Ariel Aliana – “Act 1: Unraveling”

Birmingham’s Ariel Aliana just dropped something really special with her debut EP ‘Act 1: Unraveling’ and I’m honestly obsessed. This girl knows how to set the scene. Each track feels like a different emotional headspace which is exactly what I want from an EP.

It was all recorded DIY style in her college room and you can feel that intimate energy throughout. It’s so raw to know she built these songs from scratch, letting instinct take over instead of overthinking everything. It really pays off because the music feels alive and unpredictable.

Those ghostly vocals floating over dreamy guitar work create this noir-like mood that I can’t get enough of and ‘Hush’ is absolutely gorgeous. Then “Dirty Little Secrets” is a completely different beast with its dark club energy and gritty vocals. For a debut release, she shows serious range in the way she moves between these sonic worlds.

The best way her influences shine through. There are hints of Mitski’s emotional intensity and Radiohead’s atmospheric depth, but Ariel definitely has her own voice. Every listen feels genuine because she’s not afraid to tackle uncomfortable topics or get real about messy emotions.

It’s DIY production but it sounds polished where it needs to and rough around the edges where it should be. This EP is a proper introduction to an artist who knows exactly who she is and isn’t apologizing for any of it. Be sure to follow Ariel Aliana on social media because this is just the beginning of something really exciting.