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Non-plussed by the sameness of music, the drudgery of instant AI production, and batched vocals? We are too. And through that void strums Ari Rivera, an updated Troubadour that hits all the analog notes of past songwriting greats but updated with fresh sonic paint. Casting a very mysterious shadow, this artist's latest EP had us reaching for the paper and pen with questions. Below are the results. 

OnesToWatch: Who is Ari Rivera?  

Ari Rivera: I am Ari Rivera.

What is ari rivera ep 2 all about? 

ep 2 is about letting go of a lot of things. Control mainly, allowing the songs we made to grow into their own beasts. And learning not to suffocate the feeling by overanalyzing and trying to be smart. I was dealing with a lot of grief when we made this record, and the music reflects my process with that. Learning to accept where I’m at instead of trying to force a direction.

How’d you settle on such a beautiful, delicate but gritty sound?  

I think it found us. I think the grittiness comes from recording a lot of it at Harcourt. I mean, that studio is a dang garage. Nights in there can be so cold and every few weeks we have to cut down the tendrils that grow through holes in the roof. Also, we have a little mouse friend that comes to visit us sometimes, sneaking through a crack in the back wall. It’s kind of a room that forced us to work with imperfections in the recordings. And everyone at Harcourt Paloma is so welcoming! They are a safe space, an environment like that lends itself to finding some of the beautiful and earnest moments on the project. 

Any collaborations or features? Who produced the album? 

It’s for sure my baby, but raising a child takes a village right? Gabe Wax helped me record a lot of the early-stage demos. It would not sound as pristine as it does without him. My pal Billy Lemos did some drum programming/production on "house of pies." He has an incredible ear. Parker Mulherin of Mulherin fame helped us produce "late lunch." One of the kindest souls in the game and a phenomenal writer. And of course the whole Harcourt Paloma collective/label/commune/family had hands all over this. They all sat with me to record parts and give feedback on the project after we had cut the demos. It would not be what it is without the hands of those wonderfully talented people.

Any influences that affect your work? Any musical idols? 

The Frank Ocean/Dijon thing is kind of always there. It’s music that really shaped me and sometimes an influence that’s tough to find my way out of. Subconscious ting yeah. More actively, though, Jon Brion’s Meaningless was a huge reference for this one. Also, The Con by Tegan and Sara, my buddy Jason put me on to that and it blew my mind. Emo music, that’s what I was listening to before all this Indie R&B hullabaloo. Long live the car crash hearts amirite.

Can we expect more of this style in the future? Or are you always evolving?

I’m not too sure. I get tired of things pretty quickly but I’ve grown to love how this project sounds. It’s the first time that I wouldn’t mind expanding on the world that this project sits in. But I feel like everyone’s always evolving, so for sure the next one will sound different. 

Besides this excellent EP, what else should we be on the lookout for? 

Harcourt Paloma. A music collective that’s basically my family!!! We’ve got a lot of wonderful releases coming out this year + a monthly residency at Makeoutmusic until August. Come to a show, they’re pretty magical.

What's inspiring you right now outside of music? 

Everyone who has showed up to a show in the past couple months. All my friends really. The other night was the first time I heard people singing the songs back to me and it was quite a surreal thing. Felt like I was floating for a second. Nuts thing that, super inspiring that people like some of the songs.

Food or drink best suited to going down the rabbit hole of your work? 

Hot chocolate. A nice warm hot chocolate.

Who are your OnesToWatch?

Anderson Hao, $quib, The Great Big, Deloyd Elze, my buddy Jose, Chris Emond, and everyone at Harcourt Paloma. Among the rest of my good friends.