Introducing Montreal-based singer/songwriter AARICIA who recently released her 7-track debut EP, 'The Ruler' an ensemble of dark pop with influences of hip hop, R&B and house filled with synths & AARICIA's unique, deep powerful vocals . I got a chance to chat with the songstress about her musical influences and what we can expect from her in the coming months. Read my interview with her below:
MHB: How old are you & where are you from?
AARICIA: I was born and raised in Montreal, Canada, but mom is Italian. I actually just turned 21, this past week on October 5th.
MHB: How long has music been a part of your life? How did it come to be a part of it?
AARICIA: Music has always been a part of my life. I feel like practicing any form of art growing up is really important. My dad is a musician and most of my family members, on his side, play at least one instrument so it was just natural of me to turn to music.
MHB: How old were you when you discovered you could sing? Did you always want to be a singer?
AARICIA: I’ve honestly been singing for as long as I can remember. I literally have recordings of myself singing in french that I don't remember ever recording. Growing up, we all have dreams of being an astronaut, a fireman or pretty much anything since our imaginations have no limits. I’ve also had those dreams but being a singer was always #1.
MHB: When did you decide you wanted to make music as a career?
AARICIA: In the back of my mind it’s always been my dream to do music as a career but there’s a big difference between a dream and a goal. It all clicked when I was in poetry class in college. It was my favorite class but it made me realize that I should be focusing on what I love and want to do with my life every single day. Today especially, we live in a world filled with incredibly talented artists and the music industry is such a competitive one that you can’t give anything less than 200%.
MHB: Who are some of your biggest musical influences & why?
AARICIA: I don’t feel like you can hear how she influenced me but I would have to say Amy Winehouse is the one who inspired me most when I started writing. There’s something so raw and honest about her music. The emotions she conveyed really got to me. Banks, Jhene Aiko, Lana Del Rey and even Drake are some other influences of mine but, to be honest, I get inspired bY any artist I hear. Everyone has their special something.
MHB: What genres of music do you enjoy most?
AARICIA: I am pretty much opened to any genres of music. I love discovering new artists and I feel like nowadays it’s getting harder to categorize some styles because of all the influences found in them but I’d have to say Pop, Rnb, Hip-Hop,Trip-Hop, Rap and House.
MHB: What is your creative process?
AARICIA: My creative process actually really changed over the last year. I used to lock myself up, alone, in my studio with either my guitar or the piano and not come out before the song was finished. Since I started working with my producer, Prince Club, I’ve had to modify the way I work completely. I had never worked with someone before nor written with someone present so it was quite a change. Somedays I’ll come with an idea or beginning of a song and others we’ll start from scratch. One thing that didn’t change is I’m not out of there until the song is finished.
MHB: What inspires you to write; Does it come from a personal place?
AARICIA: Mostly yes but one thing I love about writing is you can take any situation, blow it out of proportion and invent something completely different based on real facts. I like to think that I’m a storyteller and so I wouldn’t say all of the songs I write are 100% true but the inspiration where it came from is. I could be inspired by a place I visit, someone I meet, someone I know, a situation I’m put in or even someone else but all those things come down to one; memories.
MHB: How would you characterize your sound & what would you say makes your music unique?
AARICIA: I have the hardest time with this question because, like I said earlier, I find that it’s getting difficult to categorize some sounds because of all the influences. I’d say I’m a dark Pop/R&B artist with influences of Hip Hop and House as far as this EP goes. I don’t think I’m the best person to say what’s unique about my music but I, personally, think it’s my voice.
MHB: What are you currently working on? When do you plan on releasing anything?
AARICIA: I’m going back to the studio as of next week to start working on new music. The creative process never stops it’s one of the things I love about music; it’s endless possibilities. I have a project in stores right now but no fixed date for a release.
MHB: What can we expect from you in the coming months?
AARICIA: I’ll be releasing the video for my favorite song of the EP “Losing You”. I’m really excited about this one.
MHB: What is the ultimate driving force that gets you up in the morning?
AARICIA: It’s a new day. Anything can happen. I just want to live my life to the fullest by doing what I love.
MHB: If you were stuck on an island with only one record forever, what would it be?
AARICIA: Most probably Amy Winehouse’s album Back to Black. I could listen to it over and over again and never get tired of it. It’s simply timeless.
MHB: What does music mean to you?
AARICIA: Music is honestly my life or it gives it a purpose. It’s what gets me up in the morning and what keeps me up at night. It’s liberty of expression and it’s freeing. If I had to wake up to a world where music wasn’t around, I would be utterly lost.
Check out one one of my favorite tracks off of her EP called "Losing You" which, as she stated above, she will be releasing the video to in the next coming months. And also check out the video to another one of my favorite tracks called "The Ruler" below:
To hear more from AARICIA visit her Soundcloud page at