An Interview With Arana, A Local Music Artist
By Noah Temple
Local music is a wonderful way to discover artists close to you before they become an overnight sensation. Recently, Marketing Director Tifa and I were able to interview Dani Arana, also known as Arana, a local artist based here in Northern Virginia.
Arana started making music in 2021 with a band she has since parted ways with. Her sound is rooted deep in nu-metal and shoegaze, deeply inspired by bands like Linkin Park, Deftones, and Whirr – as well as artists like Amira Elfeky to deliver her own sound with soft ethereal vocals and strong instrumentals that compliment each other exceedingly well.
Arana has recently come back from a tour where she was doing videography for the band The Missing Peace. She spoke about the experience and how she stayed sane driving around the country. Arana spoke about the importance of her headphones and the value of time alone, no matter where they were, though that is not to say she was not frequently speaking with everyone on the road. She told us about their drive through Arkansas, enjoying the scenery and stopping at a local dive bar where they got to interact with locals.
Arana is moving to Los Angeles soon, where she plans to find another band. This does not mean the end of Arana, as she made it clear that she will continue to release music as Arana, though she looks forward to having a consistent band to play with.
Currently, Arana has one single titled “Intricacy,” out now on Spotify and Apple Music. She plans to release more music soon, with the goal of releasing an EP or album within the year.
In our interview, Arana spoke about her creative process, and her passion for music was evident. Arana told us she had been singing since she came out of the womb, and it has always been an important part of her life. She also shared with us peeks of her notes app full of song ideas and voice memos filled with melodies.
If you have not listened to local artists, start today! Arana’s music is accessible and a blast to listen to, especially for anyone who enjoys nu-metal or shoegaze music.
You can support Arana by following her on Instagram (@im.arana) as well as streaming “Intricacy” on Spotify and Apple Music.
