Exclusive: Interview with Ariel Rose

The Knockturnal got to speak to Award-winning music artist Ariel Rose ahead of the release of her new single and music video, “Somebody Loves You”.

Today, May 22 will mark the drop of the single on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and all other streaming platforms. “Somebody Loves You” is a nostalgic, uplifting and comforting reflection of a “better” time, that includes footage of Ariel as a child.

The Knockturnal: How has life amidst the current pandemic been like for you?

Ariel Rose: Life has been so crazy! Being in quarantine has definitely given me time to reflect more on my life and do things I haven’t had time to do. I’ve been cooking and baking a lot more. I recently started doing yoga, which I’ve really enjoyed. Obviously being isolated from the outside world hasn’t been easy, but I’m grateful for my family. I’m very close to them and I’m happy that I’ve been able to spend more time with them during this crisis.

The Knockturnal: Has this time affected your music?

Ariel Rose: Absolutely! I’ve had a lot more time to learn more about myself and write more poetry and lyrics. I was actually planning on releasing a song in March and when this whole pandemic happened, I knew I had to release “Somebody Loves You” now. Especially because May is Mental Health Awareness Month and this pandemic has affected everyone in some way. So many people have been struggling emotionally and financially.  I want to lift up people and give them some comfort during this difficult time.

The Knockturnal: Tell me more about the inspiration behind “Somebody Loves You” and how the song came to be.

Ariel Rose: When I wrote “Somebody Loves You” I was feeling overwhelmed. And I remember thinking, “What is the one thing someone could possibly say to me in this moment that will make me feel better?” And it was that somebody loves me. Sometimes I think we get so caught up in the little things and we don’t always see the big picture and all the things we do have, that we should be so grateful for.

The Knockturnal: What message do you hope resonates with the people who hear this song?

Ariel Rose: When people hear this song, I hope it takes them back to a place of comfort and gives them hope to know that things will get better.  It’s a process and it’ll take time for everything to go back to normal, but ultimately, it will.  I also hope people will feel a little less alone. I know people are more depressed and worried about the future and I want them to know that even if they feel physically or mentally alone right now, people care, and they are so loved, and they most definitely are not alone.

The Knockturnal: The music video involves clips of yourself as a child growing up, was it surreal seeing these clips alongside your newest song?

Ariel Rose: It was so cool to see that and also quite nostalgic! I worked with an amazing videographer, Andres Cifuentes, and he asked me to see if I could find old videos of me singing when I was younger.  I hadn’t seen those clips before and it was really fun to go back and see how far I’ve come. To see me singing as a little girl, and to know that I’m still singing to this day is a pretty awesome feeling.  Also, having my dad featured in the video meant so much. He’s a classically trained pianist and has always been a huge inspiration to me. I remember he would accompany me on the piano for all of my competitions and auditions growing up. It’s really wonderful that we are able to share our love for music and I’m so grateful that he wanted to be a part of my video!

The Knockturnal: You’re partnering with United Way of Miami-Dade, can you tell me more about your involvement with this organization?

Ariel Rose: The United Way of Miami-Dade is doing so much good in the community. Right now, many people are unemployed. They are struggling to put food on the table, they need medical supplies and can’t pay their rent or mortgage. The United Way set up their Miami Pandemic Response Fund in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They are assisting vulnerable families and small businesses affected by the pandemic. I am really thrilled to be involved in a cause that I truly believe in and I really hope people will donate whatever they can. Any amount will make a difference!

The Knockturnal: What about Latin and Hispanic Culture captivated you in learning more about it?

Ariel Rose: Growing up in Miami, I’ve been surrounded by many different cultures, including the Latin culture and I’ve always had a love for Latin music. I remember being six years old and listening to Ricky Martin’s CD on repeat! I couldn’t understand all the words, but loved the rhythms and instrumentation. Then as my kindergarten graduation present, my parents surprised me with tickets to my first concert to see him live. It was so amazing! What’s even cooler, is now I get to work with some of the musicians that used to tour with Ricky Martin. My voice coach, who was an opera singer in Cuba, doesn’t speak any English and has been my coach since I was 12!  It doesn’t make any sense in theory, but we don’t even need to speak the same language. Because music is our universal language. My voice coach encouraged me to sing in Spanish, which further gave me the confidence to sing in other languages. My first album was in Spanish and English and I actually recently released a salsa version of Adele’s “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” that was arranged and produced by my talented friend, Edgar Perez. You can hear it on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. That was a really fun and lively project to work on with a LOT of Latin influence!

The Knockturnal: What was the process like while creating  “Rhythms of Life”, which is half in Spanish?

Ariel Rose: Creating my first album was one of my favorite experiences. It was so awesome sitting in the studio and listening to the musicians play and record my songs! I worked with Latin Grammy nominated producer, Juan Vicente Zambrano and we co-wrote the music. It was such an exciting time!  I remember I had my official album release party at a club in Miami and I thought no one was going to come. We had over 4,000 people show up and couldn’t let any more people in!

