Here you can listen to some rough drafts of what is to come on the next album. This is a work in progress. All words and music Michele Ari
Big thanks to musician Ender Bowen who is playing all of the instruments on these demos to include the fake drums ( "Another Moment" is his).
I'm "old school" at heart , but it's a brand new day isn't it?
In essence my influences come from those who were themselves no matter how hard that might have been to do in a world that relies largely on doing what it is told to do and where the biggest chance you take is in being yourself.
That having been said- late 70's/early 80's new wave/punk seem to strike a chord with me as well as 60's pop/garage rock.
The photo below was taken on a visit back to the exact spot ("The Wall") where I very thankfully split off from any middle class ideals as I discovered new wave, punk, Brit Pop post-punk et al and realized tho I may have been in the minority I wasn't alone.
In that vein I am inspired, in all parts of life, by the rebels and forward thinkers of this world who one way or another didn't buy it just because they were sold it as well as compelling beats and that certain something in music you just can't put your finger on that moves us and reaches the deepest, the darkest and the most beautiful parts of the soul.
"Ari is not cut from the same cloth as most of today's female rockers...This is a subtle, emotionally powerful record that is personal and addicting. Keep an eye out for this lady, she is going places."
The Wig Fits All Heads. Seattle. Karla Ash.
"Ever since the arrival of Tori Amos and Hole in the early 90's (it) wasn't cool--or comercially viable enough-- for a woman to write smart, poetic lyrics without an accompanying rage. Ari doesn't sound angry at all; what was once the alternative is now the alternative to the alternative. Yes, Ari is old school...Those who miss the Collegiate Girl will be kicking themselves if they pass this up."
Ink 19. Kyrby Raines.
"8/10 stars. Punk/New Wave. Sounding nothing like most of today's few female alternative-rock vocalists, who are often lacking the emotional rush of their '80s predecessors, Ari has a bittersweet vocal style that is at once enigmatic and revealing..."Pretty" is Ari's little masterpiece, as haunting as the Velvet Underground's "Femme Fatale." It's a track that R.E.M. will probably want to cover, too. Ari's melancholic singing on "Pretty" is heartbreaking and astonishing. "
Whisperin and Hollerin. UK. Adam Harrington.
"With a voice like this her life was surely always going to take this path."
Subba-Cultcha London/New Music Scotland. Alan Baillie.
"Despite her misgivings in the fifth track of 85th and Nowhere (Pretty), Michele Ari has a lot more going for her than just pretty. She picks up the mantle dropped in the late 90s by Natalie Merchant (and stomped on over the past decade by the neverending parade of pop princesses), shakes it out, and tries it on. Not a bad fit. "
Indie-Music.Com. US. Jennifer Layton, Asst. Editor.
"Five out of Five stars. Michele Ari has a terrific voice and a smart way with words. Her debut album is a confident collection of songs... Ari is an talented new artist..."Nevermind" starts with the intriguing lyric "Woke up in last nights makeup". It's musically reminiscent of Nick Lowe's early eighties sound"
Collected Sounds. Sweden. Anna Maria Stjarnell.
THE BIO
Michele Ari is an artist of considerable standing. She’s one of those open and honest people who wear their hearts firmly on their sleeves in the name of their art. Her incredible debut album ‘85th and Nowhere’ had not only her homeland of America enraptured, it also caused genuine excitement throughout Europe.
Respected music reviewers from revered music publications had nothing but genuine praise for her debut effort. The Swedish music press described her work as ‘a confident collection of songs musically reminiscent of Nick Lowe's early 80’s sound’. In Scotland the press mused that she ‘has a capability to evoke countless emotions’ and ‘an intensity of unquestionable depth’. The career dictating London journos were impressed enough to write ‘sounding like Deborah Harry did when she was at her best in the 80’s’. '85th and Nowhere' also drew this comment courtesy of the 'Manila Standard' in the Philippines: ‘probably one of the most important artists that you have not heard yet’. These quotes, and so many others, are genuine snippets from reviews by people who have been in the business long enough to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Should further evidence of Michele Ari’s talent be needed then surely an invite to perform at London’s International Film and Poetry Festival alongside Patti Smith, or, ‘1,000 Kisses’ being named song of the year by a WMNF dj or even, the inclusion of her songs on American and European radio play lists is enough to convince anyone of her worth. On the 3rd of June, 2007 Michele , by 100% of the listener votes, was declared the winner when she went up against another unsigned artist on one of the UK’s farthest reaching radio stations, Moray Firth Radio . Being only the second unsigned artist to receive such an overwhelming response ,in the history of the show, proves that Ari is what this world has been waiting for.
