In the Spotlight - Aricel

Aricel DuBois’ second DIY EP release, Brown Eyes at Night, isn’t interested in appealing to an audience who seeks a “methodized-put-together-clean look”. It’s for listeners who seek to present themselves, to find others, who are uncut, raw– sometimes even messy. With one month since her release and days away from her next live performance, I got to sit down with Aricel and hear all about her thought process that isn’t completely translated in through this project.   

Thank you so much for your time! I know you’re super busy as a student, as an artist, and everything in between that you do. I wanted to first congratulate you on your EP release.

Thank you!

I know we just kind of talked about it briefly when we were walking over here, but it’s been exactly one month since it has come out. How has that been for you, and how would you describe that process of conception, to production, to its release and now having people experiencing it?

I feel like I’m really happy with just having it out, first of all, because I was so focused on making sure that it was like a summer type of album– a summer mixtape. And in terms of having it out there after the whole process, I was nervous a bit at first, but this music I’m so excited about. Like, this is my favorite type [of music], like dance music, break-beat, like pop music. So I think that has kind of overtaken the nerves that I felt about it. I think it fully– I really decided that I wanted to put it out in June back in January. So it was kind of a quick process, honestly.

I remember at the end of January, I shot out my video looking for producers, and I’m really thankful that I did it then because I’m such a perfectionist and getting everything tied up was a little bit of a process in April. But I couldn’t have asked for it to go any other way. I feel like it was perfect, like, what I wanted came out. 

That’s so great for you! So it’s definitely very different from your first EP that came out: stylistically, sound, and even the visuals you used. What is something that has changed the most in the process of writing this EP? 

I feel like my first EP was a good introduction to where I was at at that point. But something that has changed is that I feel a bit more confident now. And I think stepping into the kind of music that I always wanted to make without feeling like, “oh, I need to have this big of a platform or this big of a following in order to do that.” I think making that decision was probably the biggest change. Like, I was gonna, you know, wear a [redacted] outfit or, I will be confident. I will portray myself as something, like, maybe a bit bigger than what I am currently. But I wanted to do that because I felt like I didn’t want people to think of me as small.

I knew that I eventually wanted to show a different side, but I was always a bit afraid to do it cause I felt like I would look stupid. It can be a bit embarrassing to treat yourself like more of a personality than people know that you are. But then I realized, that’s my sense of humor, that’s my style of music that I like listening to, so, I guess really just being fully out there with like, okay, this is another part of me that I want you to know. 

That reminds me of how I found you! I think it was your TikTok, but with using that platform, how has that been? Interacting with your audiences and getting to know your style through that way? Because I feel like you can feel like a bigger person in that way.

I feel like originally, honestly, it might be hard to believe but I was so bad at posting and I was so horrible and was like not being consistent. I hated filming anything. 

I was like, this is so stupid. They would never make Amy Winehouse do this – She would hate it! But I am so, so, so grateful for it because it’s how I’ve reached people that I would not have reached at all, like yourself. And getting people to come to my shows that wouldn’t know about me, if it wasn’t for that platform. And also, I’ve been really interested in the way that Gaga looked at fame, I think is interesting to think of that now, because truly, like on TikTok, you can make a video and have a bunch of people see it and then you have everyone’s attention for one second and then capitalizing off of that.

It’s been an interesting medium to get myself out there and also kind of like play with how much I can get people to listen to me. 

Going back to your roots, growing up in New York has introduced you to the Ball scene, which I know has been very influential in this EP. What is something you hope that those in the scene, if they listen to your music, can take away from it? Or how they receive it?

I would hope that they hear my gratitude because that scene shaped me since I was like, 13, 14 years old. And also, I wouldn’t be able to deliver, like, the confidence, or like the stage persona that I’ve been developing– and I’m still trying to develop– without ballroom. As competitive as it is, and as much as I still feel like I’m an outsider, it really does teach you to like, own wherever you are. Even if it’s not, even if you’re not an artist, you’re not a performer, like, just walking, you know, in the street, like carrying yourself. It’s your space! Learning to take up space in that way is so important, And yeah, I owe so much of my confidence to ballroom. 

So with Hunger, I know the lyricism with that one, you can definitely tell that you put a lot of energy into that one. What was the inspiration, how did you come up with that, and, you said “tres-leches as a verb?” 

