Meet Ariel Arbisser | Singer & Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ariel Arbisser and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ariel, what do you want people to remember about you?
I’ve been at this for more than a decade and have never been asked this.

I guess … I want to be the woman who smiled at you on your worst day. I want to be someone whose vulnerability encouraged someone to step up and forward into themselves.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I create dramatic electro-pop with some disco, rock vibes mixed in. I won’t be contained! Honestly though…

I remember the specific moment during a songwriting workshop I participated in early on in my writing career, when I received feedback on a song and it solidified my approach. One of the instructors said my song would never get on the radio. The ideas were too personal, too complex. The melody was too wide.

I decided at that moment that being on the radio would be cool, but writing music that resonates for me and people like me would be even cooler. I’d rather risk never writing anything “popular” than spend a lifetime writing inside this “pop” box that seemed so rigid. I’m so happy I refused those handcuffs.

In many ways “Bred For This” and “On My Knees” are a reflection of that decision to ignore the beaten path in pop music and because of that, they’re two of my favorite releases. I knew I wanted them to be a sort of centerpiece to this album but also recognized that they’d challenge the listener. Against all odds, they’re two of my most successful singles to date. It’s been a delightful surprise to see how audiences, both live and online, have responded to the challenge and met me in the less conventional pop space. I think if you believe in your work and stand behind it, others will believe in it too.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
LA is one of my favorite cities to visit, so I’m honestly always looking for recommendations myself! Usually when I’m there I’ll catch some music and make some music, but rarely do I get out to many tourist attractions. Still, a couple of places I’d like to return to and/or would recommend would include the following…

-MUSIC – there’s always awesome music happening in cities like LA, so do a quick google search and grab tickets to see something fab – even if you don’t know the band, if the venue is solid, you’re likely to get a good show

-museums, LACMA, the Getty, etc — it might be unsurprising that I get a lot of joy from all art, including visual mediums. I tend to be more drawn to contemporary and modern art, but it’s all inspo and I think everyone should see the Getty at least once (for the grounds if nothing else)

-on the visual note, LA is one of my favorite cities *visually* – I can find inspiration on almost any street. The architecture, the colors, the bright sun casting deep shadows, the greenery, the mix of cultures, and the hustle and bustle — every time I visit I try to make time for an exploration day to walk around and take photos. I always find something funky and cool.

-the Cannabis Cafe — I’m a 420 enthusiast! Though these days I’m on an edibles-only kick, my last trip to LA before the pandemic included a lunch at the Cannabis Cafe and it was one of the most glorious days of my life. Pure joy. Go with people you love. Don’t go if you’re in a rush. Enjoy.

-you can’t leave LA without driving past some view of the Hollywood Sign — it’s a little embarrassing to admit, but that view really never gets old

Now tell me your recs!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My co-writer and sometimes producer Harry Nichols deserves a huge shout-out. He’s one of the kindest souls I’ve ever known and is wildly talented. Back when I first started songwriting, Harry and I sang together in an a cappella band and he was wonderfully enthusiastic about my writing. So much so that he hopped on a couple tunes to round out my first record “Risk of Love.” Since then, we’ve written many more tunes together and he co=produced a handful of tracks on my latest release “Ingenue Corrupt.” The guy works his butt off for his family, his students, his bandmates, and devotes any remaining energy to his other creative collaborators – I’m just grateful I’ve been on the list!

Website: www.ArielArbisser.com

Instagram: @ArielArbisser

Twitter: @ArielArbisser

Facebook: @ArielArbisser

Youtube: @ArielArbisser

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5iuD9ZShZ7turKu93Ghw6G?si=gyI9zMN6TDaSkXkGv_A1Aw Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ArielArbisser (all other music platforms can be found via linktree)

Image Credits
Michael Smith Drew Bordeaux Chelsea Fausel