Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Aria Wunderland

Alternative-pop songstress Aria Wunderland is an artist who should be on everybody’s radar. With two new singles under her belt, “Airplane Mode” and “Risk It All”, Aria is showcasing her talent, versatility, and ability to connect with any listener. Pop Culturalist caught up with Aria to chat about her thriving career.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Aria: It was through an old baby grand piano we had in our apartment growing up. I was so intrigued by it and quickly fell in love. I played piano by ear then studied classical music. Around middle school, I started applying my pop, rock, and hip-hop influences to songwriting and haven’t stopped writing since!

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Aria: I would say [it was] when I graduated high school and moved out of my childhood home. I really feel that was a monumental moment in my career because that autonomy was what really allowed me to be free creatively and pursue my passion without rules or limitations.

PC: What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned being a part of this industry?
Aria: I think the most important thing to learn is to trust yourself and be authentic. When I first started out, I was eager to receive advice and opinions from industry professionals, A&R’s, etc. I let these voices resonate way too deeply and it started to inform my songwriting—in a bad way. I was trying to write music that was “in demand” or “in style” at the moment. I lost myself during that time period and started to forget why I fell in love with music in the first place. Now I’ve learned that while some of these criticisms are constructive, you have to take them with a grain of salt and really stay in your own lane.

PC: “Airplane Mode” is your new single. What inspired the track?
Aria: I came up with the song idea while I was in L.A. It’s basically about freedom and escapism—just being in a jet-setting mood—and breaking away from feelings of monotony and confinement. This song is also about finding comfort in the mere dream of getting away. So [it’s] this idea that [even though] you may not necessarily hop on a plane at this very second, you can dream about going places and find solace in that. Put your phone on airplane mode; no distractions—just adventure, dreams, love and romance.

PC: You also have another release coming up, “Risk It All”. What can you tell us about it?
Aria: Yes I do! I’m super excited about it. It’s a bit of a new direction theme-wise for me in that I’m exploring intimacy. “Risk It All” is a story describing a passionate late night with your favorite person and succumbing to all of your deepest desires. It’s about setting the tone early on in the night and saying not only, “Can you stay?”, but [also saying] we can be free to abandon all concepts of time, social norms, personal inhibitions, responsibility, morality, etc.; just risking it all. It’s an in-the-moment kind of evening where you don’t even care if you’ve pulled an all-nighter together and have work the next day. Your attraction makes you so present to one another that you’re lost in each other’s world, almost feeling like you’re in a trance and time has stopped.

PC: Can we expect a larger body of work soon? Maybe an EP or album?
Aria: Yes! So far I have five singles that I have released on all platforms but I have so much more music that I’ve written recently. I’m going to be releasing a seven-song EP very soon so stay tuned.

PC: As we look ahead in 2019, what does the year hold for you?
Aria: I’m excited to release my first music video for my next single “Risk It All”. I am also going to be performing my new material all throughout the summer and fall. Definitely check my website for dates!

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Aria: Riverdale—I think mostly teens watch this, but I got lured in and can’t stop.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Aria: Mean Girls

PC: Favorite book?
Aria: Fear & Trembling by Søren Kierkegaard

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Aria: Phantom of the Opera—I love Andrew Lloyd Webber.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Aria: NIN [Nine Inch Nails]

PC: First album you bought?
Aria: Usher’s My Way

PC: First concert you attended?
Aria: Mariah Carey

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Aria: A Rush of Blood to the Head by Coldplay. This album is magical! I remember first putting it on and the intro to “Politik” came on. I literally got chills all over my body! There’s just so much passion in the piano chords throughout this entire album. As someone who plays piano, I was really inspired to also write music that conveyed so much emotion and feeling.

To keep up with Aria, follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and purchase her singles on Amazon Music, iTunes, or stream it on Spotify.