Michele is a catalyst for these times. Her voice is no fluke, her talent is as natural as the seasons , and her grasp of song writing is uncanny. She remains a much needed transfusion of new blood for the veins of a genre quickly running out of ideas and direction. Half the world is unaware of her existence and the other half is unable to keep the secret! Expect many ‘I discovered her first’ claims when she finally strolls onto the map that will place her alongside many other luminaries of this fickle industry. Don’t take the word of the press, or the actions of a country, find out for yourself and be privy to the worst kept secret , but the best bet for success, this music industry currently has to offer.
"85TH AND NOWHERE" HAS RECEIVED AIRPLAY IN LONDON (to include Big L Radio with Opal Bonfante), SHEFFIELD, NEWCASTLE, SCOTLAND, SOUTH AFRICA, GREECE, GERMANY, SCOTLAND, NASHVILLE , CHICAGO, ATLANTA, ASHEVILLE , TAMPA BAY AND OTHER AMERICAN CITIES AS WELL AS MANY INTERNET STATIONS AROUND THE WORLD.
Here's the 13 May 08 play list from 88.5 FM Chicago:
Mission of Burma - That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate
Devo - Through With Being Cool
Buffalo Springfield - Go And Say Goodbye
Of Montreal - Disconnect The Dots
Headlights - Cherry Tulips
Jim Carroll Band - People Who Died
King Missile - Detachable Penis
Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
Keller Williams - Kidney In A Cooler
Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen
Louis XIV - God Killed The Queen
D-Day - Too Young To Date
Bloc Party - Banquet
The Doors - Break On Through (To The Other Side)
MOFRO - DirtFloorCracker
Cake - Love You Madly
Andrew Bird - Measuring Cups
Kaiser Chiefs - Oh My God
MC5 - Looking At You
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone
Sublime - Caress Me Down
The Yardbirds - I'm Not Talking
The Blackouts - No Tomorrow
Michele Ari - 85th and Nowhere
The Who - Who Are You
Eels - Novocaine For The Soul
Iggy and the Stooges - 1969
Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
Dead Milkmen - Bitchin' Camaro
Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home
The Clash - Rudie Can't Fail
hey.. after many attempts of trying to get the video to work.. i just couldnt do it... i dont know what the hell is wrong with it....anyway hope all is well with you...check out my new pix on facebook.... i played at midsummer festival 2 weekends ago... it was a blast !! take care !
I know.... I should feel guilty because I didn't listen the new stuff... and you're right Michele but I'm too busy and I can't put my ears on your songs without enough time to a REAL and deep listening.... I hope you'll forgive me sweety!!!
"Atom Bombs" is THE BOMB!!! :-) I liked this one ever since the rough demo, and this album version is even better- LOVE IT! You do "mellow" as deftly as "rock your socks off". DAMN I wish I could see you live! XXX R=
just a "soft" listening from you through your page and your music and your voice... now I can go to sleep with a positive sense of things... and you, buonanotte Michele!
So Nice to meet you last nite at gold rush!! you are truly beautiful and lovin the sound baby!! Please stay in touch, and maybe we can write some stuff together!!! Muah!
Hei. Nice to meet you to! My writings are now on holiday because I..m working my but off, in my other job. And I must say that your music is quite..fragile, in a good beautyfulway:)
Hey Michele! How is it going? Just dropped to wish you a great weekend. Blondie will play in Helsinki (first time and sold out) this summer and guess who have a ticket :) I know Debbie have changed a little bit but not in my mind :) All the best, take care and stay cool. K.
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