LISTEN: Ariel Bellvalaire Burns White Hot On New Single “Diamonds Or Coal”
LISTEN: Ariel Bellvalaire Burns White Hot On New Single “Diamonds Or Coal”
The singer-guitarist wears her rock and roll badge with pride.
Words By: Garrett Kearns
Up and coming artist, Ariel Bellvalaire, has just recently issued her second single “Diamonds or Coal.” The track has the hallmarks of traditional rock, but Bellvalaire injects searing guitar and up-tempo rhythm. This makes “Diamonds or Coal” stand out from other new rock songs, along with her cutting vocals. Unafraid to speak her mind through her music, Bellvalaire proves rock and roll has its place alongside the hip hop and indie genres. It just takes a little imagination, some spit and polish to make classic rock contemporary. The guitarist has given that old muscle car relegated to the garage a new lease on life with fresh paint, new tires, and a full tank of gas. To extend the metaphor a little farther, Bellvalaire takes off at top speed and expects everyone else to keep up.
Bellvalaire shared “This song is an anthem about demanding to know where you stand in the circus we call relationships, with a pop rock twist and guitar solo of course!” Demanding is the right word for it. Bellvalaire grabs us by the arm and doesn’t let go until a brief breather before the final chorus. The lyrics pull in two directions, like being caught in someone’s gravity but trying to escape. “Should I stay or should I go/Give it up or give it just a little bit more.” The familiar feeling screams romance in the digital age.
Bellvalaire’s acrobatic fretwork borrows from several influences. The neck-sliding of the verse and chorus feel like a combination of ZZ Top and the Rolling Stones. The slow reggae tempo of the breakdown is part No Doubt, part Clapton. The two brief soaring solos cut with a well-honed blade taken from Lynyrd Skynyrd’s kitchen drawer. Bellvalaire doesn’t stick to the typical rock playbook. All musicians are influenced by their predecessors, but few have enough style to keep things fresh and familiar at the same time.
A trio or quartette of drums, bass, guitar, and vocals is the foundation of any rock group, but the addition of horns and keyboards on “Diamonds or Coal” give dimensionality and texture to this release. The additional musicians further delineate the track from Bellvalaire’s peers. Ariel Bellvalaire is a force to be reckoned with. Her impending debut album, which she is writing and recording now, should be equally fiery.
