Ariel Miranda (Arizona musician)

Ariel Miranda is an up and coming Arizona singer/songwriter. She started playing music at age 8 and recorded her first EP at age 13. She auditioned for American Idol and also appeared in a local commercial for Eegees. She is currently working on a new album with a new musical direction. We discuss all this and more! 

00:00 - Intro
00:40 - Early Musical Inspiration
02:06 - First EP "Golden Aces"
03:37 - Other Songs & New Direction
05:39 - New Album
06:45 - Arizona Music Scene
08:55 - Past Shows & Growing Social Media 
13:35 - Alice Cooper's Proof in The Pudding Show
15:09 - Trying Out for American Idol
18:37 - New Look & Sound & Influences
20:20 - Eegee's Commercial
23:40 - Taylor Swift Concert
27:57 - Goals with Music
31:02 - All In With Music
34:35 - Making Sacrifices for Music
36:25 - Promotion & Social Media
37:25 - Paws 4  A Cure

Ariel Miranda website:
https://www.arielmirandamusic.com/

Paws 4 A Cure website:
https://www.paws4acure.org/

Chuck Shute website:
https://chuckshute.com/

Transcript

Chuck Shute: 0:00

All right, we have an exciting guest on the show today up and coming musician Ariel Miranda. She is local to Arizona. She's from Tucson. And even though she's only 20 She's already done a lot. She Richert recorded her first EP at age 13. She She's auditioned for American Idol. And she made it to celebrity judges. Plus, she did a really fun local commercial we're gonna talk about and she's working on a new album right now with a new direction. And she's going to tell us all about it coming right up. Yeah, so tell me about when you first got interested in music, like who inspired you to pick up a guitar or play the piano or sing or all that stuff.

Ariel Miranda: 0:48

So when I was about seven years old, I went to my first concert, it was a Miley Cyrus concerts. And after I saw that I was dead set on getting a guitar, I really wanted to get one start learning it. So my parents, luckily enough, got me one, they got me lessons. So I started playing guitar then. And I'd always love singing, singing was something I just have always done as long as I can remember. And for my eighth birthday, I ended up getting an electric guitar, which came with an amp, I saw a little microphone input needed to get a microphone. And once I got that, never put it down and then kind of started building off of there. So

Chuck Shute: 1:33

so as you're singing and playing guitar simultaneously,

Ariel Miranda: 1:37

eight was when I started electric, so I did acoustic the logic. And then I would say simultaneously probably wasn't till I was about when I started middle school in like sixth grade. Well,

Chuck Shute: 1:51

and then when did you learn piano? Is that something? You take lessons for that as well?

Ariel Miranda: 1:55

Yeah, I took lessons for like a year or so for piano. And that kind of stopped on the mix that and ukulele.

Chuck Shute: 2:03

Okay, yeah, it's crazy, like I was because I was looking at your music. And I was like, oh, one of these. This album was released in 2016. And I'm looking at it I'm like, huh, and then I figured out so you were 13 when you released an EP, which is crazy. I was 13. I was playing Nintendo and GI Joes. And you're making you're putting out music and it's like professional music. It's like really well. Well produced and sounds great. Did you write those songs?

Ariel Miranda: 2:27

Yeah, I did write those. I wrote them when I was 12. And was able to put out when I was 13. So

Chuck Shute: 2:34

wow, you must had somebody helping though, right? Or producer or somebody?

Ariel Miranda: 2:39

I'm a producer. Yes. I got it produced locally here with an amazing producer Steven Lee Tracy at St. Cecilia studios. And that was my first experience in a recording studios. So back with that first goal naces EP, it was all new to me. I was just getting into it. So it was it was a whole new experience. But I learned so much from it. And I'm so glad that I started it then and was able to do

Chuck Shute: 3:05

Yeah, absolutely. Because those songs I mean, they still sound pretty good like us. Used to be is a very well written song. It's crazy. That was you wrote that when you were 12 or 13 or whatever. And then the girls and I'm like, do you still play into these because I feel like girls anthem you can play that with all the bachelorette parties happening in Arizona all the time.

Ariel Miranda: 3:22

I haven't played songs off of that EP, probably like a year I would say when I first started gigging I was doing I think girls anthem a little bit and used to be I was doing but I haven't done in a little bit, but

Chuck Shute: 3:35

Okay, what about I think a more recent song was stolen or that's like a catchy more pop song. Do you still perform that one?

Ariel Miranda: 3:44

Yeah, I'll do that one sometimes along with the thoughts and alone. Okay, yeah, alone.

