Aria Fiori

How did you get your start in music?

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I studied music education in college, and I started writing songs in my college dorm, or after college, in my room. At first, I only showed my songs to friends, but I kept writing. I had a lot of supportive friends who kept encouraging me to pursue it further, and so I would find myself attending the Orlando Musician’s Meetup. I did this shortly after making socials and releasing the EP, so it was a great way to jump into the local scene and make those connections. It’s thanks to those connections and to the welcoming atmosphere of Orlando’s music scene that I am where I am now!

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What are you music influences and how do they have an impact in your music?

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Alex G and Dodie were two big influences. Alex G has that innate ability to capture melancholic atmosphere so easily and beautifully in his music, while Dodie’s music is also full of vulnerability and care. Dodie’s music has this great blend of pop with folk harmonies and composition. I found that to be incredibly inspiring.

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Let’s talk about your single, Metamorphosis. This song showcases a lot of self strength and overcoming a significant setback. What inspired you to write the song?

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I think what inspired me to write 'Metamorphosis' was just this constant unaddressed anger I had for people who I felt had caused me to feel lesser than or weak. For a while I tried to push it aside and move on, but I realize you couldn't move on unless you addressed it head on, which I think was my goal in writing this song. Realizing that, it made me think about how while those situations were hard for me, it was okay for me to acknowledge it.

 

In the beginning of the track, the listener is greeted by lush harmonies that feel inspired by baroque classical music. A clear ode to your classical studies in college which is very created and sets the scene of the song. What was the process of putting this song together? 

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I am a big choir nerd, so my writing style is a similar process to how I would go about arranging a choral work.You have your main melody, and then the other parts (alto, tenor, bass) sort of weave their way throughout it, helping support the meoldy, but also having their own place in the song.  I wanted it to start off ethereal and mysterious, to get the listener curious as to what will come next. I liked the contrast of the classical style, and how it shifts once the first verse begins. This song was also written before I felt more confident in guitar, and so I figured if I didn't feel comfortable with instruments, I could utilize my voice to create this sort of atmosphere. 

 

I really enjoyed the lyrics, especially this part: “You play me like a joker in a deck of kings and queens/You walk upon me and for a bit it's never what it seems/And now I'm reeling in how you think that you won the game/But look away and soon you'll see I'll never be the same”. You’ve held on to the metaphor so well that you painted a clear picture for the listener. Who do you think influences you the most when it comes to lyrics? 

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Aside from writing harmonies, lyrics are my favorite part of the process. It's such a great and artistic way to tell a story. Poetry and novels really inspire my writing.  I've always appreciated how authors and poets manage to express a situation or emotion without having to explicitly say it. They have this great balance of literal and metaphorical imagery, and I like to incorporate that into my own writing. On the other hand, I think of each section of a song as a different role for the story I'm telling. Typically I view the verses as the actual story, with each verse continuing it, the prechorus serves as the lead-up to the main idea, and the chorus always reinstates the main overall theme of the story, the lesson.

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I feel like there is a theme or a vibe to your music. How would you describe it?

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I feel, especially in the EP, there is a definite theme of growing up in your 20s, when you may lose important figures in your life who normally would be there as support. I have had to learn to navigate adulthood by myself, so the songs on the EP revolve around the experiences, both the highs and lows, of figuring out this whole adulthood thing. An overall vibe I try to go for in my songs is ‘intense’. Whether it be intense in the lyricism, the music itself, or the emotions I’m portraying, I always want the listener to have at least one specific feeling from one of my songs.

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What can we look forward to from you in the future? What projects are you working on?

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I have so many songs I've written that I need to sit down and record. Aside from the new single ‘Metamorphosis’,  I also have an album I’m working on that I hope to release, alongside some singles this year! I want to post music more consistently, and I wanted Metamorphosis to be the ‘debut’ to that! So expect a lot of singles and perhaps a bigger project throughout 2024. In the meantime, I’d love for people to listen to ‘Metamorphosis’ and my EP ‘The Quarter Life Complex.

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What is one of your goals you wish to achieve?

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For music, right now my goal is to simply become well known-enough locally to where I can make connections and experience music with others. I would also love to be able to do paid performances like singing at weddings, performing originals, and other events as a part-time gig if I can! The possibilities right now seem endless, and so I think I’m going to embrace this curiosity and see where it takes me musically.

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What advice do you have to anyone who wants to pursue music as a career?

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I’d say to always explore and do music in a way that is most fulfilling for YOU. I feel many people think you need to have your entire life or job revolve around the one thing you’re passionate about, or that you have to profit somehow off of it. But I think songwriting for me has shown that music has and always will be an outlet and space of community that tells our stories and cultures. At the end of the day, I always loved music because singing and creating allowed me to express myself and feel free. No matter what, music is meant to be enjoyed and cherished, so make sure that however you do it, you don’t forget the feeling of the joy it gives you. There is no ‘right way’ to be a musician!

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Photo by Aria Fiori