child is a gritty alt-rock single from Auckland queer singer-songwriter arielwose, a track described as a reclaiming of power and an unfiltered release of everything left unsaid after a messy breakup, and one which marks a shift in artistic direction towards a nostalgic ’90s/early 2000s female rock sound. NZ On Air Music included it on the August NewTracks compilation.

What’s your given name & pronouns? Where are you from and what instruments do you play?

My name is Ariel Kelly, and I go by she/they pronouns. I was born in Tāmaki Makaurau, where I still live, sing and play guitar.

What’s the background to arielwose becoming  a recording artist?

I struggled with my confidence for a long time, even though I always knew from a young age that I wanted to be an artist. Music class at school was a turning point for me – I was lucky to have the best teacher, Mr Duirs, and vocal coach Toni Randle, who both believed in me when I needed it most. They pushed me to keep going with music outside of school.
Later, I was lucky to be introduced to Shingi Murare (from Eleven7Four) who showed me the ropes of the industry and opened doors that once felt impossible. I’ll always be grateful to the people who encouraged me early on – they gave me the foundation to start releasing as arielwose, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them!

When and how did you settle on the artist name?

The name arielwose was a bit of an accident! My middle name is Rose, and I originally wanted arielrose for Instagram, but sadly that was already taken. My mum has always called me nicknames like wosie/wose/woseo, so I tried arielwose instead and I guess it’s stuck like that now whoops! I quite like it though – shout out to my mum 🙂

How has your music evolved from your earliest songwriting to now?

I’ve been singing since I was tiny. I remember enjoying singing at 7 years old, too shy to sing up in class but secretly loving it. I first wrote songs about my cat on the piano – because what else is there to write about at the age of 7? After some well needed advice from my music teacher I moved to guitar at 16 and that’s when I really started to use songwriting as an outlet for my emotions. Since then, I’ve grown more confident in being honest and vulnerable in my writing. These days, I lean into that a lot. It’s super healing and cathartic to be completely myself in the art that I create.

Aside from this release, what’s been the big highlight to date? 

One of my biggest highlights so far has been getting to record at Bigpop Studios with such talented people. Having my songs come to life in such a professional space was a huge milestone and I’m so grateful for the opportunity!

What made child stand out for you as a single choice?

child carries all the raw emotion I wanted to capture, and it’s both vulnerable and powerful in a way that felt right to introduce this next chapter of my music. I like that it’s out of the box from my usual sound because I think it stands out that way. As an artist I like not being tied to a singular genre, but rather an umbrella of 90s/2000s female singer/songwriter vibes. I think if I am able to portray that, then I’ve done my job!

What is the story behind child?

I wrote child about both the cliches and my own personal experience of a lesbian relationship ending. I needed an outlet to express what I was feeling, and I felt like the experiences of queer relationships weren’t represented in the art I was consuming. Writing the song gave me relief. It was the first time I was brutally honest with myself and could articulate how I truly felt in my head. I hope people listening can feel that release too 🙂

What’s your favourite moment, musical or lyrical, of the single?

Definitely recording the bridge and instrumental section. It gave me permission to belt with full energy, and you can hear the band doing the same. Everyone is just having a jam!

Who did you record/produce the song with?

I had the pleasure of recording child with Jacob Rush and Maude Morris at Bigpop Studios. One fun moment that I remember was Jake left the recording running when he ducked out for a second, so I just kept improvising ad libs over the outro. That whole take ended up staying in the final song, which I love. Sometimes the best bits happen when you’re not overthinking!

What would you like listeners to take away from this song?

I want people to feel free to be messy, raw, and unapologetic. It’s okay to take up space, to scream-sing your heart out, even if it’s not ‘pretty’ because you have a voice worth listening to. I hope those that love the song pick apart the lyrics and relate to them in their own way.

You suggest the sound is ‘Heart meets No Doubt with a more modern edge’, and there’s also a strong vocal link with Sinéad O’Connor.

I love that comparison, thank you! Vocally I’ve always admired the rawness of singers like Sinéad, so I’m glad people might hear that influence coming through.

Your recorded output has been limited since 2022. Why so?

I’ve been taking my time to grow as a writer and performer and making sure each release feels authentic. I’d rather put out one song a year that I’m really proud of than rush to meet numbers. That said, I’m definitely aiming to release more regularly from here and child will be a single amongst a collection of others to make an EP.

Who else is in your team? 

Everyone at Bigpop has been a massive help! My visuals and artwork are done in collaboration with local creatives, and at the moment I’m self-managed 🙂

Are there any other musical endeavours you’re working on that we should keep an eye out for?

Yes! I’ve got a few more singles lined up for release after child, and these are going to be collected into an EP!

Can you please name three other local tunes that would fit well on a playlist alongside your song. 

Sure Boy: Her
Emily Bateman: What a Dream
ratbag: Juliet & Juliet

Have any of your previous single releases been included on NewTracks?

No – this will be my first song to be included on NewTracks.

Have you previously applied for / received NZ On Air funding?

I am yet to receive NZOA funding! Getting the minimum criteria was a big milestone, which I’m so grateful for. Each year we are getting closer to funding I feel it!

Have you got any advice around seeking funding for others starting out?

I’d say don’t let the application process intimidate you. Get feedback, ask other musicians what they said and what worked for them, and keep refining your pitch!

Are there any musical blogs, YouTube channels or podcasts you’re super into?

Aside from bingeing the usual ‘guess who’ lineup videos on YouTube, I love listening to the Tahi podcast. It’s such a good way to keep up with the latest music coming out of Aotearoa.

How can we find you on social media?
●  Instagram: https://instagram.com/arielwose
●  TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@ariel.wose
●  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1eSqUXTOqdIJ0w1taZ1qcW

Have you made a music video for child?

The video for child is set for release in September. I made it with a small team of lovely people, Moses Sulusi and Marcella Adisurya. I really wanted to capture that late-’90s/early-2000s music video vibe so we transformed Marcella’s garage into the ultimate jam room/hangout space. We also booked a smash room for a day shoot and got some chaotic shots. Honestly, it was probably the most fun I’ve ever had on a shoot and I’m so excited for people to see it!

Any last words?

Thank you so much for supporting local artists and new music! New songs coming sooner than yah think!