Aria Releases New Single ‘Glass’

25 March 2022

Today, Aotearoa artist Aria releases Glass the new single from her forthcoming EP Love Songs Till Midnight out April 22, 2022.

Glass is a collision of old, classic sounds and new, burgeoning styles “I saw Glass as a chance for me to flex my love for RnB, while still delivering something unique” shares soulful songstress Aria. Sonically Glass has a smooth RnB feel, all the while the song pulls gently in a different direction. Lyrically it speaks to empowering themes of getting comfortable in your skin and holding your own.

Glass began as a solo project but evolved into a creative collaboration. Haz Beats and Abraham Kunin (Home Brew) co-produced the track. Strings were performed by Berlin based Youka Snell, prolific bass player Chip Matthews added his flair to the song and Noah Slee laid down the backing vocals which really helped bring the story to life. The finessing of the final mix was done by Jacob Rush (BigPop Studios), mastering by Chris Chetland (Kog), accompanying artwork by Todd Beeby and lyric video by Reuben Stephens.

“Creating and making art with friends is one of my favourite pastimes” Aria adds “Abraham Kunin (Abe) is the driving force behind the nuance of the track. Once we had set the vibe and structure, and confirmed Hazzy’s drums, Abe and I worked tirelessly on the production of this tune, stacking layer upon layer of instruments, percussion, vocals, getting the ingredients to the cake just right.

The song is ever so strange with its subtle unconventional chord progressions, orchestral string sounds from Youka Snell and peculiar lyrical imagery. Mixing from Jacob Rush was the cherry on top. There are a lot of moving parts and he helped each ingredient find their light.”

Glass builds on the success of Aria’s 2020 releases Awake With You a high energy, pop-soul collaboration with renowned electronic producer Alistair Deverick (Boycrush) and soulful melancholic melody Unravel which was accompanied by music video from acclaimed actress Morgana O’Reilly.

On the story behind the song, Aria shares “The song is about me plucking up the courage to choose to want more for myself, to leave an unhealthy dude in the dust. I did it and it felt liberating instead of defeating (“I felt so neck and bones, not erased me”). I was standing tall, saying ‘no, actually this isn’t good enough’.

Glass was a reoccurring symbol during this chapter. “The week after I broke it off, someone broke into my car, there was broken glass all over the back seat. Then – a few days later I was driving to Waihi and my windscreen took a hit from a road stone and grew this massive crack right across the glass. And finally, I saw his car and lo and behold his broken car window was covered in black plastic that was blowing in the wind. I laughed to myself and rolled my eyes.” shares Aria. “This whole thing was a work of art, a work of glass.”

Aria’s rich experiences writing and recording the Auckland anthem ‘Friday‘, in the shack with Homebrew, belting top Cs in the Festival Garden for Dr Colossus, crooning backing vocals for Teeks on RNZ, playing festivals in Berlin or laying down Mahogany Session vocals in London for Noah Slee, build her own juicy, tapestry culminating in her debut body of work Love Songs Till Midnight releasing April 22 2022. Glass is the new single from this impressive debut EP.