Chuck Shute: 3:49

That's kind of a slower, somber a pop song, but it kind of would you call it a ballad? I don't know how you describe it. But

Ariel Miranda: 3:57

yeah, I felt like it was more like a ballad song. Definitely.

Chuck Shute: 4:01

Yeah. And then what about tell me about the latest single wasted my youth? That was 2022. So this is kind of like going to be the new style. It's going to be more alternative with electric guitars, which I really love. And but the pop is still kind of mixed in with it. Yes.

Ariel Miranda: 4:19

Yeah, that is yeah, that was kind of the start of a new direction of where I'm wanting to take my music more of the alternate pop side rather than just the pop side. Pop. I've always like I love all genres of music. I have an appreciation for all of them. But pop is what I've been what I really grew love for it mainly. And then as I started writing more and listening to more music and just getting more exposure to more music as I got older, I kind of pulled in a lot more interest for the alternative side and I was like I can kind of mix these two together. So waste my youth was the first I put out going into that direction. And now I have written So I have so much music that I have written that I am working on getting recorded because it is so much different from all the stuff that I put out in the past. It's wasted my youth but even newer and more so in that style, so I'm very excited to start recording those because it is more of who I am. Now, as an artist, I feel like I really have found myself over the years. So I was I was really excited to take that step though and changing making that it was a small genre change. But to me it felt big because it was it was a big difference adding the electric guitars and not so much only since but still having an underlying

Chuck Shute: 5:37

Yeah, well I think that are you going to put out a whole album because I feel like if you have a whole album you can kind of you can mix the genres or you can have a pop up pocket pop song you know acoustic stripped down song, give piano you can have electric guitar, you could do all of it, right?

Ariel Miranda: 5:53

Yes, I actually have started writing my first album. I'm almost done writing it. And now, after when I get completed, I started looking at some studios here in Tucson to record ads. I'm not sure exactly where I'm gonna record yet. But once I find that, I hope to get started with that really soon because I do have lots of ideas for that. So I'm very excited for this new wave of music.

Chuck Shute: 6:21

That's I'm excited to hear Yeah, I like this. When I look at the stuff that you put out when you're 13 and then to see the growth it's going to be I can't wait to see what happens the older you get the music is gonna get better and better. It's amazing. Thank you have a producer that you've lined up is it gonna be that same one that you've been working with? Or are you kind of still shopping for that?

Ariel Miranda: 6:41

I'm still looking around right now.

Chuck Shute: 6:44

Yeah, are you plugged into the Arizona music scene at all because I noticed like on your Instagram your I don't think we have any mutual connections which is crazy because usually people in Arizona it's like okay, we're all following like the same you know 50 or 100 people or whatever but you don't seem to have met a lot of Arizona musicians or have you

Ariel Miranda: 7:03

I have like locally here I would say and she Tucson as far as like having like a manager or agent or anything like that you don't have anything like that but I have met some people for definitely musicians here in the in the local like Tucson scene I

Chuck Shute: 7:19

would say so more so Tucson but not as much like the Phoenix because sometimes you're up here right and Phoenix Scottsdale area as well.

Ariel Miranda: 7:27

Yeah, I had actually for like my first or this summer will mark about two years of me officially gigging. But for almost like my entire first year, it was mainly I was doing like only gigs in Phoenix. That's just where I was able to find them. So I was going up there like two to four times every single week, making that drive up there to do those gigs. So I did them though more so at like restaurants, hotels, different places like that, rather than venues. So I didn't get to meet a ton of musicians like on the musicians out of it. But um, yeah, I do. I do want to meet more musicians up in Phoenix and Scottsdale area because the music scene up there is just amazing. So yeah, and it

Chuck Shute: 8:09

seems to be growing. We're getting some new venues. I don't know if you've been to like bells, the Nashville kitchen, a place in Scottsdale, but it's really cool. They have live music. It's I feel like it's every time I go in there. I think it's all day from open to close. There's a different person. It's usually just like a solo person with a guitar, but you'd be perfect for that.

Ariel Miranda: 8:29

Yeah, I would have to check that out.

Chuck Shute: 8:31

Yeah. What about Are you familiar with like the Roger Klein and that his whole thing when he does like the circus MexicanUS and the January jam done Rocky Point. I feel like you'd be perfect for that as well.

Ariel Miranda: 8:43

Yeah, that was Yeah, I've heard of all that. So definitely always looking into different things. And they always trying to find new things. So

Chuck Shute: 8:51

yeah, you because you've also done shows, talk about the shows you've done in California. You play to Huntington Beach. That sounds fun. The weather there would be amazing. I would assume I would think most of the time.

