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Ari Abdul Shares Debut EP Fallen Angel
20-year-old artist Ari Abdul has released her debut EP Fallen Angel. As its title suggests, Fallen Angel is a pop-noir work, levitated by alluring melodies and Abdul’s warm, luminescent vocals. Growing up in Catholic School, she became enamored with the story of Lucifer and the “fallen angel” narrative.
The EP’s most alluring quality is how it gives you glimmers into who Abdul is, mingling tenebrous fantasy with her personal story. These twisted narratives come to life in tracks like the narcotic slow-jam “BABYDOLL,” the ethereal-pop “STAY,” and the shimmering-seductive “TASTE.”
Ari describes Fallen Angel like this: “You have like these nice, lovely, innocent sounding songs. And by the end of the EP, the songs get really distorted and heavier, and the lyrics get darker. Maybe there’ll be an emotion or a little something that happens in my life in a song, but the EP is completely storytelling. We keep pretty melodies, but still have production and lyrics that completely contradict those pretty melodies.”
Releasing alongside Fallen Angel is the official music video for “HUSH.” The haunting visual is directed by Erik Rojas (Kaskade, Jessie J). Watch HERE.
“Balancing Act” by Vinyl Floor is a real treat. It is the sixth record from brothers Daniel and Thomas Charlie Pedersen sounds like it was made for right now and how they blend the ’60s and ’70s with modern elements never feels forced.
The production is clear and thoughtful. Every string, every horn, every vintage keyboard has space to exist. “Puppet Laureate” opens strong with real energy, while “The Swan of Eileen Lake” catches you off guard with folk warmth. “Adelaide” might be the best track, built on a lovely piano line with vocals that cut through cleanly. No hiding behind effects here.
The title track closes things out with the reflection the album’s been working toward. The core idea of finding hope in a fractured world could tip into despair easily, but Vinyl Floor stays honest about it. They’re not offering false comfort, but they’re not drowning either.
Progressive rock this restrained is rare. The arrangements serve the songs instead of overshadowing them. If anything, some moments could use more breathing room, but that’s small in a record made by people who clearly care about what they’re saying.
This is for anyone who wants rock that actually wrestles with real ideas. It counts for something.
You can listen here.
