Ariel Currant is a singer/songwriter from Ankeny, Iowa. Her amazing voice and insightful lyrics are perfectly matched with pop music, EDM, and electric crossover music. It became evident to everyone around her very early that her connection with music was strong. While most kids spoke of their feelings and thoughts, Ariel chose to sing about them with her own made up songs. And when she sang, people listened. That special connection never stopped. After 5 years of show choir performances, numerous solos and a few national anthem appearances, Ariel is excited and ready to share her new music to the world and 1 In Music is delighted to speak to the artist.
1 In Music: What is unique about you and your music?
Ariel (AC): With my music, I write from the heart. I’m not out here to throw out a quick written song because I need one released. I truly dedicate my time to writing and rewriting until I am 100% happy with the message behind it. Whether that is a vulnerable message or one of just having fun. I will always be able to tell you the story or stories about a certain song, and not just say I wrote it to write it without some force behind it. Which I think is unique.
1 In Music: What/who shaped your music and who supports you?
AC: My two choir teachers in high school really helped me fall in love with singing and music all over again. I didn’t truly believe in my potential until they pushed me out of my comfort zone. And of course, my friends and family have supported me from the beginning while also making sure I stay grounded about it all.
1 In Music: When did you realise you were going to make music professionally?
AC: Throughout high school I was in a lot of music based extracurricular activities – dance, choir, show choir…etc. Once I went to college, all that kind of went away and I felt myself feeling a little empty. I started picking up songwriting again, not really expecting it to turn into anything. But then I recorded an EP and things just kind of took off from there. So, I would say when I was a freshman in college I realized music is what I wanted to do.
1 In Music: What type of music do you listen to?
AC: I listen to a wide variety of music. Pop, Country, Folk inspired. I love chilled out acoustic music at times, then other times I will play all of the dance pop, EDM music while dancing around my living room. It all depends on the mood I am in.
1 In Music: Who, to you, is the most undervalued music artist?
AC: There is an artist I follow on YouTube who has really influenced me and has been fun to follow through her musical journey. Her name is Alex G. I appreciate how she was kind of leading a music life that would attract the most attention, but wasn’t necessarily one she wanted. So, she turned it all around and now she sings and writes from a place way more true to her self which is very inspiring. I appreciate artists like her and I think her songwriting is so strong. And she definitely deserves more recognition than I think she gets.
1 In Music: How do you prepare for your performances?
AC: I take a lot of deep breaths and rehearse until I feel comfortable with whatever could unexpectedly happen during the performance. That and drinking a lot of water leading up to the performance.
1 In Music: What do you do when you don’t do music (creative or otherwise) and that you are passionate about?
AC: I love writing. Which kind of intertwines with songwriting. I currently write for a blog and it has grown to be a huge passion of mine. I write to make sense of things and to help others not feel so alone. And doing so has even helped my songwriting process. Which is always a plus.
1 In Music: Success to you is…
AC: … being able to wake up every morning and be so incredibly happy with my life. I live to follow my passions, and hopefully help people through those passions. If I can do that for just one person, I call that a success.
1 In Music: What do you wish you were told when you started out and that you think would help anyone who starts out?
AC: Just how much patience it requires. I’m generally a very impatient person. But for some reason, when it comes to music, I find myself content with the pace at which things move along. And I knew those business is one that require quite a lot of patience. But some heads up on just how much, would have been helpful.
1 In Music: Any upcoming projects?
AC: I definitely have some new music in the works. My songwriting never ends. And a music video for my current single We Are the Night will be coming soon.
1 In Music: Where do we find you music / music project?
AC: My music can be found on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Apple Music and nearly every other place you can buy or stream music.