ENTHUSIASTIC AND DRIVEN IS ONE WAY TO DESCRIBE SINGER-SONGWRITER ‘ARIA SAGE’. THE ALT-POP ARTIST HAS CHAT WITH ME ALL ABOUT HER NEW SINGLE ‘TIME’ AND ARIA TELLS US THE STORY BEHIND IT. GIVE IT A READ NOW.

What are your names?
ARIA SAGE

What is your genre of music?
Alternative Pop

Give us a little bio about you.
I am an enthusiastic, driven, and unique artist who will pour my heart and soul into any project. I currently live in Salt Lake City, Utah and I will graduate from the University of Utah this May with a BFA in musical theater. I grew up on 40 acres in the mountains of Lyons, Colorado where I began singing and dancing at age 7. I was always making up random songs and dances, performing for my parents and their friends. Because of this, my parents enrolled me in dance, gymnastics, and voice lessons so I could put my endless energy into creative pursuits. When I was 15 I had a very intense battle with anorexia and anxiety disorder. During this hard time, I found comfort in songwriting. Strumming the same four chords on the guitar for hours and channeling my confusing feelings into songs and poems helped me recover and find my voice again. Although I wrote frequently, I kept my songs and ideas private and just focused on expressing myself through characters in musical theater. However, while pouring my heart into my musical theater, the little voice in my head kept whispering for me to make my own music. Last March when we went into quarantine, all of the shows, internships, and performance opportunities that I had lined up were cancelled. The phrase “one door closes and another one opens” might sound cliché, but in this scenario, those words ring true. It was devastating to have my senior show, first professional theater internships, and Disney cruise opportunity fall through, but it also gave me the time to make and release my own music. I picked up the guitar again and started to sing. I then began to put out that I was looking for producers and collaborators to bring my lyrics and melodies to life…. and bam! In October 2020, I began to regularly rehearse and work with producers and musician friends. Most of the song writing and collaboration took place over zoom to maintain social distancing. After a few months of hard work, I released my first single “Moon” and this March I released “Time”.

What made you go into music?
Maybe it was fate because my parents named me Aria (which is defined as a “ a long accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio”) but literally since I could talk I’ve been singing. I did not grow up in a very musical family but my parents saw my love for music and supported my passion from a young age. I started doing community theater at age 7 and began voice lessons around the same time

Who are your influences?
I am extremely inspired by Zara Larsson, Jhene Aiko, and FKA TWIGs. I love their unique takes on pop music and how they incorporate all of their artistic talents into their image. I am also inspired by the fact they break outside of pop norms to create community, empathy and awareness.

Are you signed?
Not yet:) But hope I will be soon!

Your new single ‘Time’, tell us more about the single.
I wrote the lyrics and melody, sitting in my bed aching to get over my ex, to seven 7th chords my friends Dayton Livingston and Dirk Lamb created in their basement on bass and guitar. At the time, I had just gone through a break up and was trying to push away my sad feelings, so I was excited to write a song that didn’t involve my longing for love and my ex. But of course, we can’t really choose what we write about all the time. I was listening to the chords on repeat while lying in my bed one night and just started singing. I was contemplating the concept of time and how a lot of mine is taken up by thinking about love and the lyrics just poured out of me. I took the lyrics, melody, and guitar to my producer and together we added all of the dreamy components to bring this whimsical longing for love song to life.

What is the meaning behind the single?
Love is a whimsical feeling that can end or begin at any “time”. The hopeless romantic in me dreams of love where time doesn’t exist. “Time” originated out of seven 7th chords exploring the illusion of time over the 7 days of the week. This idea evolved into my melodies and lyrics longing for a lover to ground me in a world that seems to constantly be running out of time.

Who did you work with on the single?
After writing the lyrics and melody to the chord progression Dirk Lamb and Dayton Livingston were playing on the guitar and bass, I took the song to a producer I worked with named Josh Johnston. Josh helped me bring the song to life by adding percussion, chimes, and other electronic elements. Stephen Blood Carr added the beautiful finishing mix and mastering touches to the song.

Describe the track in two words.
Dreamy and Fanciful

What was the writing and recording process like?
I write most of my songs by just recording my stream of consciousness lyrics on voice memos in my phone. That was how the lyrics and melodies of “Time” came into existence. I recorded the song and harmonies at a recording studio in Salt Lake City with my audio engineer Stephen Blood Carr. I love adding layers of harmonies and backup vocals when I record. I actually recorded this song right after I recovered from having COVID-19. I was worried my voice wouldn’t be 100% but I think that recording after being sick might have added to the airy quality of my vocals.

Will we see a video for Time and if so what can we expect?
YES! There will be a “Behind the Song” video on my process of creating “Time” with footage and audio from an acoustic jam session with Dirk, Dayton, and I.

Will we see an EP or Album and if so, what can we expect from it?
You sure can! I am currently working with a few producers to bring my EP to life. You can expect narrative, empowering lyrics, layered harmonies, acoustic elements woven into vibey electronic beats that will put you into a dream state and help you own your authenticity!

What else can we expect in 2021?
Along with my EP being released in 2021 you can expect some music videos filmed in the Rocky Mountains and filled with dance! Hopefully post releasing the EP I can perform some live gigs! Along with creating music I teach yoga and love to share tips and tricks and classes on my Instagram!

Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
In five years, I see myself performing my music live at immersive festivals where we can all sing, dance, and vibe together. I also see myself having a mini Australian shepherd husky mix puppy and taking it on runs! 🙂

What quote or saying do you always stick by?
“If your dreams don’t scare you they aren’t big enough.” or “The ending of ordinary becomes extraordinary.”

When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
1. Bubbly water, I am addicted and I must have it!
2. A rose quartz crystal to help me ground and connect back to my heart.
3. A pair of sunglasses. Depending on the vibe I need to cultivate I will wear pink ones, heart shaped ones, or my orange butterfly ones.
4. Extra peppermint gum… Oral fixations are real my friends. Also having good breath is a must.
5. A scrunchy on my wrist! That is an all-time MUST HAVE ITEM.

Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?/

On Instagram
On Facebook
And check out my website
I look forward to connecting with my fans! Please DM and reach out

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