Ariel Miranda: 9:01

Yes. It was so fun. It was a like kind of a crafts fair market thing that they did. Right, like along the beach. So that was last summer. Yeah, like last July, August. So I went up there, I think in July in August for the whole weekend. And I got to provide the entertainment for that. So that was super fun. When I first started getting my first like official gig was at the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. They've had like a whole stage setup and that was like a really I love doing that. It was great exposure and I met so many people and it was such like I mean that the Third Street Promenade, there's so many tourists and just like everybody there from like everywhere, so it was really fun to meet different people and and just see where everyone was from and everything. And then Chad in California was also I played at the Orange County Fair is well last summer And yeah, so I've just different different events here and there, because I love to travel and be able to perform wherever I'm, I'm able to to get an opportunity.

Chuck Shute: 10:11

Absolutely. Yeah. Does that help you build the fan base? Like, do you? Do you notice like after you do a show, you're like, Oh, I got like five to 10 new followers? Or is it like maybe one? Or is it 100? Like, what is the average boost you would get from a show like that?

Ariel Miranda: 10:26

In California, I do notice, like, whenever I perform in California, it's way more than then here, it would be more so like, um, some some days were like really like 20, like 50 new followers, which was like, especially at the Third Street Promenade, like it was just so many people, but they're also just there to like, enjoy, like, every aspect of it, because they're trying to take it all in and, and so I feel like when people are more willing to rather than being at, like, maybe a restaurant where they're just eating and weren't like looking for the music, but they got it anyways. Yeah. So yeah, but for average, like, on the shows, I just say like, around like, five 10/5. Like, you know, on some sometimes you'll have a really good day, and I'll be like, Oh, wow, that's That's so great. Like, I always get so excited when it comes from like, people who saw me on the show, and we'll go to look at my social media who like took the time to do that, I think yeah,

Chuck Shute: 11:27

no, that's totally me like, high wire. And I was like, oh, like, I see a lot of live music. And I was like, Oh, she's she's gonna tell us about her. Follow her. And then I think like, I kind of forgot. And then I think you posted something. And I was like, oh, I should have her on the show. Like, yeah, but you have like a residency at high wire, right? Or, like, I mean, you play there like every week. I don't know what you call that. Like,

Ariel Miranda: 11:45

um, how are you probably like, once a month, but right now my residency is at the Monica. It's another restaurant downtown. Really great. Really, really close to high water. So. Okay, that's my one residency for right now.

Chuck Shute: 12:00

Would you be doing any show? I know you used to do a culinary drop out like in Tempe Scottsdale Gilbert. But that was kind of a while ago, would you be doing shows up up here? Like the summer or something? Or when do you because it looked like you were kind of had a pattern of coming up either to California or here in the summer?

Ariel Miranda: 12:17

Um, for the Phoenix ones, I don't have anything set in place right now. But I have been wanting to especially when like you said with the summer rolling around and you like to try and travel a little bit more with the Phoenix ones I was doing and like, all the time, that was like my knew

Chuck Shute: 12:36

that you were going to two to four times. That's a lot a lot of driving.

Ariel Miranda: 12:40

Yeah, yeah. It just ended up being cheaper, you know, to to drive it up and back from because it's only two hours from from Tucson don't get the hotel and like stay the whole weekend. Oh, okay. Like, what have an easier drive and what event is many miles but it's it's also adds to the experience.

Chuck Shute: 12:59

Now, do you typically get paid when you have a gig like that? Or is it just 100% tips?

Ariel Miranda: 13:06

I get paid plus the tips.

Chuck Shute: 13:09

Okay, those the tips like and it's smart. Because you guys now I've seen a lot of musicians. I think you did this to where you have like the Venmo and stuff, because there'll be as cash and even more so people could just Venmo you five bucks or whatever.

Ariel Miranda: 13:21

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. A lot of people are like, I don't have any cash on me. Like, do you have Venmo? I'm like, Yes, I got it. Yeah,

Chuck Shute: 13:27

no, that's great. And then tell me about this. You did do the Alice Cooper's proof in the pudding show. Right? Didn't

Ariel Miranda: 13:35

you do that? Yes.

Chuck Shute: 13:39

Musicians are what? What was that? Was that for? Is that kind of like for younger musicians? like kind of like showcasing people in the valley in Arizona?

Ariel Miranda: 13:50

Yeah, I think it was up to like 2024 There is an agent but it's it focuses on like youth and musicians.

