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3×3: Ariel Bui on Southern Manners, Fiona Apple, and Analog-Loving Freaks

Oct 6, 2016

3x3: Ariel Bui on Southern Manners, Fiona Apple, and Analog-Loving Freaks

Artist: Ariel Bui
Hometown: Nashville, TN (now)
Latest Album: Ariel Bui
Personal Nicknames: Ms. Ariel. In the South, it's considered polite to put "Ms." in front of ladies' first names, especially when you're also a piano teacher.​

What song do you wish you had written?
"I Know" by Fiona Apple

If money were no object, where would you live and what would you do? 
If money were no object, I'd build and live in an off-grid Earthship somewhere rural, but not too far from civilization and travel a lot from there. I love Taos, New Mexico, and the Mediterranean, and would love to travel the world and see where else I'd like to land. I want to learn more about my Vietnamese roots and would love to learn to play Vietnamese traditional folk instruments and songs. Also, if money were no object, I'd go all out with my art and compose an opera or a symphony, become an opera singer, learn to conduct, paint, weave baskets, knit, grow my own food, bird watch, volunteer all over the world with activist organizations, and do whatever I want.

If the After-Life exists, what song will be playing when you arrive?
"Videotape" by Radiohead

How often do you do laundry?
Not often enough. Probably every two to three weeks. Luckily, I have way too many hand-me-down clothes.

What was the last movie that you really loved?
Fight Club

If you could re-live one year of your life, which would it be and why? 
I would re-live 2015 — the year I recorded this album to analog tape with producer/engineer Andrija Tokic at the Bomb Shelter in East Nashville; the year I flew up to Brooklyn to be a part of the analog mastering process with Paul Gold at Salt Mastering; the year I collaborated with musicians Jon Estes, Dave Racine, Jem Cohen, Emma Berkey, and Lizzie Wright in the making of music. I truly enjoy being deep in the throes of the musically creative process, in a collaborative effort that is true to my artistic vision. Andrija is really fun to work with. He is a wonderful human and is very respectful of my integrity and artistic vision. He really brought forth his own genius to accentuate my songwriting, guitar playing, and singing, while introducing me to the otherworldly experience of working with amazing session musicians. I met so many other great people who float in and out of the Bomb Shelter, too, and I feel like I got inducted into some family of insanely talented, analog-loving freaks.

What's your favorite culinary spice?
Cinnamon

Morning person or night owl?
Night owl

Coffee or tea?
Tea


Photo credit: Jessica Ferguson

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3x3: Ariel Bui on Southern Manners, Fiona Apple, and Analog-Loving Freaks
3x3: Ariel Bui on Southern Manners, Fiona Apple, and Analog-Loving Freaks