rock. I really wanted to push the benchmark of experimenting with my sound and I hope you all love it as much as I do.
For new fans who have just discovered your music, what would you like them to know about you both as a person and as an artist?
One thing that I think is a pretty strong characteristic of myself both as a human and an artist is my honesty. As an artist, I’ve always strived for honesty in everything I do and put out. Even if it’s not something that I’ve gone through personally, I always want to write realistically about how I would be reacting to that situation. I think a lot of people are afraid to highlight the good and bad that comes with honesty. Sometimes your true feelings are less than complimentary. I’ll be the first to admit that I can have petty thoughts or be a little paranoid at times. That’s something I never want to shy away from in my project and I hold to my everyday life as well.
Who are your current inspirations in the music industry?
I’ve always admired Halsey, not just as a singer/songwriter, but all of what encompasses her as an artist. Her music is beyond stellar, but more than that, her art direction, styling choices, music videos, and live production is all a huge inspiration to me. No matter what music she makes or what genre she samples, she still finds a way to make it Halsey. That’s something that I definitely want to do with my artist project. I don’t just want to be ARI the singer; I want a trademark of what and who ARI is.
You have an EP coming out soon! Is there anything you can specifically tease about that project?
Too soon! Ah, what can I say without saying too much? Let’s just say the EP will paint a pretty vivid picture of all the different sides of me. The good, the bad, and the ugly!
What inspired the name of the EP?
I actually decided to name the EP after my favorite Spongebob episode. Spongebob accidentally messes up each of his friends’ days in different ways and they all yell at him, calling him “idiot boy.” Feeling like a burden, he leaves town so he doesn’t hurt anyone anymore. As silly as it sounds, that episode really resonated with me and the self-deprecating feelings that I can let live in my head. Fast forward a few years later and it’s now become this really conceptual piece for me to release into the world.
What else can fans look forward to in the near or distant future?
I don’t want to give away too much, but I will say that I’ve been writing a lot of music and that I absolutely adore Halloween, almost obsessively. The hint is that somehow those two are connected and you’ll have to stay tuned to find out how.
Listen to “Cold War” here.
