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Photo by Arig Mohammed Mussa Ferej

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Praise for ARIG

“Tongue-in-cheek flow – can only imagine the hype performing this live!” – Lucy Smith, triple j

“Arig stomped through like she owned the place! Rev’d up, in charge, bad arse!” – Dave Ruby Howe, triple j Unearthed

“Give me even half the confidence Arig has on this record and I’ll be an Olympian within the week. The swagger is unparalleled!” – Tommy Faith, triple j Unearthed

“filled with emotion and passion” – Acclaim Magazine

“Arig is on fiiiiiire… an absolute weapon” – AUD’$

“A true testament to the huge amounts of power that real, visceral emotion can bring to a song” – Tone Deaf

“vibrant and powerful…a bouncing and hypnotic celebration of self-love in a world that often discourages it” – Purple Sneakers

“ARIG has announced herself as a powerful new voice in Australian music, one with some unique stories to tell” – Pilerats

“The hypnotising and crisp new release from Arig celebrates women stepping into their power and sexuality.” – Happy Magazine

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Eora/Sydney-based artist ARIG (she/her) is thrilled today to announce her forthcoming EP RECKLESS (Feb 9, 2024) and share new single and video ‘Pop Off’. Pushing back against criticisms of being too much, the single follows in the footsteps of the vivacious, empowering pop/R&B of the 00s in a celebration of self-acceptance. A fitting second chapter that picks up where lead single ‘His Nation’ left off, both tracks will appear on the EP. ‘Pop Off’ is out independently now, stream HERE.

The announcement follows widespread support for the artist and passionate community activist, with previous single ‘His Nation’ securing praise from triple j, triple j Unearthed (rotation), CADA, Acclaim Magazine (Heat of the Week), Purple Sneakers (Artist of the Week & Best New Music) who asserted Arig’s status as a “rising R&B star”, AUD’$, Music Feeds (Cover – New Aus Music Playlist), Happy Magazine (Staff Picks), FBi Radio (rotation), SYN FM (Sweet Sixteen), Triple R, 2SER, 4ZZZ, Edge Radio, RTRFM, Eat This Music, Out In Perth and many more.

Fusing elements of funk, R&B and pop in a radiant shaking-off of others’ expectations, ‘Pop Off’ symbolizes a rebirth, the seizing of control, and the discovery of freedom via infectious brass stabs, a slick bassline and vocals that move from a smooth whisper to a joyous outcry in the track’s thumping chorus. Where ‘His Nation’, released earlier this year, unpacked and began to re-frame the aggression and emotional turmoil Arig has faced, here she turns hurtful words back outwards, offering a testament to the power of owning your narrative.

Of the single, Arig shares, “The genesis of ‘Pop Off’ lies in the echoes of being labelled ‘too loud,’ ‘too emotional,’ and even ‘crazy,’ from family members and past relationships. The most poignant of these words, ‘you’re just not the type of woman anyone would want to see in a white dress,’ serves as a haunting reminder of the heartbreak associated with being made to feeling inadequate and unworthy of intimate love and acceptance. While I was recording and writing, I played with more down tempo, introspective material, though I didn’t want to write a sad song.
Through ‘Pop Off,’ I confront and lean into my upbringing, embracing the aggressive edge and intuition it imparted. I learned to love and stand up for myself, breaking free from toxic cycles to be accepted for who I am – unapologetically me, loud mouth, emotions, and all. Baby, it’s me you tried to play with.”

Blending slick pop sensibilities with brazen honesty plus R&B and hip-hop influences to craft a bright, polished yet undeniably genuine sound that’s all her own, Arig’s ability to embody confidence and clear-headed vulnerability all at the same time is a consistent hallmark of how she moves through the world, both as a musician and as an activist. Having grown up in crowded housing commission in an unstable home environment, Arig has openly shared her experiences at events like Amnesty International’s 20th Writes for Rights anniversary, the launch of Amity Place (a community-run initiative to support against domestic, family and partner violence and narcissistic abuse recovery) as well as at multiple schools.

