London-based singer-songwriter Arunaโs latest song Confessions addresses the many complications and confusions that follow a โsituationshipโ. Channeling her inner Taylor swift the song starts off soft and mellow and gradually grows into a pop-rock tune increasing in complexity just like a situationship. You can also hear several layers of vocal harmony building their way into the captivating bridge section before the song quiets down for a melancholic write-off. A relatable theme and dynamic songwriting make it stand out from other run-of-the-mill pop songs while still being catchy. We had the opportunity to sit with the artist herself to discuss the song. Letโs hear it from herself:
1. First of all, interesting name! Whatโs the story and inspiration behind it? Is it a song coming from personal experiences
Thank you! To be honest, Iโve always thought of myself as a confessional pop singer/songwriter because a lot of vulnerable emotion goes into the songs I write. I try to write about experiences that are hopefully relatable to people, and my aim is to make people feel less alone through my music
Itโs a song that definitely partly stems from real experiences, but also from seeing people I know going through similar โsituationshipsโ in the present as I myself went through in the past, and wondering why we put ourselves through it.
2. Your music video for the song follows a very distinct storyline. Are there any personal messages you were trying to get across and do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
It does. I definitely like to tell stories with my songs, and I think I wanted my music video to reflect that. Kristian, Zoe, and Anish all did a brilliant job of bringing that story to life and I couldnโt be happier with it. I definitely think thereโs a lot of room for interpretation with both the song and the music video. The music video itself has quite an open ending, and itโs up to you to interpret what happens in their relationship going forward. Iโve heard a lot of people interpreting the song in different ways and itโs always fun to hear because sometimes itโs so wildly different from what I thought of when I was writing it- but Iโm really enjoying hearing othersโ interpretations!
3. What is your creative process like? Do you tend to follow certain artists and their style or do you work it out as the ideas come up? Also, could you elaborate on your partnerโs involvement in this song musically and in other aspects if any?
I think at the moment Iโm still growing- as every artist should be. I think all my recent and upcoming music is quite heavily influenced by the likes of Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift. I think nostalgic 2000s music is making a strong comeback, and I for one have really missed it so a lot of my music will reflect that. My boyfriend Kamran produces the songs and works on all the instrumentation, so all the catchy guitar riffs you hear are his contribution- heโs done a great job of it!
4. Being born and brought up in India and later moving to the UK, how do you feel this transition affects you culturally and musically? Are you a purist when it comes to musicality or do you welcome the fusion of cultures? How do your peers and listeners, in general, react to that? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?
Oh, so much! Definitely culturally, because even though Iโve adapted to the culture here quite well after 5 years, my background and my roots make me who I am as an artist. My first exposure to any vocal training was in Indian classical music, and I grew up around that. So I definitely welcome a fusion of cultures, especially growing up with my dad and listening to him infuse Hindustani classical music with songs by The Beatles and Eric Clapton with his band.
I myself donโt think I integrate much Indian music into my songs at the moment, but itโs something Iโd love to do more of in the future. I love listening to artists like Shuba, for instance, who write very pop music but with Indian inflections in their vocals- so thatโs definitely something Iโd do later down the line.
5. Do you have a favorite motto, phrase, or piece of advice, you try to live or inspire yourself by? And do you have a specific vision or goal set in your mind that you would like to achieve in the near future?
I think the thing that inspires me the most is my passion for music, as corny as that sounds. Iโve abandoned singing and writing songs for short periods of time in my life, and Iโve never felt like myself without it. So I think at this point I know that music is the only path thatโs going to be able to make me truly happy. In terms of goals, I think at this point itโs to get my music heard by as many people as possible and get it to a point where Iโm able to make a successful career out of it. And Iโm so so grateful to the people who are already supporting me with it today- like those who are listening to my songs on repeat and watching my videos and sharing it with their friends- thank you!
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