Exclusive Interview with Warranted Queen Arum Rae

Arum Rae, formerly known as White Dress, is a modern day siren based in Brooklyn, by way of Austin, TX. Arum’s music and her voice is here to inspire… it is honest at its core so that you can do with it what you please, with no regrets. Everything Arum has lived through and all of the songs that have been born from it, are not meant to

impress. They are meant to lead. Her ability to transcend styles allows the music to complement country, resurrect the soul, feel the blues, and ruin then re-invent rock, through her deeply rooted foundation as a singer-songwriter.

Arum’s name is derived from a water lily (Arum lily) in Latin. Growing up, her family moved often, so at every new school, she always found shelter in the music programs. At her third high school, her choir teacher heard her potential, and took Arum under his wing and helped secure her a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music.

During her last semester in Boston she started writing original music, learning to play guitar to accompany herself so she wouldn’t have to depend on anyone and find her own voice… artistically and literally, studying the vocal stylings of Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone.

After relocating to Brooklyn, Arum was introduced to producer Sanford Livingston, and the two hit it off immediately. They began recording together in August 2013 and are pleased to present their first EP, Warranted Queen. With a minimal use of instrumentation, combined with Sanford’s heavy beats tailored around Arum’s dynamic voice and lyrics, the EP is a brilliant fusion of their mutual influences.

Arum has toured extensively over the past several years, opening up for, and sharing stages with legends like Willie Nelson, BB King, Dan Auerbach, Gary Clark Jr., Peter Bjorn & John, and The Civil Wars, to name a few. She also co-wrote the song “If I Didn’t Know Better” with John Paul White of The Civil Wars that eventually found its way to the season one theme song on the NBC television show Nashville, and charted as a hit single on iTunes and Billboard.

With renewed energy and passion, Arum looks to 2014 and beyond to place her mark on the industry that has given her so much. A mark she hopes will embolden artists and singers like herself to pursue their passions without pause or regret or fear.

Hi Arum it is a huge honor and pleasure to be interviewing you! Thank you for giving us this opportunity. Congrats on the new EP, its stunning and we love it! 

          Thank you very much for listening to my music and for your kind words. The pleasure is all mine, really!!!

How are you doing and how has 2014 been treating you so far have you been sticking to the new years resolutions which you set out?
           I am doing very well thank you. I've lived in Brooklyn for 8 months now and I am loving it. I feel very inspired and peaceful here. My resolutions? Yes I have been sticking to them

We are from South Africa and we ask all our guests this, what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear South Africa?
           Nelson Mandela and the apartheid / Sixto Rodriguez

How did you find yourself in music do you have a degree in music studies. And what are your roots when it comes to musical genres?
           I have a degree in Music Business and Management from Berklee College of Music. I've sang since I began to walk, no certain genre just anything that drew emotion. ie soul music
     
You are set to release your EP Warranted Queen, can you tell us what inspired the EP and what about the EP sets you apart from other singers out there.

            "Warranted Queen" is a collection of songs that were written over the past 4 years. My producer Sanford Livingston brought them to life. The lyrics of the songs are directly related to my personal past... but we all go through very similar challenges and experiences so maybe its not very different from anyone else at all. It's just my take on things that hopefully others can relate to

What  items would you use to describe your sound and why?
             guitar and vocals and beats. vocals to express lyrics. guitar to guide the vocals. beats to keep the songs from falling down the gutter

We believe every artist has a message they are trying to portray to the world through their work. What message are you trying to send out through your music?
              that feeling when you are moved by a concert or movie or after a vivid dream... the sacred spot when you are your truest self... i just want to remind people of who they are...

Out of all the tracks you have worked on I can’t pick a favorite one. All of them are different in their own way and truly a piece of magic.  What inspires your lyrics?
              thank you, my life inspires my lyrics

You have had the opportunity to work with many influential people what’s the most important lesson you learned so far?
               i've learned that there is always more to learn

What are some of your fondest musical memories? In your house? In your neighbourhood or town?
              fondest musical memories : 1. understanding Nina (Simone) for the first time. 2. finishing a song  3. when my family and friends acknowledged that this career path that i've chosen became legit somewhere along the way

Music is our savior. How important is music to you? What does it mean to you and do you ever find that you get lost in music.
               I think i get lost in music to an unhealthy degree! i love it more than i've ever loved anything. it is the only unconditional thing that brings people of difference together. that to me is God.

Would you recommend trying out for a reality music contest to aspiring singers?
              i would only recommend to follow your gut...

You are a singer and  songwriter, what advice do you have for singers trying to find their sound?
             to keep writing and singing your songs for others... not for anyone else's opinion but to find your own way with-in the music itself... your voice will naturally tell you where it needs to be. i strongly advise to only listen to yourself when it comes to your own art and message. no one knows better than you when it comes to artistic identity and choice

To end off who do you have a celebrity crush on at the moment?
           hahahah  i laughed out loud at this question... i have no idea... honestly the guys i think might be hot on screen usually are lame in real life. but if there's one, I'm an Avatar type of gal.

It has been a great pleasure. What can we expect from Arum Rae in 2014 and do you have any last words for your fans? We cant wait for what’s next to come from you and hopefully catch you around the world somewhere : ) 
       
          your support is everything to artists like myself so thank you again for listening and sharing my music. i would like my fans to know that they really inspire me... i would love to know each and everyone of them. and i would very much like to thank them for allowing my music into their lives... and to please look out for forthcoming songs and performances by myself and my band