We recently connected with ATRIEL and have shared our conversation below.

ATRIEL, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I think I am better vocally in some ways now than I was before, I also think that I have improved my editing skills when it comes to YouTube content but also with the course of my music. I am also constantly working on new ways to improve even more which is why I am taking some time to perform live at different venues and really hone in on what parts of making music I like the most so I can figure out what music it is that I really like making.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My passion for music really began in 2012 when I even experimented with an album only available on YouTube at the time but is now off the platform titled 92. I wrote songs about my family and about what I knew at the time as I was very young. As I have publicly spoken about many times that inspired me to release an album to all streaming platforms in 2015 by the name of Sunlight. I dove into romance, friends, family situations, trauma, etc.. I released many more albums and EPs that you can find on all streaming platforms. I go by A T R I E L on all social media and streaming platforms and I have had many collaborations with up and coming artists under my label Lil Atriel Records started in 2019 with my late friend Cameron Sanchez who passed away July 17, 2024. Me & Cameron collaborated on numerous projects together and he is part of who I am in a huge way. While he is no longer living my label releases his unreleased music even after he passed as he would want it out in the world. As of recently I have been performing every Thursday night live and every week I do a set of three songs. They are most of the time different songs every week and sometimes I perform more than three. I have been performing at a musical venue hosted by a band named Blossomin’ Bone. One band member is named Hollerin’ Bob & one is named Aryon. They are amazing people and I have felt so seen and accepted during my many performances where they have also performed as well as a lot of other up and comers. I have named these weekly live shows of mine,”The Coldblooded Era”. Inspired by my number one song,”Cause I Am”. As I dive into the land of finding my true self, I wanna talk about something that I have never opened up about publicly. Of course there is a lot of love but also a lot of hate for people who step out of the box that society has gotten used to. My viewpoint has always been that everyone is worthy of love and acceptance no matter who they are or how they identify. So when we talk about sexual orientation and identity it tends to make some people very upset or uncomfortable but you will never be free if you let other people control who you are and you do not choose who you wanna be. With that being said I have discovered after years of questioning my sexuality that I am bisexual. I have deep emotion and attraction for both genders. On another note while we are getting into things, earlier this year I had the honor of being a guest on a Podcast titled, You Know Me, A Golden Isles Georgia Podcast. I was met as well with acceptance and I had a marvelous time sharing some things with another audience. Some might say that I have been busy this year but I have some tricks up my sleeve. There are things that I feel set me apart from others but one thing is the fact that I have been through unimaginable pain, loss, abuse & trauma that a lot of people don’t even know about. I have battles with depression, I experience a lot because I feel very deeply so in a way I absorb emotion no matter how bad or how good. I think what sets me a part is how every time I wanna give up, I always end up getting back up and fighting and powering through many struggles that I have faced in my lifetime. I think what I am most proud of is the fact that I have such great family who have supported me and stuck by my side. Also I love my friends especially a dear friend of mine named Crissy from the U.K. We have known eachother for almost 7 years and yet we are closer than we have ever been as of 2025. She is a brilliant person and amazing singer even though she’s not an official artist I have always told her that my label is available whenever she wants to step out. She really is a gem and I am so proud to call her my friend. Something I want everyone to know is that I am borderline obsessed with everything Wicked & Oz related. I am also a mega Swiftie. Taylor Swift’s lyrics speak to me in a way that is truly trauma healing. Its like word for word something I could have written in another life. I have even performed Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me live at one of my shows as I closed the show. Wicked speaks to me as I have felt like an outcast at times. Elphaba being misunderstood and deemed Wicked is something I can relate to in my life. There are multiple sides to every story and the one Wicked tells is a coping mechanism for me in so many ways. My room is full of all kinds of Taylor Swift & Wicked stuff. I definitely am also a pretty big fan of Cats: The Musical. Memory makes me cry everytime I hear it. That line about remembering what happiness is hits me so hard. I could go on about this for ages but I want everyone to know that I am definitely a Oz nut and I cannot wait for Wicked: For Good on November 21st. I am even gonna dress up as Elphaba and paint myself green for the premiere.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I think the most rewarding thing is having people tell you that something you wrote and performed spoke to them or meant something to them. I have had people during some of my live performances tell me how the lyrics in some of my songs they really connected with and hearing the cheers and the ovation in the crowd is really rewarding and gives me the confidence and assurance to keep doing what I love. I am constantly trying to see what I can do better and also stay true to my roots but at some point I hope to explore New Horizons.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I think what drives me is the fact that making art is my passion in life it has been ever since I could remember. I have always loved to make people laugh and even though my music might make some cry, I think that the drive to be seen and heard and accepted has always been a big part of why I keep going because it brings me light in dark passageways and at heart I’m a performer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6NoqzuKS5flPxzPhoa7ekz?si=WGgKgFXjRPSovu0VvxFJSQ
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/totallyatriel?igsh=cHl6MnoyZ3kzaWw%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070017905870
• Twitter: https://x.com/totallyatriel?s=21
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@totallyatriel?si=SgmyiiBNgb9QrFzp
• SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/4tSDv2QeZctGjpbz9
• Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/a-t-r-i-e-l/1753183016