Words by: Sarah Aurora

Revolutionary duo ARIELLA joins us for our next Live Session, Play Too Much @ SubCulture hosted by Brad Wagner! Catch the performance Tuesday, December 8th at 2:30pm ET on Twitch, Twitter, Facebook Live and YouTube Live!

Previously known as Ari and the Alibis, ARIELLA is a boundary-crushing duo from Sarasota. Lead by singer, Ariella McManus, and guitarist, Nicolaas Kraster, the duo have transcended their genre as we know it to bring us a passionate expression of spiritual art. McManus’ rich vocals paired with Kraster’s master guitar skills create a unique and powerful sound that lends beautifully to their care-free spirit.

ARIELLA isn’t just one thing of course — it’s a melting pot of different genres and cultures. Their songs take influence from the genres of jazz, rock, samba, blues, and so much more. They create more than just music — they’ve produced a truthful expression of emotions. This vulnerability and talent is attracted the attention of producer and sound engineer Fabrice DuPont — known for his work with Queen Latifah, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The duo have been collaborating with both DuPont and bassist Victor Wooten of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, to create some stand-out tracks.

In anticipation of their 2021 album release, the pair have dropped two new singles — “Joy” and “Terrified”. They shared these two gems with us during their stream to give listeners a preview of their upcoming release. “Joy” comes through as a groovy, jazz inspired track that bleeds passion and soul. McManus’ buttery vocals are on full display, backed by a shimmering guitar line. Meanwhile, “Terrified” has a deeper, richer guitar line, overlapped by a softer vocal line. Both tracks include touching lyrics and soothing melodies.

ARIELLA is a fantastic musical display of passion and love. If their 2021 release has the same infectious quality as their previously released singles, it is sure to sweep listeners off their feet.

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