Ari’Jo’s Pre-release Listening Party – [Write Up]
Friday, April 13, 2012 by Stevo | No Comments | Category: Events, Music, RnB/Jazz/Soul
Yesterday, I and Greedmont Park were invited to a Pre-release party for a new singer/songwriter from Georgia, named Ari’Jo’s (pronounced Air-ree-Joe) project, Euphoria. It was held at the intimate lounge Arif Café on the north side of Atlanta. When I arrived, the setting was calm but everyone was excited to be there. The bubbly Ari’Jo was working the room, thanking everyone for coming out and showing support. I was made aware that this was her first project released to the public. I was extremely curious to see what she was made of.
When I walked into the venue, I went straight to a corner, grabbed a seat just to survey the room and study the crowd and try to see what type of person/artist Ms. Ari’Jo was. I previously watched a couple of videos she has on YouTube of her covering songs, but that was not enough, I needed to know more. I needed to know HER. She’s a very beautiful girl, and was dressed in some fire red heels along with a flowing leopard print skirt with a sleeveless jean jacket, with a sexy top that showed a peep of her midsection. Now, I’m no fashion guru, but as a man, she looked great! But after about an hour or so went by, it was time to hear the music.
The DJ cuts his set short and hands the person everyone was there to see, Ari’Jo, the microphone. She seems a little nervous (which she later admits) and shy as she is giving her “Thank you for coming out” speech. She reiterates that all the music on the EP was written by her and that each song has a personal story. The speech ends with thank you’s to her family, friends, fans, and team, Love Renaissance.
The first song she plays is “Something”, which she describes as a song she wrote last winter and was during a very trying time in her life. This track meant so much to her, she actually started it over mid play. A few tracks later, she plays her single and first release from Euphoria, “I Promise”, produced by someone she actually came in touch with via Twitter! She later played the video which did make the record actually stand out more than just hearing the song only. One of the stand-out records was “Thoughts”, which Ari’Jo says is a James Blake cover but out of her original songs, “D.V.” (I’m guessing stands for “Domestic Violence” because before the song plays, she states that it’s about a friend of hers who has gone through domestic violence with her significant other) was definitely it. It was a very dark, yet smooth song with a skit as well, that added a nice touch for effect.
Overall, her debut project, Euphoria is extremely smooth, especially with her tone of voice. You’re not going to hear any amazing runs, or
larger than life notes, but you will get plenty of emotion, and 90% original music, mostly produced by her go-to producer Kip, and lyrics all written by Ari’Jo herself. If you’ve never heard Ari’Jo’s music or voice, she’s very much in the same lane, musically, as a Jhene Aiko. This is a good start for Ari’Jo, but hopefully, she does something that separates her from the women who are in her same genre that have already made it, because
the music can’t just be good. It has to be something that will make the listener’s say, “I rather listen to Ari’Jo
instead of so-and-so” or feel the music is just as good, different, or better than the next. But with a great team
behind her, and hard work, anything is possible. Euphoria should coming soon!
Words by Steven Dingle.
