We were lucky to catch up with Ariel Jean Band recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ariel Jean Band, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
My sisters and I have been singing together since we were kids. Amber, Aubrey, and Ariel, Growing up, we would pretend to be the spice girls, sign “CD’s & Posters” and sing with our parents bed frame mantel that would pop out on each corner of bed frame tower and pretend they were microphones. We sang at church, school talent shows, school plays, did choir in high school etc. Our dad taught me (Ariel) to play guitar when I was twelve because I had been writing songs but had no music to go with it. He always played guitar at church and at home on the weekends as a family we’d sing together while he played so I became interested in learning to play from watching him. He didn’t think I was serious about it until he taught me 3 chords and I shortly wrote a song to the melody and sang and played it for him. He was pleasantly surprised. Our mom played piano and sang for choir at church as well; Although, we are not the only ones in our family who sing/write music/ perform. We come from a family of 6 kids! 2 boys & 4 girls. We all sing, performed at church & school growing up, and played instruments in the school band and school plays etc. Our parents highly encouraged us to be musical from the beginning. We sang as a family, yes all 8 o us, at church for special music. I know and believe our parents had a huge impact on our musical path and spiritual path as well. Something our dad always taught us was, “lead don’t follow,” which stuck hard enough for me to write a song about it called, “Beer and a Bible.” Our parents did many things right and one of them was to really encourage us to pursue music.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Currently I’ve been singing in the Ariel Jean Band for 5 years in Sacramento California performing the original songs I wrote and recently have been collaborating with other song/writers and expanding branching out to Nashville to seek out more opportunity for the original music. I’ve probably written 50 or more songs but have released 20 on spotify/itunes/ amazon music. Aubrey and Amber, my sisters, joined the band after I started it in 2016, explaining the name of the band being The Ariel Jean Band. It’s funny because when I asked them to join, I didn’t think they would say yes, mainly because my sister Amber, at the time, had two young/small children, and my other sister Aubrey was busy in college. Amber Joined first and then about a year later Aubrey Joined and we’ve been doing it ever since! We have music videos, original music you can find on all online platforms such as Spotify, I-Tunes, Amazon Music and we are also on all social media platforms such as Facebook, youtube, Instagram, and Tik Tok.
This year in 2023 we are releasing 9 brand new original songs and 3 music videos and doing more in Nashville. We have an opportunity to record at Soul Train Studios with Nick Gibbens of Average Joe Entertainment. We are planning to be in Nashville June 25-30 recording, performing, and seeking opportunities there. We are so excited to share these new songs with the fans as 2020 really put a huge delay on all of our original music and opportunities we had worked hard to gain. Finally, 3 years later, we are getting back on track and look forward to the opportunities god gives us.
I think what makes us unique is that we are a family band of sisters who love each other and respect one another in such a way that as time goes on performing together gets more enjoyable. It’s amazing really. I’m so thankful for the close relationship we have and getting to do it all with two people I love most is incredible. Amber & Aubrey are so talented it’s a Joy to watch them and stand back and enjoy their performances. They both, on our new Wonder Woman EP coming out, sing lead on a song and I am so excited for our fans to hear that as it’s the first time they are on all the songs. Our team, band, and producer Peter, from the Track Shack Studios in Sacramento, did an amazing Job on these new songs. I’m incredibly honored to get to work with such amazingly talented musicians and producers etc. We have a huge support system here in Sacramento. We couldn’t do it with out our family/friends/fans/band/team. Incredibly proud of our band mates John Gormely (Base guitar), Brett Blackburn (Drums), and Andy Gomez (Lead Guitarist) who we have been playing with for years and have become an extended family to us. Their talent, stage work, studio work, friendship goes way above and beyond anything I could ever dream of. We are so blessed.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Currently, our mission thats driving our music Journey is Women Empowerment. After I had my daughter Chevelle, I wrote a song called, “Mama Knock You Out.” Which gives awareness to the challenges moms face every single day. It is the most rewarding yet challenging Job out there but you don’t get paid! Adding to that I wrote “Wonder Woman,” probably my favorite song I’ve ever written. So many people can relate to this song not just women. If you have a mom, sister, cousin, grandmother, you can relate to witnessing how amazing women are. Wonder Woman is a reflection of the history of women’s rights but then also about the current obstacles and hurdles we face today. Some how, women continue to fight through the obstacles and hurdles we face because of the incredible strength we have. One of my favorite lines of the song is, “Put on your cape and fly!” and “Every Obstacle, every hurdle, I’ll break them down.” I think the message is no matter the fight, no matter the struggle do not listen to the voice that tells you you’re less that who you are. Don’t allow any one to tell you that because you’re a women you can’t do_____. It’s a lie. Don’t listen to the lie that says you’re not beautiful enough, you’re not skinny enough, you’re not whatever enough. All a lie. You are strong, brave, unique, special, capable, you have endurance, you can achieve your goal, you can work hard, you are equal, you are hard working, you are worth it, you deserve happiness & Joy, your body is beautiful, most of all your incredible!!! This movement is powerful! Pass it onto a fellow wonder woman!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a song/writer is when I see the Joy my music is bringing to others. When I see fans singing a long to the songs I wrote or sending me videos of their kids singing my songs. I love seeing what I do uplift others and I think thats one of the many reasons God gave me the gift of singing/writing music.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.arieljean.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/arieljeanband
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/arieljeanband
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@arieljeanband573
- TikTok: ArielJeanBand
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ewjKfbt8B2tBhamPd7vXS?si=RWzm6NZfRkictv5hOvuiAQ
Image Credits
Julian Mendoza Salvador Sid III Leanne Peruch