Rollercoaster is out now!
Image: Supplied.
Arden Jones recently unveiled his new single, Rollercoaster. We caught up with the artist to chat about the release, what he has in store for the rest of 2021 and so much more!
Could you tell us a bit about how you began your musical journey, and your background in music?
Music was always around in the house growing up. I started by learning as many instruments as I could just to see what I would like. I played guitar, mandolin, piano, and bass but the only one that stuck was guitar. My parents introduced me to their favorite artists as I started to grow up and I think that sent me in a good direction musically.
Congratulations on the release of your new single Rollercoaster. Tell us a bit about the conceptual nature of the track and what prompted you to document on your debut single?
I wrote the song Rollercoaster because I felt like I needed to express the ups and downs of a relationship. Not only a relationship with another person but a relationship with anything. I wanted the chorus to be talking about another person but then reach off into other relationships such as a girl's relationship with a city in the first verse.
You bring a more upbeat and brighter sonic approach to rap, incorporating the genre into pop based soundscapes. What prompted you to explore this avenue of sound?
I think there's a large gap between rap that's popular today and people who appreciate other types of good music. I want to bridge that gap because I think there's so much to like about hip hop today. Incorporating those recognizable older sounds that come with alternative Indie music makes older or less rap oriented listeners feel more comfortable.
What’s one line from the song you find at times could be stuck in your head? Or a line that you come back to?
For me it's the line ‘you're stuck on thoughts of yesterday meanwhile imma be just fine’ . I think I always come back to that line because of the confidence it portrays. As long as you're looking ahead to the future you can be okay with your past mistakes and move on.
What’s your favourite rollercoaster?
I like this question it threw me off. My favorite Rollercoaster is Medusa at Six Flags in Northern California.
The song arrives alongside an official visual, directed by Markus Sternecker. Can you walk us through your process when it comes to conceptualising the visuals and how involved are you with the development of the visuals?
We film this visual a month before the release and we had to get on a real roller coaster. The people at Santa Monica Boardwalk we're very accommodating and gave us an entire roller coaster cart to film on. We also went on the coaster a few times in a row just to get the shots we wanted. I figured it was essential for the song.
How important are the visuals to you when it comes to portraying the stories and themes present on the songs?
I think it depends on the song. Some are better to be left up to interpretation so you can tell your own story. But some need to guide The Listener in the right direction, or the direction that the artist wanted to send you in.
Could you walk us through your collaborative creative process when writing and recording your music?
This changes a lot for me. I've always been by myself with a computer in front of me in my room. But as music has become my career I've started to learn to be more collaborative and work with other songwriters and producers. I've been having a blast doing that and it's truly been a great experience. I like to sit down and write and really get in the zone without distractions but I also love learning from all these new talented people I'm meeting.
What do you have in store for the rest of 2021? Will we be seeing an album or EP, and if so what can listeners expect from it?
Man I can't talk about too much but I have so much music I've been working on that I'm excited to share with everybody. I really just want people to hear what I have to offer and the stories I have to tell. I'm really excited.
With everything that’s been happening in the world touring has changed, what are your 2021 live performance plans, what can fans expect from a live show, and is there a chance we’ll see you performing in Australia when you are able to do so?
I have a few shows this year that I'm really excited for including Unsilent Night in Texas this December. I'm also doing a couple local shows in Los Angeles in the next few months. I would love to perform in Australia I've gotten a ton of support from people out there and also love the country. I can't confirm, but I would be ecstatic to make that happen.
RAPID FIRE
Biggest influences?
Mac Miller and Dom Fike
Dream collaboration?
Jack Harlow
Album that has had the most impact on you?
17 by X
How do you define your musical style in 3 words?
Fun, raw, welcoming
Best song of 2021 so far?
Rapstar by Polo G
If you could create the soundtrack for any film, which one would it be?
Baby Driver
Hannah Montana or Miley Cyrus?
Miley Cyrus
A song you would love to cover on tour?
All Girls Are The Same by Juice
Album you would listen to on repeat on a road trip?
What Could Possibly go wrong by Dom Fike
First concert you went to?
The Avett Brothers
Best concert you have been to?
J Cole
First album you ever bought?
2014 Forest Hills Drive by J. Cole
Would you rather be a Spice Girl or a Backstreet Boy?
Backstreet Boy
Guilty music pleasure?
Bhad Bhabie
If you could support any artist on tour, who would it be?
BrockHampton
An artist you think has had the most influence on the music industry.
Lil Nas X
What advice would your current self, give your future self, for a year from now?
Keep going.
The moment you knew you wanted to be a musician?
The first time I heard Bad by Micheal Jackson