Okay, so I knew that I wanted to, I was trying to make this mix tape very me, which sounds weird, but just like a bunch of things that I love– either to do or to see or to be, with my friends, whatever… And I was thinking, okay, I love food, and I wanted to use food, as a metaphor for, like, something cheeky. And I was thinking, okay, I’m gonna — I remember writing it on a train and I couldn’t get the verse? And so I went home and I was like, I’m gonna watch the menu and see what, like, see what comes out of it. Because I think that goes with what I want. And I watched it and I was thinking about like in that film and in, you know, life, relationships, you’re always kind of putting the best version of yourself out there. And everyone is trying to, or at least a lot of the time, a lot of people are trying to put their best face forward and present themselves in a way that’s kind of perfect. And I wasn’t sure if I originally said like, are we all up for the consummation, but I was like, that’s a little too freaky. 

So I was like, chew, food, digest, like masticate, and then thinking about how, like, when you do put yourself out there, it’s kind of like a double edged sword. I don’t know, in colloquial language/slang people say like, “Oh, you ate” or like, “you chewed” but then that’s also, like, you’re getting consumed by other people, and that’s not always a good thing, I guess. And with everyone putting themselves out there in like the best way, or what’s in style or what’s trending and stuff like that, I kind of get bored of it. And sometimes I’m like, I was telling my friend around this time, “I just wish everyone would go out a little bit more ugly” 

No because there was this thing that was like, “there’s too many hot people”!

Yes! Yes! Like I’m tired of it! I don’t know, I just want to see someone’s, like, messiest version, and I think that’s what I really hunger for, you know? In friendships, in relationships, in every kind of sense of the word I really, I feel hungry for that raw way of consuming someone that isn’t totally influenced by an algorithm or something that they saw online. And then I knew that I wanted to have a little chant. And I was just thinking of like my favorite foods and I love a tresleches, like, that’s my favorite thing. Also just like, I was like, oh this is kind of cheeky you know? So yeah!

So how was that process like in deciding the order and the flow? 

So, I don’t know if you know, but I had my whole hard drive and it got corrupted and I lost so much music. 

Oh no!

Yeah, it was right before– I think it was in December and I was like, damn, you know, I had all this stuff! So pretty much the second half of the album, I couldn’t really make any edits, except for Wild Horses, which I put piano on later. I had the first half and I had my second, and tracklisting this, I wanted to read like a narrative, but I don’t want it to necessarily be a concept album. So I was thinking logically, you know? Get in the car, okay “Corolla”, and then get to the club, “Full Throttle Pop”. All that was like the peak club moment for me. And then “Hunger” being in the club, feel yourself moment, and then “Don’t Want to Go”… like going in that order of like, what a night out with your friends feels like. That’s what I wanted it to feel like! And then coming home and maybe crying, and then you wake up…! 

Like that’s how it happens!

Very girl.

Yeah, exactly! 

So what are you most proud of at this moment with putting out this project? 

I think I’m the most proud of finishing it and sticking to my guns of what I wanted it to be. I feel like I’m proud of myself for not letting the fear of being cringy or the fear of people hearing it and being like, “Who does she think she is?”-- which I don’t think anyone really thinks like that

–But if they do?...

(laughs) But it’s just a fear of, there’s a lot of self doubt that goes with this process, so I feel proud of just sticking to it and putting it out, and um, you know, committing to what I made instead of being like, “Oh, I made this thing and I’m gonna hide it and not perform it, not play any shows and…” No. I’m proud of it. I’m going to keep it out there. 

So what are you most excited for your upcoming performance?

I’m so excited to perform dance music. I know that it’s an indie show but I’m so excited to perform the songs that people might have already heard from me or know me for, and then also kind of the new era and bringing people along with me. Because I really do think that you can both, like, I don’t feel disconnected from any of my old music or anything like that. Just being able to perform all of these songs for the first time in New York is like, I’m so excited!

What is something you’re looking forward to or something we should be looking forward to from you for the rest of this year? 

I would say definitely keep posted with more music because I’m working with some of the same producers from the project. Also, music videos are happening! 

Because music videos are back!

Definitely, definitely! They never left! 

Words and Photos by Tessa