After the carefree vibes of her summer hit “Attitude,” Ari Amun shared the official music video for her new single, “Human Nature.” This soulful anthem, marked by a confident bassline, honest lyrics, and Ari’s striking vocals, is her third much-anticipated release. “Human Nature” delves into the themes of perception and embracing our own humanity, offering listeners a funky anthem for any season. In an exclusive interview with CelebMix, Ari shares the inspiration behind the song, her collaboration with rising producer Madhi, and the artistic evolution reflected in the upcoming music video. Join us as we explore the diverse soundscape of Ari Amun’s musical journey.
Hi Ari Amun, welcome to CelebMix! Can you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hello! Thank you so much for having me! I am a singer songwriter hailing from Atlanta, Georgia who loves anything Funk, R&B, Pop, and definitely some sad ballads. I am in school right now for music at NYU so I’ve been expanding myself as an artist in NYC.
Your new single, “Human Nature,” explores themes of perception and embracing our own humanity. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind this song and its message?
The idea of Human Nature came from a guy in my class a lot of people seemed to think was perfect in every way. I thought it was kind of weird because we knew nothing about him, or what he was going through, but we painted him to be something no one is. It felt like I was genuinely looking at everyone without my rose-colored glasses on and giving myself grace. We will all, at one point, go through similar things as one another, so it’s silly to act like those things never happen to us when we’re all just human. When presented with the rawest parts of us or our own “human nature”, could we “handle” it, or would we run away?
“Human Nature” is your third single, following the carefree “Attitude.” How does this new track differ from your previous work, and what artistic evolution can fans expect from it?
“Human Nature” is different from my past work in a multitude of ways. I would say this is the first time I’ve worked with another producer that was not myself or Chuck Chaz. Madhi brings a jazzy and soulful influence to the song that I adore and really inspired me to keep up my funk persona I had introduced in “Attitude”. I would also say that artistically “Human Nature” offers more of a vision to the message than my previous tracks mainly because of the music video. The video created a personality for the song as it added a story line and represented me and my values as an artist.
The official music video for “Human Nature” is about to be unveiled. Could you give us a sneak peek into the creative concept and vision behind the video?
Of course! I knew I wanted the music video to have a storyline that embodied the message of “Human Nature”. I knew there had to be a contrast of nature and superficiality in the video, which is why we shot in many locations including gardens and studios to juxtapose the two. It was so much fun shooting at some of the most beautiful places in Atlanta as it showcased what I love about my hometown. I got to film and edit the video with cinematographer Kameron Jones of KFactory Productions and editor Charles Jones, which was such a humbling process to be surrounded by such talented individuals. Expressing my artistic vision through acting, set design, and fashion, things I’m very passionate about, was an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world, and only establishes my dreams as an artist.
The song “Human Nature” was a collaboration with rising producer and musician Madhi. How did this collaboration come about, and what did each of you bring to the creative process?
Madhi’s family and my family are close friends even though we live on opposite coasts of the US, he resides in California. Madhi reached out and said that he had a track that I may be interested in. I loved the track on my 1st listen, it had a funky vibe and it was fairly easy to write over. I remember sitting back and listening to the voice memo I had recorded, and knowing we had something special. Madhi is also a jazz pianist so he adds an elevated sound to the song which I love, and the chill vibe of the track was different from my typical style. Chuck Chaz and I then added some other elements— we created a pre chorus and chorus, added some strings, harmonies, and polish to bring it all together.
You mentioned that you felt inspired to write the lyrics and melody for “Human Nature” in under 15 minutes when you received the initial track. Can you share your creative process and how inspiration strikes for you as a songwriter?
It’s hard to describe how I write because most of the melodies and lyrics come to me from what feels like out of thin air. I remember I kept repeating the phrase “You’re the dream” and everything flowed from there. Anything can inspire! I’ve noticed that a lot of times it’s the thought or instance I pushed to the back of my brain wanting to make itself heard. In this case, it was “Human Nature” and my frustrations with the need to feel perfect.
Your journey in the music industry began with “Drowning,” which touched on mental health struggles, and “Attitude,” a more carefree and upbeat track. How has your music evolved over time, and what can we expect from your future releases?
My music overtime has adopted a more mature sound with more thought-provoking lyrics. Vocally, I enjoy creating multilayered harmonies and textures and will expand on this in future works. I would say my expertise is sad, crooning ballads and I can’t wait to give people more songs to cry too! I’m also excited to explore using visuals to enhance the lyrical imagery expressed in the songs. Film has been a strong passion of mine since I was making films in grade school, and I enjoy the experience of combining both crafts.
You’re currently based in both Atlanta, Georgia, and New York City. How have these locations influenced your music and your identity as an artist?
In some ways the cities could not be more different. Growing up in the suburbs on the outskirts of Atlanta, you get to experience quietude and nature. Atlanta, known for its trees and hills, was always a place where you could slow down and melt into the time. Although, I didn’t realize how quiet it was until I moved to New York. NYC is known for its fast paced “I have somewhere I need to be all the times” mentality and I’ve definitely had to learn to pick up my pace of living. I’ve even had to learn how to walk faster! Therefore, I think my music has become a lot more experimental and even faster paced than when I was at home. There’s so much to write about at every moment of the day in NYC. No matter what time of day it is, there’s always something happening. In terms of my identity, I feel like I’ve had to assert myself more and, in turn, I’m confident in myself as an artist.
As you move into your sophomore year of college, you mentioned presenting a more polished side of yourself as a maturing artist. Could you give us a glimpse of your future plans and what’s in store for your music career?
I am currently working on my next body of work and you can expect to hear more singles soon! If New York has given me anything, it would be a passion for live performance. I hope to continue singing live at different venues in New York and share my voice with the world!