Lupe’s Local Listen: Ariana Gates
If you’re looking for a “Remedy” for a bad day, take a listen to Ariana Gates. Another fellow alumnus from William Paterson University (class of 2017) that continues to reach new highs with her music. I met Ariana Gates at one of my last shows before the pandemic in January 2020. We both were opening for fellow local musician Gina Royale at Debonair Music Hall. It was just Ariana and a guitar, and must I say, wow, I really haven’t heard someone as soulful as her in a long time. Her exquisite vocal runs and great storytelling lyrics make you want to groove in your car when you’re listening to tracks such as “Favorite Song” and “The Joke’s On Me”. All her friends shouted the words back to her, that’s how you know you have a catchy tune on your hands. Speaking with Ariana, she told me songwriting, singing, and performing has been the thing she loves the most and never imagined any other career for herself. She takes a lot of influences from female powerhouses such as Katy Perry, Carole King and even Lady Gaga. Outside of creating music Ariana enjoys photography, cooking and going to the gym (she is a self-proclaimed “gym rat”). She recently played the hit New York venue The Bitter End. Several legends have played there including Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Stevie Wonder. Listening back to Ariana’s tracks, I asked her if jazz was a favorite genre of hers; “The songs I currently have out have a slight jazzy influence because I was spending time and working with a lot of jazz musicians at that time while I was at school.” I have to say the jazzy vocals fit her greatly. As far as more new music from Ariana Gates, this is what she had to say on that “YES! This spring I’ll be releasing music from my new artist project with a whole new sound. It will be very pop, and I’ll also be changing my artist name to reflect this new chapter of music.” I’m super excited to hear and I hope you are too. Click the links below to listen to the amazing Ariana Gates!
Upcoming Shows:
April 21st at Debonair Music Hall in Teaneck NJ; Doors open at 6pm, show at 7pm :
WP Scholarship Fundraiser; Raising funds for the SEA scholarship in memory of her father Larry Gates
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arianagates/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/arianagates
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ariana-gates/1510041543
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3w1ykeDNdeYNr9YXRsjZK3?si=qRuEKizWTO2tuQpVQmEBWQ