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Directed by trusted collaborator Cleo Baldwin (whose work also includes Arig’s video for ‘His Nation’, a clip for rock icons Noiseworks, as well as short films Cold of the Sun & Girl Dog), the vibrant, colourful video, shot over 29 hours in a convenience store til daybreak, is both a natural progression from its predecessor and a direct contrast to it. Linked by their common themes of the pursuit and attainment of freedom, in the video for ‘Pop Off’ this is channelled through a playfully energetic mood that channels the song’s confident sense of fun, and plenty of light-hearted moments as Arig dancing in the aisles through multiple enviable outfit changes (including several pieces by environmentally-conscious designer Adelash Parsons), sips winkingly from a bottle of “Arigade”, and convinces the overworked clerk to join her in letting loose amongst the drygoods before a blink-and-you’ll miss it throwback to her last clip.

Arig says of the video, “Creating the ‘Pop Off’ video was a whirlwind adventure. The shoot came with challenges, but, unwavering determination drove us to achieve our creative vision. We set out with one simple goal and intention – to have fun! I collaborated once again with director Cleo Baldwin, we focused on delivering a visual experience with colour, fun, and a cheeky attitude.”

Crafted at a time that Arig says was “the most reckless period of my life”, across its 6 tracks, RECKLESS weaves an unflinchingly human portrayal of the complexities of emerging from trauma without any kind of external guidance. With Arig pushed to the limit, her resilience crystallised into the world-building of RECKLESS: reflecting on the past and its impact on new relationships, letting loose, and living the kind of life you yearn for, even if it means being led by impulse for a while. Moving from the stripped-back, heart-wrenching mission statement of opener ‘Freedom’ – “I do it all for freedom, I lose my life for freedom” – the conflicted feelings of missing someone who doesn’t deserve it on ‘Goodness Gracious’, to the breathlessness of what feels like infatuation on ‘Intoxicated’, the EP’s more upbeat, punchier second half (featuring singles ‘His Nation’ & ‘Pop Off’) signals a shift for Arig, as she masks feelings of worthlessness with bold audacity. A testament to Arig’s skill at world-crafting and storytelling, the sonic diversity of RECKLESS – parsing authentic, touching ballads alongside vibrant, punchy rap, pop and R&B – never shies away from the nuance and duality of what it is to rediscover yourself and claim control. Where lauded debut EP Attrition – which Arig asserts “saved my life” – represented her escape from a toxic relationship, RECKLESS finds the self-described “messy chameleon” reckoning with struggles from her childhood in a discovery that healing is never linear, ultimately finding peace in the fight to reclaim her own story.

Born in Khartoum, Sudan to Eritrean parents who fled their country’s conflict, eventually moving to so-called Australia as a toddler with her mother – split from her father whose visa was not granted – Arig observed the unfortunate traps and social limitations of living in a no-income household driven by a toxic relationship, as well as that of the community around her. The frequent pain, and constant lack of stability weighed heavily on Arig’s self-esteem, with her only escape from this violence and hostility coming in the form of hiding away in her room and singing into a hairbrush, writing songs and listening to the pop divas of the early 2000s. This, along with a dedication to serving those facing disadvantages, laid a foundation for what was to come – and pivotal creative collaborations with Anthony Aggs (pianist in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis) and Imraan Palekar (Jordan Rakei, Street Rat) only bolstered Arig’s newfound direction, with her sound drawing from everything from traditional Eritrean, South Sudanese and Arabic music to Jeff Buckley, Tupac, Lady Gaga and Alicia Keys – “true, raw, honest artists with grit and stories to tell”, as she puts it. Her soulful, bluesy debut EP Attrition (2018) secured a Queensland Music Award nomination for the previously Meanjin/Brisbane-based artist, and support from triple j, triple j Unearthed, Acclaim Magazine, AUD’$, Purple Sneakers, Pilerats, Tone Deaf, 27 Magazine, The Music, Ramona Magazine, Soul Connoisseur and more including community radio like FBi Radio, Triple R, 4ZZZ and beyond; the release was followed by her collaboration ‘Whine With It’ with Adechoon (2020) which was added to Spotify’s Global Afro Beats.

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Arig – RECKLESS
Out February 9, 2024
Pre-save

TRACK LIST

Freedom
Goodness Gracious
Intoxicated
Pop Off
His Nation
Lambos In Logan

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Follow ARIG
Instagram – Facebook – Tik Tok

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AMNPLIFY – DB