Chuck Shute: 14:01

Is it a con? Is it like a battle the bands? Or how does it just is it just like, here's 20 artists?

Ariel Miranda: 14:07

Yeah, it's kind of a battle. Yeah, I'm saying battle the band style. And they'll have they, I think they, yeah, they separate into solo or to soloists and bands. So they had a winner from each, which I thought was really cool. Because it actually, you know, it wasn't like soloists and bands. You know, it's really hard to compare them they have all their own unique things going on. So, but the fact that they had the two different like categories, so I thought was really cool. How did mostly like youth musicians?

Chuck Shute: 14:37

Yeah. Did you finish well,

Ariel Miranda: 14:40

I think I got to the some semi finals. I want to I did it two different years. Okay. So I think I want to say both of us. I got to the semifinals. I know. I think I got some finals both years, but I was never able to get to the finals, unfortunately. But it was So that was really fun. There was a lot of different albums and

Chuck Shute: 15:02

I should go to one of that sounds that sounds like a lot of fun. And then tell my audience about, obviously, you tried out for American Idol that was a big 120 21. And you got to you got to the judges whether it was Katy Perry, Lionel, Richie and Luke Bryan. So talk about that experience.

Ariel Miranda: 15:18

Yes, that was super fun, surreal time. It was. So when I originally auditioned, it was the first year of doing like, completely online auditions because it was when COVID hit. And so when I auditioned, it was all online, the whole process and I went through a bunch of different rounds. And finally got like, the call back of like, you're actually you're gonna go to the judges round. And I was like, that is so surreal, because I've been auditioning for, you know, these TV shows like AGT the voice like all these forever. And so finally get to around. It's like that first Cape drown was the coolest thing to me. And so yeah, it was up, it was in Ojai, California. It was the location that I went to, for it. And it was about a week long thing, which I did not realize. But I should have known more that goes into it than what meets the eye. And it was just a bunch. Like within that week, aside from just doing the audition, there was a bunch of all these other parts that went into between like doing different rehearsals, interviews, like different media promos and stuff like that. So it was a very it was I learned so much from it. I ended up I didn't get to move on to Hollywood week. Unfortunately, I got to nose but I did get a yes, from Katy Perry, which was definitely motivating. And it was I learned so much from it. So it was a really cool experience I'll never forget. And I do want to hurt it. Was

Chuck Shute: 16:48

it on TV?

Ariel Miranda: 16:50

It's a Nokia Aaron mine now. Okay.

Chuck Shute: 16:52

So what was that? They gave you some advice, though, I think that you mentioned that Instagram, what was the advice that they gave you?

Ariel Miranda: 17:00

They told me to kind of find myself more as an artist and get some more experience and then come back again. So at that time I was in my senior year of high school. Also, like I said, it was when a cold was going on. I had been planning on trying to start doing gigs because music has been everything to me and I was like I want it to be a serious official thing is what I want to do. So as soon as I could start gigging again, I was when I did the neck for the following summer. So I did, I was able to get the experience that they suggested. And finding myself as an artist, I feel like I've done a lot of self discovery for that. And when I did go into audition, I ended up doing a cover song, and I had somebody accompany me on the piano, which was very like off brand for Ariel, I would say because I'm usually it's always me my guitar. And so I feel like at that time, I had an idea of who I wasn't an artist as an artist at that point. But I feel like I should have went in with an original with my guitar being more true to myself. So I do feel like I needed to find myself more and so you know, looking back on and I've seen that and I I feel like I've grown I hope I've grown I definitely have learned so much since then. But that was kind of their their main points. And then they said, you know, try to come back again later. So I want to keep trying again. Hopefully I can make that place and hopefully further.

Chuck Shute: 18:32

That's awesome. I'd love to hear that. Yeah, I think you definitely can't you're super young was part of finding yourself kind of changing your look because I noticed your your look has changed since then. So is that part of like the kind of like rediscovery or self discovery or whatever you call it?

Ariel Miranda: 18:48

Um, yeah, yeah, I would definitely say I don't know if it was like super intentional, but I always like, in I when I was like performing stuff like I never used to wear makeup. The first time I ever wore makeup was when I did American Idol actually. And I'd always had my like brown hair, brunette hair, I'd never had much color in it. And I always want to do like some kind of drastic change. So those ended up being when I graduated high school, right before I started gigging so kind of all like came together at that time. So I definitely feel like the look was incorporated into that change. That same time. It's like the genre change and figuring out all this stuff.