The Knockturnal: Do you feel like your Spanish has significantly improved since creating that album?

Ariel Rose: Si! Mi español Esta mejorando! (That means it’s improving!) lol. I think with every song I learn in Spanish, I learn more about the language. I find the way phrases are worded in Spanish to be so beautiful. I also work with many Latin musicians that predominantly speak Spanish, which has helped me a lot. And I recorded some music with Latin Grammy-winning producer Jorge Luis Piloto, who is absolutely amazing and a great mentor to me.  I understand Spanish a lot better than I can speak it. But I’m hoping to one day be able to fluently speak the language!

The Knockturnal: What was it like working with Juan Vicente Zambrano?

Ariel Rose: Juan is one of the most talented people I’ve ever worked with. He is reserved, yet forward-thinking and intelligent. It’s funny because when I first met Juan I thought he was so quiet because he didn’t speak much. I didn’t know much about him, but when he showed me some of the music he wrote and worked on, I couldn’t believe it! He is so inspirational and such a beautiful human and I’ll always have the utmost respect and love for him.

The Knockturnal: Do you have any favorite Latin music artists you look up to?

Ariel Rose: I have looked up to Selena my whole life. The way she was able to crossover and sing in English and Spanish was amazing.  I’ve also seen Gloria Estefan and Shakira in concert a couple of times and they are both incredible performers.  I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Gloria when I was a finalist in the “Sing Like Gloria” competition. She is so talented! I look up to the Latin Grammy-winning percussionist/producer Tony Succar. He is a good friend of mine and so incredibly talented. His work ethic is so admirable, and he has inspired me a lot.

The Knockturnal: Who are your top musical inspirations?

Ariel Rose: My father. He has inspired me in so many ways to never give up and to follow my dreams. Still to this day, he encourages me and fully supports what I do. Also, Barbra Streisand has been a huge inspiration to me. She has really done it all. She is a legend and her voice is stunning.  Her diction is impeccable and every word she sings is perfectly thought out and expertly executed.

The Knockturnal: You performed at the Latin Grammy Street Party in New York, what was that experience like?

Ariel Rose: Performing at the Latin Grammy Street Party in New York was so cool! I flew to New York with my troupe of dancers to be part of that incredible event. The energy at the festival was amazing. It was really an unforgettable experience!

The Knockturnal: What’s been your favorite moment in your musical career so far?

Ariel Rose: Wow! There are so many incredible moments. I honestly think one of my favorite was when I was on the National Tour of Cirque Dreams “Holidaze.” I was the lead vocalist, the Ice Queen, and we toured all over the country.  One of the places we performed at was the Fox Theater in Detroit. The theater itself is a work of art. It’s so ornate and gorgeous on the inside. Elvis actually had a recording studio there, and so many of the greatest performers had performed there.  Backstage at the Fox Theater, I saw thousands of signatures on the wall of the most legendary performers like Frank Sinatra, Frankie Valli, Gladys Knight, B.B. King, Natalie Cole, Al Green, and so many others. They had all been on the same stage that I was performing on. And then I got to sign the wall! It was a really amazing feeling.

The Knockturnal: Who is your dream collaboration with?

Ariel Rose: My dream collaboration would be with Barbra Streisand or David Foster. Or both! I remember growing up and watching Oprah episodes with David Foster. I actually had the opportunity to sing with him at his concert recently, in West Palm Beach. He called on me in the audience and I sang “The Prayer” while he accompanied me on the piano. It was surreal!!!

The Knockturnal: Name a song you’ve been listening to on repeat during quarantine?

Ariel Rose: Believe it or not, I’ve been listening to a lot of Disney music during this time! It’s really magical and happy and takes me back to my childhood. I’ve also been enjoying watching old Disney movies, as well. It’s fun to watch them older and with a new perspective!  When people meet me or hear me sing, they often tell me I’m like a Disney princess. I guess my name doesn’t hurt, either!

The Knockturnal: What are you most looking forward to post COVID-19?

Ariel Rose: I’m really looking forward to performing at live events again! I miss that so much. I miss the energy of a live audience. I’m also looking forward to just feeling normal again. Being able to walk into a restaurant or store and feel safe.

The Knockturnal: What’s next for you in your music career?

Ariel Rose: Tonight, I’ll be doing a mini-concert on Instagram Live on my page @iamarielrose at 5 pm ET to raise funds and awareness for the United Way’s Miami Pandemic Response Fund.  I feel it’s important to give back whenever you can, so I’m asking those people who can, to join me in donating whatever they can to help those in need. I hope to see you all there! I have more music I’ll be releasing, and I’m writing more music so make sure to follow me on my social media to stay tuned!

Check out her song, “Somebody Loves  You” here!!

To learn more about United Way of Miami-Dade and support the nonprofit organization,  visit www.unitedwaymiami.org/ohh_covid19.

For more information on Ariel Rose, visit https://www.iamarielrose.com/ and follow her on social media and music platforms.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamarielrose/