Working with Artists to help make MUSIC & ART a sustainable career
If you're searching for an artist who effortlessly blends soaring 2000s rock grandeur with genuinely intimate, heartfelt lyrics, look no further than ARREN. This Dublin-based artist is making serious waves, channeling deep emotion into music that he aims to make both cinematic and powerful. We caught up with ARREN to delve into his influences, his unique creative process, and what it took to turn a fun hobby into a professional passion.
How do you describe a sound that feels familiar yet entirely fresh? ARREN sums it up as generally pop-rock with hints of folk. He strives for music that is defined as hopeful, emotional, cinematic, and powerful, often carrying a bittersweet undertone. Furthermore, his sound draws on the grandeur of 90s and 2000s rock, underpinned by deeply intimate storytelling.
ARREN’s listening history reveals a diverse palette that clearly informs his songwriting. He grew up immersed in the sounds of U2, Elvis, and James Blunt, and he admits that their influence remains present in his sound on a subconscious level. As he developed, he found massive inspiration in acts like Mumford and Sons, James Bay, and Twenty One Pilots, drawing specifically from them for melody, instrumentation, themes, and lyrics. He also harbors a love for Americana artists, mentioning Tom Waits, and American rock groups such as Motherfolk and The Tragic Thrills.
When it comes to creating, ARREN has a clear and defined process. The melody is king, and it comes first, without exception. Only once the melody is established does he tackle the lyrics. The overall structure of the song then falls into place once the verses or choruses have been found.
For the physical and mental space where creativity thrives, ARREN has found a surprisingly effective sanctuary: traveling in his car. He notes that he gets a lot of inspiration on the road. This wanderlust is aided by his videography work, which naturally takes him all around Ireland. If he hits a creative wall, he has a simple philosophy: "Write shit," believing that through the less-than-stellar output, something good will eventually emerge.
One of the most distinctive elements that makes ARREN’s music uniquely his is his vocal style. He typically layers his main vocal track with a falsetto track. Because he possesses a wide falsetto range, he makes use of multiple octaves of falsetto when recording.
It’s important to note that, currently, ARREN’s main source of income is actually videography, a career he pursued after studying filmmaking in college. However, he makes his priorities clear: he would "rather let music get in the way of film than film get in the way of music". This videography expertise feeds directly back into his music, as he produces his own acoustic sessions, music videos, social content, and photoshoots.
ARREN has already racked up some serious highlights. In the studio, his proudest moment has been recording his upcoming debut album, titled Dark Earth. On stage, his Whelan’s Upstairs show in June stands out.
A significant breakthrough came with the release of ‘It Takes One to Know’ in July 2024, complete with a music video. This was the track that successfully pulled him out of a hiatus and back into music as a profession. He put immense effort into the promotion and was pleased with the resulting coverage, including music blogs, radio play, and playlisting.
He acknowledges that promoting music inevitably involves facing "no’s and no replies". However, ARREN views this as simply part of the business, refusing to let it affect him, noting that a lack of reply doesn't necessarily mean a rejection anyway.
Looking ahead, ARREN is busy working on video content for the singles from his forthcoming debut album, Dark Earth, and he continues to write constantly. Within the next five years, he envisions having released his debut album, and having a second album in the pipeline. Ultimately, he dreams of establishing contacts with bigger names in the industry, collaborating with them, and building a dedicated following large enough to sell out a big room. His current ultimate venue goal? The beautiful Olympia Theatre.
When listening to ARREN’s work, the themes you’ll encounter most frequently include hope, love, loss, depression, nostalgia, lust, travel, and self-discovery. He is transparent about addressing social and personal issues like anxiety, loss, and depression through his art. His core message is simple: he hopes listeners walk away feeling seen, heard, and, most importantly, hopeful.
ARREN notes that the power of music is its ability to channel negativity into a medium where it can be processed. This depth is contrasted with his personal disposition, as he emphasizes that while he may write sad songs, he is still a "positive, happy and funny person regardless".
If you want to experience the emotional and cinematic sound of ARREN in person, you have an incredible chance coming up. When performing live, you can expect a selection of upbeat songs mixed with softer, more intimate tracks that ARREN hopes will resonate deeply with the audience.
He is slated to play his latest release, ‘Broken,’ a song specifically about the community found in depression and the shared realization that even when things aren’t great, "we are all in this together". He says if the song hits home for even one person in the audience, it has achieved its goal.
And here’s a major reason to be there: ARREN has a special surprise planned—he will be announcing an upcoming single at the show!
Don't miss this opportunity to see one of Dublin’s most promising pop-rock artists and hear the stories behind his upcoming debut album, Dark Earth. Come support ARREN on Thursday, 2 October 2025, in the iconic Fibber Magees Basement, Dublin 1. Grab your tickets now and be part of the vibrant grassroots music community!
You can follow ARREN’s journey and keep up with new releases via his website, www.arrenmusic.com, or on Instagram @arrenmusic.