Chuck Shute: 19:25

Yeah, so remind me again, I know you said the, you're gonna move more towards like alternative, which artists though, kind of inspired you to do that? Like which bands are you listening to? Or are solo artists, whatever that kind of inspired that change?

Ariel Miranda: 19:41

I would say like Abra Levine has always been a big inspiration of mine. Also, like Maggie Lindemann? I don't know. Maggie Lindemann?

Chuck Shute: 19:51

Okay. I will Google that. I always looks I'm always is that a newer artist or?

Ariel Miranda: 19:55

Yeah, she's, I mean, she's I'm putting music out forever, but I feel like she's gotten a little bit bigger, more in the past years, she also started more so on the pop side, and then went more like, pop punk kind of alternative rock. So I would say those are definitely two of my biggest for that particular genre of music.

Chuck Shute: 20:15

Okay, perfect. I love it. Um, and then this was cool, just because I was reading your website, and it said that you didn't EGS commercial. So first of all, explain to people who don't know Tucson, what is EGS? And why it's such a big deal. And how did you get that commercial and it's like, really cool. It's like you made this, you made the song and the video for it.

Ariel Miranda: 20:33

So, um, it is, like, I guess you'd say like a shave ice kind of thing. But better. I'm just obsessed with the GS I've like overall, like, flavored like shave ice, but better just imagine that. And so with that, I'd contacted EGS originally, because I'd seen that they were doing a segment on their YouTube channel called by bees. And it was when they would have different like, local artists come in and perform a few songs, some covers original, you know, something like that. And I that was also when I was first getting into gigging and stuff. And I was like, that looks really cool. Like, that's a really cool opportunity. And I wonder if I could get do something with that. So I reached out to them for that. And that's initially what I had been doing. And then they had brought up the idea to me like, we're going to be doing this commercial. This promo for their flavor of the month, I think it was like August, it was peach and Berry. And they're like, we want to kind of do a remake of Justin Bieber songs, peaches. So they're like, Would you be interested in doing that? And I was like, Yeah, that sounds so like, so much fun. I would love to do that. And there and I asked was like, is it something like, can I write you know, a little four? Or like, how is it gonna work and they did let me contribute to that. So I was super sad. But I got to write that little segment part for it and in like the style of EGS and like Tucson local. So that was really fun doing and then the video, we shot at one of the beauties locations and kind of was just like a little a fun little thing to dance around to the to the promo song. So that was a, that was a different. It was different kind of writing for me, but it was super fun. And I had a great time.

Chuck Shute: 22:28

Yeah, it turned out super well. I haven't I mean, haven't tried the flavor of the peach and Berry. Do they still have it? Or is it only that was the flavor of the month? So it's gone now?

Ariel Miranda: 22:35

Yeah, it was just the flavor of the month because they do usually like different kinds of promos, and they'll make some really cool videos. I know. Sometimes they've had like, dancers are different, different things for flavors of the month. So that was what they did that month. But yeah, I think it's an August. It's an August flavor. So so.

Chuck Shute: 22:54

Yeah. So they would bring it back in this August. You're saying or

Ariel Miranda: 22:58

they had it? Yeah, cuz that was two years ago. So and they had it last year. So I'm hoping I hope I'm not lying.

Chuck Shute: 23:07

You get like a royalty from doing the commercial or they just play like a flat rate for that.

Ariel Miranda: 23:12

No, I just did that one. Because you already know. Yeah, you see, you need a manager,

Chuck Shute: 23:21

you need somebody to negotiate. That looks really professional. So what is really cool to have on your resume, that's for sure. Well,

Ariel Miranda: 23:27

they did all the video like they had all of their own people who they're working with for the video, and it turned out. So cool. So everyone, that's so amazing. Time.

Chuck Shute: 23:39

Yeah, so I think I think actually, when I mentioned that I saw I kind of forgot about you and then you post something on social media. I think what you posted was the Taylor Swift concert. So talk about that, because obviously, you're a big fan. But how did you get such good seats? Because I was looking at the nosebleeds. And I was like, Yeah, I can't afford the nosebleeds. You're like, I don't know two rows or front row. I mean, you were really close. How did you get those seats?

