With more stay-at-home orders in full effect, we’ve found ourselves going back to our quarantine playlists we made back in March (remember that stage of the Q?) to help pass time with good music.
Ariel Gold‘s track “Hypersensitivity” is the most recent addition to our songs we’ve been having on loop lately, as its a feminine song with lush analog synths, an electric feel and haunting vocals. It’s a COVID-19 era quarantine lament for experiences outside the limitations of self isolation and social distancing, and Gold hopes that everyone can “slow down and turn the lights out and connect with the soft, slow and bubbly presence of this song in their atmosphere” while listening to it.
Celeb Secrets sat down (virtually) with the budding songstress to hear more about the creative process behind “Hypersensitivity,” Gold’s passion for visual arts and what’s to come from her in 2021. Make sure to listen to “Hypersensitivity” and read our full Q&A below — don’t forget to let us know what you think of the song by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
You can also keep up with Ariel by following her on Instagram at @arielgoldmusic.
Celeb Secrets: Congrats on your new single “Hypersensitivity.” For those who haven’t heard it yet, how would you describe its sound?
Ariel Gold: “Hypersensitivity is an indie-pop princess anthem with an electric feel and an ethereal atmosphere.”
CS: The song is all about femininity — what do you hope girls take away from listening to it?
AG: “I hope all people, including girls, femmes, non-binary people and guys, can slow down and turn the lights out and connect with the soft, slow and bubbly presence of this song in their atmosphere.”
CS: Was it written during the pandemic? If so, can you tell us about the inspiration behind it, the studio day/creative process?
AG: “Yes! Hypersensitivity is a deep pandemic song. It yearns for experiences outside of the realm of isolation or what was allowed at the time. In the bridge the lyrics say, ‘So take me down to the place that you always wanna go when you’re stuck at home.’ I made a beat on my laptop on Logic at home and the bubbly melody just flowed out of it.”
CS: We think it’s so cool that you are also an artist and produce all of the artwork for your projects. What’s that like being such a dominant role in both the music and creative part of your career?
AG: “I sometimes feel like my two mediums take time away from each other and that I might be further ahead in my career if I had chosen to focus more on one than the other. It takes a lot of self-love, self-compassion but most of all discipline to work successfully in both. I’m still figuring it out, but it helps that in a way they feed each other.”
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CS: What’s been your favorite cover you’ve designed so far?
AG: “Probably my paintings on my album covers for ‘Hands’ and my ‘Grace’ EP. I consider those my 2 most successful self portrait paintings.”
CS: Being a poet as well, do you find it easier to write song lyrics? How does it help your creative process?
AG: “Often I will write poems, make the instrumental backing for the song and then collage pieces, words, images and feelings from the poems into the structure of the song. Sometimes I use multiple poems to supplement a song. The two are almost totally interconnected. A poem can exist without a song but a song can’t exist without a poem.”
CS: Since we’re Celeb Secrets, can you share a behind-the-scenes secret from recording “Hypersensitivity” that we wouldn’t know when listening to it?
AG: “It’s about a girl that I was crushing on during the pandemic. I really thought about how sensitive girls are, and specifically her, while I was writing the song. She was my muse. I really wrote the song to tell her how I felt. When it came out she heard it she totally freaked out! In a good way.”
CS: Is “Hypersensitivity” a taste of the new music that’s coming? What can you tell us about what’s next?
AG: “‘Hypersensitivity’ is almost experimentally poppy for me. Usually I like a slower, more live acoustic sound. I’m excited to share more of that in my upcoming projects!”
