FAULT: You describe you sound as / Acoustic / Hip Hop / R&B
How do you keep your sound so unique?

AA: I grew up with a mother who is was a performer and is a music teacher, so I think it’s only natural that she would make a point to
ensure that I was well rounded, as far as my musical influences (plus I was a nerd who loved summer music camp). I find my music to often have a dramatic feel, but is still able to remain quite eclectic. Depending on the day, I might be more inclined to sit down to record something on a smaller, more acoustic scale, and other days I want to create something where the bass line just consumes all your thoughts when you listen to it. I’m not the kind of person to be confined to one genre and I hope that that is reflected in my music.

FAULT: Who did you grow up listening to?

AA: Oh man, I was listening to everything. By the time I was eight I would jam out to my mothers records; Madonna, Whitney Houston and Jackson 5, Barbara Streisand and even Crosby Stills Nash and Young. But my first cds were a compilation of The Beach Boys, The Tempations, Four Tops, Billy Joel and Belinda Carlisle, and I could sing the entire score of Les Miserables and Funny Girl by heart. Of course, I grew up like the general teen too, idolizing such artists as The Fugees, Mariah Carey, Jay Z, Ben Harper and TLC. I also have my guilty pleasures like Gangstarr (love, love, love Dj Premire!), Lucy Pearl, Blackstar and Murs. So, it’s needless to say I had music coming at me from all directions.

FAULT: You are a Composer as well as a and Musician, would you ever
consider creating a film score?

AA: Writing a film score? That would certainly be a grand adventure! A low key-off-broadway musical score might be more in my future, but whose to say. Stephen Sondheim is one of the most incredible composer, lyricist and creative minds I have ever come across, and to even entertain the idea of attempting to create something as great as that which he does, is a little overwhelming. Well, at lease for now…it’s always good to have greater dreams ahead of the ones in front of you.

FAULT: What are you currently working on?

AA: Currently I am trying to round up a bunch of underground MCs that I have had the pleasure of knowing and put them all on a collection, mix-tape, what have you, for late summer. Its great to work on music that is purely a reflection of yourself, but collaboration is the best. Other than that, I’m pounding the pavement auditioning, leading the “glam life” of the starving artist, lol. Hey, everyone has to start out in their own mail room, in life.

FAULT: What can we expect from Arinn Aldo in 2011?

AA: I hope only great things! I would love to get up on a track, do a great hook with a solid artist, or just grace the stage of a theatre for 2011 season. I’ll just have to wait and see- keep your fingers crossed for me.

FAULT: Are you inspired by your surroundings?
AA: Definatly. As an artist, whether acting, dancing, singing-whatever, you have to be ok with allowing you and your life to be included in any of the work you perform. You need to be able to absolutely immerse yourself in whatever you are singing about, it’s the only way you can be a sincere performer. But as far as tangible surroundings, I am defiantly influenced by the attitude and air of New York City. There’s just something about it. I have never lived in a place where there was a more diverse set of people, coming from all, ends of the world. Everyone here has a story to tell. You can’t help but be influenced, in some manner, by the people you meet. I hope I am able to offer the same, in return.

FAULT: What is it like to be an artist based in New York?

AA: It’s craziness. It’s 20% about being talented, 50 % about who you know and being in the right place at the right time, and 30% about being willing to stick it out- long term. The saying, if you can make it here you can make it anywhere, really holds true. Being artist isone of the hardest professions, because often times your paycheck derives from something completely unrelated. You don’t keep normal hours like the rest of the public, it’s lonely, and you’re usually broke. You are constantly on the grind, going “door to door”, marketing yourself as the next big thing, or at lease just the right thing. You have to have a strong drive to keep going. It’s not always about who is the most talented person in the room, it’s about what that director, dj, or producer is looking for, and whether or not you fall into that- pending ability, physical appearance and just over all persona. You have to learn fast how to be able to impress someone in 30 seconds, otherwise it’s on to the next.

FAULT: Do you have any live shows planned ?

AA: I would love to do some shows in the near future. I haven’t done one in almost over a year. It can be really hard to find the time, balancing work outside of music and making sure that your keeping up with auditioning, dance and vocal classes, sessions and sending out tracks and networking. I should defiantly up it on my to do list, though!

FAULT: What do you think of modern day Hip Hop?

AA: I think the essence of true Hip-Hop has been lost a little. The idea of Hip Hop has developed into this constant obsession with the reflection of someone’s tangible worth, more than the idea of creating beautiful and poetic essays put to music. While I have a lot of respect for the engineering and use of samples in modern day Hip Hop, I would like to see a lot of underground artists be paid more credit where It’s due. I would love to see Atmosphere, Blu & Exile,
Xkwisit, Bianary Star, Murs, Oddy Gato or Heiroglyphics get up on something big. Too many fans of Hip Hop don’t know the roots of where today’s music derives from. For example being able to name the tracks that AZ has sampled Debarge for, that the Palladio I. Allegretto is used on the Jedi Mind track Eve of War, or that James Brown is the most sampled artist, in general. Sampling is so common today, that i find it highly important to know and appreciate the originals behind the heavy beat pumping mix that plays in the club. It’s not that the commercial stuff isn’t Hip-Hop, it’s just a new version of the times. I really feel that if you are to be a true fan of anything, however, you need to understand the roots- you need to appreciate the samples that are used and recognize the people and talent that falls between the lines. I have to admit though, I am often a sucker for those club hits.

FAULT: What is your FAULT?

AA: My mother always told me my fault was that I am capable of too many things, and that I never stick long enough with just one. She’s probably right…I think my fault is that I see all of those things as possible, except I just want them to happen all at once, lol. I want to create an empire- An empire that affects people in a positive manner, through music, art, fashion, theatre, dance- whatever. The hardest thing for a lot of people is admitting out loud what they really want for themselves. People are too quick to settle. I want to push people to go after whatever it is they want. If I sell 10 records in a life time, obviously I’ll be disappointed, but if I inspire a hundred people along the way, anyhow- that would be a great success.

All photography Audrey Amelie Rudolf

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