Ariel Miranda: 24:04

Um, I I was able to get them because I don't know if you know what happened with the whole sale when Ticketmaster went on sale and just like, shut down and everything. Um, I was lucky enough to get through with that and get them when they first went on sale. And I'm like, so I'm so weird about this. I love pre selling tickets. It gives me like such an adrenaline rush. I was literally doing it this morning. Like I love to just like get on there and just see like, what the best seats I can get. Because I've gotten very like fast students and know kind of my way around, like what times to get into like, kind of, in my mind, maybe I just tell myself this and I get lucky all the time. But in my mind, I figured out how to like get through like that second earlier that puts you a little head in that. How do you do that? Because people when people get on when it's like tickets go on sale at like 10am Mountain Standard Time. Like they'll just get on at 10am but Usually they'll say, like, arrive 10 minutes early. I usually always get there like an hour early. And then anytime between like, it seems like it's more like 70 or no 30 minutes before is when it actually like open. So you just keep refreshing that main page, because it's never like that on the like 10 or 15. It's right in between. I don't know if that made any sense of what I just described.

Chuck Shute: 25:23

Oh, it totally did. So basically get in an hour early, and then you can start keep hitting refresh about 1513 minutes earlier, you can get in 13 minutes early.

Ariel Miranda: 25:33

Yeah, because usually there'll be like get there either 10 or 15. And then it's usually about two or three minutes before that depending on like, the site that you're going through what your venue it's that it might be like different but um, yeah, it it kind of it seems like it pushes you through ahead of like, of the line because I've always I've always ended up getting pushed through like I haven't encountered I hear all these crazy stories about getting tickets and I feel so bad that like not everyone gets them like, I don't know. No, I don't wish I'm so I'm so grateful for because I've gotten to experience a lot of different artists, which is I love going to concerts I've been going like I said since I was seven so

Chuck Shute: 26:13

it's one other shows. Have you seen that?

Ariel Miranda: 26:16

Oh gosh, a lot. memorable ones. Ah, I see. I love Well, tennis look, I feel puts on like the best show. But one of my other favorite ones. Ellie Goulding. And Lord was those both were really stand up shows. I've seen a Cheran Selena Gomez Sabrina carpenter. I've been I've been to a lot of things.

Chuck Shute: 26:46

Ya know, that sounds. So what was your reaction to the because I just saw a clip of it. The Taylor Swift when she did the swimming pool thing. That was so cool. It's like, how did they do this? And you were like, right there, right?

Ariel Miranda: 26:58

Yeah. And it was on night one. So I hadn't been on it wasn't like it had been. Yeah, it was all new. And I was like, what just happened? Like, she go. Also, I will say where I was sitting because I'm five one. So I'm super showing the stage are super tall, very, very tall, very much taller than I am. But still, I was front row like at the end of the like the catwalk so in my mind, I was like, I'll get like a straight on view. But it was kind of like higher up. So have like, some of the time I wasn't able to actually I have to watch through like the screens and stuff because I couldn't like actually see it was just so tall. But when she disappeared, like I was like, what happened? I was like, more confused than watching it from like the like a bird's eye view. But then, yeah, I was like, it was so cool, though. I don't know how she did that.

Chuck Shute: 27:46

Yeah, that was a cool trick. I mean, I've been in a lot of concerts too. But I've never seen anything like that, like props to her stage person. Whoever did that. So that was cool.

Ariel Miranda: 27:54

Yeah, it was insane. Yeah.

Chuck Shute: 27:57

So what are your what are your goals with music? Because it seems like you're all in on this. Like, I look at your website. I mean, I talk to a lot of musicians. And they say, oh, I want to be huge or whatever. And then like I go on their website and like nothing's happening. Nothing's happening. You have like shows lined up? I mean, it seems like you're all in on this right?

Ariel Miranda: 28:15

Yeah, music is my number one focus and passion like It's what I've always wanted my life to be so it has all my energy. I just like main goal, I just want to be able to share my music with as many people as I can reach with it's I hope like I hope I can continue growing how many people that is but I love just being able to reach people music because it's one of my one of my favorite things about music is how it really connects people like everyone has their own things going on. And everyone has their own lives but music is something that I feel like always brings people together and I think it's just such a beautiful thing. So I hope that in writing my music that I can make songs that are relatable and help people and you know music is what I always turn to and I'm having a great day like best day in my life worst day in my life music is always there to accompany there's always that soundtrack and I hope that I can someday be able to write music that will offer that kind of comfort and for other people so has all my focus and I just want to keep growing what I'm doing so doing more and more gigs hopefully lining up you know bigger shows as I as I can move on. I really want to do like I said, I'm working on an album I'm really excited for that because I have never done a full album before I've always been writing but I haven't been writing I've never written as cohesive as I feel like I do I have been lately and once I noticed that I'm like, think this is like a good time I'm I'm 20 years old, I just turned 20 And February and I was like I just feel like it's a good time because the music really seems to be coming together and I think I really have found myself as an artist in the direction that I want to go. So along with that I want to try and also focus on trying to start doing some of my own shows at like local venues here because you know I gig all the time, but it's at like restaurants, hotels, different events and stuff but and it's also like you know cover songs mixed in with the original so I really want to work on just making a little shout start small show on my own just saw originals and doing hopefully maybe like a local venue here sometime soon.

