New York-based artist Aria Narang is part of a new generation of songwriters making catchy indie music that’s memorable and meaningful in equal measure. A queer, trans, non-binary artist with origins in Indian heritage and classical violin training, Aria blends poetic lyricism with emotional context, creating music that feels at once profoundly personal and widely relatbale.
Their creative output distils identity, art and empathy, framing stories of queerness, love and self-understanding told through delicate melodies and engaging arrangements. At just 23, Aria’s artistic output has already planted them on the map of must watch singer-songwriters while winning over listeners across the USA and beyond. A former American Idol Top 500 contestant and frequent face on the New York live circuit, Aria’s artistic path has been paved by community and connection, performing to audiences who find in their songs the representation they’ve longed for.
Their 2022 debut album Confession introduced Aria as a storyteller able to bare it all and songs like last year’s “Ink” and “Between the Lines” revealed a balance of thoughtful songwriting and strength, written with an intimacy that’s become their trademark. Behind the musician, there’s also a thinker; a Barnard and Columbia alum whose work brings together art, data and justice. But it was “On My Mind,” their 2023 single, that captured the euphoric joy of being completely consumed by another person, told with tenderness and alluring performance.
The track struck a chord with listeners around the world, becoming Aria’s most-streamed release to date and even reaching Turkish radio where queer listeners reached out to thank them for offering representation in a place where it remains scarce. It was a moment that reminded Aria why they make music in the first place, to connect, to comfort and to create space for others to feel seen. Now, Aria returns to that song with a fresh lens in “On My Mind (Acoustic Version),” a stripped-down, one-take reimagining that excavates the song’s emotional bones.
The acoustic take was inspired by countless fan requests after live performances with audiences who had fallen in love with the song in its original form wanting to hear it the way Aria performs it on stage. Recorded with producer Daniel Berger, this new version trades the studio sheen for something more intimate, eschewing layers of production to capture Aria’s voice and a guitar unedited and entirely present.
Brought in by the intricate flutter of acoustic guitar chords and dance of lead notes, Aria’s soulful vocals glide in to deliver their emotive lines above, casting a spellbinding slice of pop-tinged folk music. Reimagining the rock-inflected energy of the original version in an elegant new setting, with “On My Mind (Acoustic Version),” Aria serves up a stunning showcase of their songwriting flair and performance panache.
Listen to On My Mind (Acoustic Version) below
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