I’m always on the lookout for new music, so I was very excited to discover American pop singer acari. Her song Distant caught my ear – if you haven’t checked it out yet, you can find the tune at the end of this interview!

By Jane Howkins

How has the reception been for Distant and where can it be purchased?

The reception has exceeded my expectations. It’s really easy to get in your head and think no one’s going to listen to your songs, so it’s very heartwarming to know Distant has been played thousands of times. I’m truly grateful! Distant can be purchased on Apple Music and iTunes.

Do you plan to release any more singles in the near future?

Yes! The plan is to release at least two more singles before dropping my whole EP called Shy Baby.

You have an EP coming out titled Shy Baby. When is the EP due and what can you tell us about the EP?

I’m releasing the full EP in 2023 – my very first project as a solo artist. The entire unreleased EP is 7 songs, and each song relates to a different emotion when it comes to love. You’re not necessarily feeling good about loving someone each day – moods and feelings can change hourly, daily, by the second… I wanted to break free from the traditional love album and write about things that actually go through our heads when we’re interested in someone and start to fall for them. Distant is about distancing yourself from someone you really care about.

Are there any plans to release a full album?

Yes! After releasing the Shy Baby EP it’s back to the studio to record a full album.

Did the pandemic hinder your work much?

I actually started recording more music during the pandemic. In a lot of ways, the pandemic made me realize what’s important to me, and I feel that goes for a lot of people. I started out with some covers I put out on YouTube, but the pandemic really pushed me to do the research on how to release and distribute songs professionally.

Your music has a dreamy pop vibe. What/who influences you most as artists? What have you been listening to recently?

I just got my Spotify Wrapped today and my Top 5 artists are Orion Sun, UMI, Remi Wolf, Omar Apollo and Snoh Aalegra.

You’re based in Santa Cruz. What is the local music scene like?

I’m actually from San Jose! But I frequent Santa Cruz quite a lot for fresh air and to get away from the city. The Catalyst Club is in Santa Cruz and I’ve been watching shows there since high school. I’d love to perform there one day.

Do you have any UK tour dates lined up?

Not at the moment – but if there was a demand, I’d definitely make my way there! I’d love to explore the UK someday.

Any last words for the fans?

Stay true to yourself no matter what – despite cruel words being thrown at you, despite others asking you to lower your standards to just “be like them,” despite judgments on you and your craft. Never ever bow down to people who aren’t even as kind, smart and talented as you are. I’ll be dropping some more music soon, please follow my journey on my socials! All my links can be found on my website: www.acarimusic.com. Appreciate you all for listening and supporting so far!