Chuck Shute: 30:26

Yeah, I mean, we have venues up here in Phoenix too, that you could I mean, some some smaller stuff that would be great to start, like more. Or sorry, it's not Martini ranch anymore. What's it called wasted green and rubble lounge. And there's all sorts of places up here. Do that.

Ariel Miranda: 30:41

Yeah, I would love to.

Chuck Shute: 30:43

Yeah. What about songwriting? collaborations? Is there anyone that you've reached out to to maybe collaborate to write some songs together with?

Ariel Miranda: 30:53

Not at this time? I have not done that yet. But I'm definitely something that future. If you could work out, I think that would be cool.

Chuck Shute: 31:02

Is this your main thing? Are you in college now too? Or are you just doing music?

Ariel Miranda: 31:06

No, when I graduated, I decided to take a gap year and I deferred my acceptance and fellowship and everything. So I could take that year and really put myself into the gigging See, make sure like I said, I always wanted music, too. And I thought it was like, you know, I need to make sure. And I have that in case I want it. So I was there if I wanted it, but I just, I enjoyed it so much. And I just, it's just been growing ever since. So I feel, I felt I felt I felt strong enough to say like, this is what I want to do. Like I, you know, I was kind of my safety net of that one year, but I, that was a year ago, I made that decision to drop that and get walk away from that. So

Chuck Shute: 31:52

wow, I love that I love hearing stories. Like as an old man, I'm like, That's Yes. Like I was gonna, that would be my advice to you is like, go for it go all in, you can always go back to college and stuff. Yeah, you know, whatever. Like, no, go for the music thing. Because otherwise, you'll just regret it for the rest of your life. So that's awesome. I'm so glad to hear you say that you made that decision that you're all in on it. That's awesome.

Ariel Miranda: 32:14

Thank you. So nice to hear someone supportive of that, because I've so many people in my life has been like, what you're not going to call like you're doing what? Like what's, what's your real plan? Like, that's your backup. But what's your real when I'm like, No, it's It's music. Like, that's number one. So, you know, some people think I'm crazy. But then so then I do get the support. So it's both ways. But,

Chuck Shute: 32:35

ya know, I mean, I think the college is always going to be there, right? I mean, maybe you won't have the scholarship or whatever, but you'll be fine. I mean, it also like, then you go, Well, what am I going to do with the college unless you have something else that you're really interested in? Like? I don't know what that would be. But it sounds like you're all into music. So I would go all in for that and and just let that you know, path go. Maybe if you don't end up being a performer, maybe you end up being a manager or something. But I think at this point, I mean, I'd say performance all in a maybe when you're like my age, like you know, and you're in your 40s or something, then you can go maybe I should think twice about this. But in 20 No, 20 You got to give it at least five to 10 years. I mean, and I interview these musicians all the time. And they all have similar stories like that. And it seems like a lot of them. Like I don't know if you know, oh god, what's rich, rich Redman. He's the drummer for I think Jason ElDeen. And he was telling me like, you know, he was in Nashville, and he was in all these different bands, playing drums, different styles of music, and he just kept going and kept playing and eventually found Jason ElDeen. And then, you know, the rest is history, but like he said, There was a lot of people that are really talented, that quit. And then they didn't, you know, they didn't make it because they had to go do so that we had a job, they had a family, whatever, and he just stuck with it. And so I think that's a huge part of it is sticking with it, which it sounds like you're willing to do.

Ariel Miranda: 33:55

So. Yeah, yeah. No, it's Yeah, I hear all the stories. I'm just like, Yeah, I feel like it's you got to go for it. Especially like now when you're when you're younger than like, regretted later and I'm lucky enough to have parents that are super supportive too. I feel like it you know, if they were like you got to go to college or Sunday, you know, if they're hard on me I'm on that then it might be a little more difficult but they've been supportive my whole life of music. I mean, whenever I needed to go to an audition or gig whatever it was, they always would do as much as they could to get me there. So I'm very lucky to have that it definitely helps.

