Formula Indie Sessions : Interview with ARYSE

1. What is your earliest memory connected to music? 

I remember hearing melodies my grandfather used to write in his local language. I never  understood music theory back then, but those sounds stayed in my mind. That is the first time I  realised how music can hold emotions even without words. 

2. How did your passion for creating music begin? 

I officially started making music in 2020 on my iPhone X during the covid period. I was stuck at  home, so I opened GarageBand and started playing around with the free loops and random  sounds. I had no idea what I was doing, but it was fun. Every small beat I made pushed me to  learn a little more. After a while I moved into Logic Pro, FL Studio, and sometimes Ableton. What  started as simple curiosity slowly turned into a full passion. 

3. What is the story behind your current music project? 

My latest projects are a mix of two very different phases of my life. Technically my newest  work is a track called ‘Coming Through’. It is a hyper pop and experimental pop song, with a  lot of futuristic elements that I created from scratch. On the other side, I also released my  two year old album ‘What Once Was’. Those songs were sitting in my drive for years,  unfinished and forgotten. I finally went back, completed a few, polished the rest, and decided  to release it this month. So this whole phase feels like a combination of moving forward while  also closing an old chapter. 

4. How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before? 

I would describe my sound as indie pop and RnB at the core, with bits of newer experimental  elements that I like to blend into certain tracks. My vocals are usually soft and soothing,  covered in reverb to give a dreamy, distant feel. 

5. What is one thing you have learned that completely changed the way you make music? 

I learned that minimalism can be more powerful than complexity. Leaving space in a mix can let  the emotion breathe. Before that I feel I used to overproduce everything. 

6. What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process? 

I use Logic Pro for most of my production because it feels close to GarageBand, which made  it easy for me to transition. I work with both a full sized keyboard and a compact MIDI  controller, switching between them depending on what I need for the session. I also move  between FL Studio and Studio One when I want a different workflow. My essential VSTs are  Kontakt, Labs, and of course Omnisphere. My love for Omnisphere will never die. I use a lot of  pads and synths to build atmosphere, constantly layering and shaping textures, which is why  my songs have that lush, wide feel. 

7. Which indie artist or song are you loving right now? 

Right now I am listening to this solo project called Del Water Gap by S. Holden Jaffe from  Brooklyn, New York. I really love his style of music and his vocals. There is something very  raw and emotional about it that I connect with. 

8. How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision? 

I am from a peaceful coastal city in the southern part of India, and that environment shaped  me more than I realised. Music was always around me here, from devotional temple songs to  church choirs. I also grew up listening to a lot of Indian music, especially Bollywood, which  influenced my sense of melody and emotion. Later, when I was a teenager, a lot of personal  and emotional experiences shaped the way I write. That is why many of my songs, especially  the sad ones, carry that introspective and honest tone. My music is basically a blend of  where I come from and what I have lived through. 

9. What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

A lot of my songs come from imagined situations, and some come directly from personal  experiences. It is a mix of stories I create and emotions I have lived through. With both kinds  of songs, my hope is the same. If someone listens and feels a little less alone, or if something  in the song helps their own emotions make sense, that is enough for me. I am not trying to fix  anything for anyone. I just want to create a space where people can sit with their feelings  without judgment, the same way music gave that space to me. 

10. What is the most important lesson music has taught you so far? 

Consistency is everything. You do not need a perfect background or perfect equipment. You just  need to show up and create. 

11. What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at? 

A beachside venue or a small stage is perfect for my kind of music. But if I talk bigger  dreams, I would love to perform at Lollapalooza, especially now that it is in India too. And one  day, doing a world tour would be amazing.  

12. If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why? 

If I could collaborate with anyone, I would pick Joji, Michael Jackson, Post Malone, or The  Weeknd. Each of them has inspired me in different ways. Joji for the emotion, MJ for the  melodies and energy, Post Malone for the blend of genres, and The Weeknd for the  atmosphere. A lot of my songs have bits of these influences, so working with any of them  would feel like coming full circle. 

13. Where can our listeners follow and support your music? 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ruilClh162ZJU8U8YLvWY? 

si=Fi9b1uAIQ6mSAatYrwuNMg 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aryse.music?igsh=MXduZHJnMG5wenllaQ==

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@arysemusicc?si=rxPcAaPiZL4XW0ts 

More links: https://www.submithub.com/link/aryse 

14. Looking toward the future, what is your dream for the next chapter of your musical  journey? 

Looking ahead, I want to build a complete visual world around my music. I have always been  fascinated by filmmaking, and I want my songs to connect with visuals, stories, and emotions  in a deeper way. I recently scored a local horror movie, and I am excited to share that with my  audience. In the long run, I want ARYSE to grow globally, release merch, vinyls, CDs, and  eventually tour. I want this project to become something people can experience, not just  listen to. 

15. What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way? 

I hope listeners realise that everything I make comes from a genuine place. Even if the stories  are imagined, the emotion behind them is real. Every song has some part of me in it. I want  people to feel that honesty and connect to my music in their own way. And if it inspires  someone out there who is dreaming like I was, that would mean a lot to me.