Ariel Sim expertly crafts a concept EP, "Confessions in the Circle (Vol. 1)

Producing a debut EP that thinks all the way out of the box and provides a new way of consuming music, we’re loving Ariel Sim’s Confessions in the Circle (Vol. 1). Read on for a full review of the record, as well as a background on the artist.


As a singer, songwriter, and composer, Ariel Sim’s debut EP Confessiosn in the Circle (Vol. 1) is legitimately a record of which we’ve never heard so many styles and ideals merge into one. Blending together elements of neo-soul, spoken word, jazz, afro-fusion, and so much more, she continues to keep the listener engaged and intrigued as to what’s going to arise next. If you like a bit of experimentation in album experiences, this is undoubtedly the record you need to be listening to.


On the background of it all, this is meant to be a “personal journey into spiritual healing, letting the past go, and the reclamation of an individual’s spirit”. Through 8 songs and about 16 minutes of runtime, Ariel jumps from idea to complex message within a very short time span. While it definitely feels like there’s so many ideas running through the EP, it never feels disjointed or like the wheels are coming loose. It’s 100% a concept record that we can only imagine was methodically planned out, but the execution came full circle.


Through the first 3 or 4 tracks, she sets the listener up for what’s to come through spoken passages and then it feels like it fully opens up with jazz instrumentals and a dash of R&B to really round it all out evenly. “Spirits” is the longest track on the record at 4-ish minutes and appears to be the single, but the lead up of getting there easily had to be our favorite part. It’s not often nowadays that a challenging listen is presented to us like this, but what Ariel has created is something that others aren’t. She’s daring to be different in a sea of indie artists that are playing to the “algorithm”. With that, we commend her and can’t wait for everyone to click the play button on something that’s a true beauty.


Please check out all the links below in order to listen, follow along, and of course to stay tuned for the inevitable Volume 2.

Listen to Confessions in the Circle (Vol. 1)

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Austin SherComment