Chuck Shute: 34:33

That's great to hear. What about you feel like that you're obviously you're given up this college so that's kind of a sacrifice. Do you feel like you're giving up anything else with your free time like your your weekends now a lot of your weekend is doing music? Do you ever feel like you're missing out or like you know, you're missing out with things with your friends or parties or fun times like that?

Ariel Miranda: 34:55

Um, I mean, it definitely does limit like I I see like the social side of it it does set some limitations but at the same time I think it's a sacrifice it's definitely worth it because it's what I'm mostly focused on I know like going to college like this part of your life is still like those first four years you know people are still like deciding what they want to do and it's meeting new people and and still kind of not having fun I mean it's college so you're starting out but it's still kind of a I want to say like laid back but it's not as like you're not interior haven't had like the start of like your main career still figuring out but I feel like I I know what I want my career to be so I want to be as serious as I can be with that even if that doesn't mean that it's less time for like the like fun stuff whenever I have fun doing the music so I I love doing the shows it's always different different crowd different venues, different places. So it's always experiences that I there's experiences that I guess I would be missing out on since I haven't I didn't go to college, but I feel like I'm gaining different ones that you want to get in college anyways. So I see.

Chuck Shute: 36:07

Yeah, I mean, not everybody's tried out for American Idol and stuff like that. So these are you have some cool stories during these concerts and things and I think the future is very bright for you. I mean, there's a lot of things that have not happened yet that I see hopefully coming for you. So that should be Yeah, well thank you so much for doing this is so the new out or the new singles out now wasted my youth and then there's going to be a new Are you gonna release it single at a time? Or you're gonna release a full album at some point or?

Ariel Miranda: 36:35

Yeah, I think I'll definitely do Jobson singles first leading up to it. So hopefully, hopefully pretty soon on that. I don't know a set timeline yet. But it is all in the works. So,

Chuck Shute: 36:45

okay, people can follow you on YouTube, Facebook, tick tock, Instagram, Snapchat to I think, right.

Ariel Miranda: 36:54

I do have a Snapchat for my music. To be honest, I haven't used it in a while. That's because like, some people would be like, Do you have a Snapchat like for me? And I'm like, I don't know, when I first started getting some people in California asked me that. And I was like, oh, make one. So I have I do have one. But

Chuck Shute: 37:11

yeah, I mean, but see, like the full songs. I would say Spotify or YouTube is probably the best. And then tick tock is like more clips and things. Right? Definitely. Yeah. Cool. Is there I always in Egypt promoting a charity? Is there a charity that's near and dear to your heart or something you want to promote here at the end? Yeah, pause for

Ariel Miranda: 37:31

a cure. What is that? It's they provide financial assistance for people who have pets that are undergoing like, non routine medical procedures.

Chuck Shute: 37:45

Okay, that sounds great. Is that is that a local one? Or is that national?

Ariel Miranda: 37:49

No, I think it's it's pretty. I think it's pretty big. It's not a but yeah, I, I mean, like organizations like that. That's one that I've recently become like more aware of I know, there's like a lot of them. But it's something that's close to my heart, because I've dealt with some harder things with a pet that end up passing away. So that's the worst.

Chuck Shute: 38:09

I don't think people understand. I just had a pet. I only got my first pet when I was like in my 30s. And then he just passed away a couple years ago. And I was like, Oh, right. I always heard stories of like people talking about that. And I thought people were like overreacting. I'm like, oh, no, it's like, it's terrible. Because you're so used to seeing the pet every day. And then it's when it's gone. It's like it's huge. It's a huge thing. It's like piece of your life is missing. So I will definitely put that a website in the show notes along with your website and people can follow you on all that good stuff that we mentioned.

Ariel Miranda: 38:42

Okay, perfect. That sounds great. Thank you so much for having me.

Chuck Shute: 38:45

Yeah. Anything else you want to promote anything else? Any I mean, I guess the shows are on the website and

Ariel Miranda: 38:52

shows on the website and social media and any updates will be called Sonya those so

Chuck Shute: 38:59

Okay, thanks so much. Don't forget me when you're famous. Thank you for having me. All right. Bye bye. Hi. Remember that name? Ariel Miranda, I think she's going places. So make sure to follow her on social media and watch her journey in the music business. I am rooting for her. Of course I root for all my guests success. And you can help by liking, sharing, commenting all that good stuff on social media, with my guests and with my show if you want to support us. Also make sure that you're subscribed wherever you watch or listen so you'll be the first to know when we drop a new episode because I have some exciting guests lined up that you won't want to miss. So, thank you for your support. Have a great day and shoot for the moon.