We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ariel Sol a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ariel, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
My mom’s family is Filipino and my dad’s is Jewish: I grew up in a multiracial, interfaith household. A common experience shared by people with mixed heritage is confusion as to where one “belongs” and the related struggle of self-identifying. While I definitely did (and do) experience these challenges, I credit my parents for consistently telling me that I belong to ALL my identities: there are no halves. On either side of my family, I sometimes still felt like the “only one in the room.” At the same time, these were people I felt very comfortable with.
I think this upbringing heavily contributed to my artistic mindset, because innovation is also a lonely place. In the moment you conceive of something really, actually novel, you’re also the only person to see this vision. Communicating that vision feels to me very much like being the odd one out in a space. I grew up accustomed to that feeling, which I think translated from home life to artistic practice. I’m not saying I’m particularly unique or innovative, but instead that my whole life has been spent navigating differences. When a situation requires someone to “stand out” or ignore conventional thinking, I feel comfortable taking on the role.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a harpist and composer! Basically, I’ll do anything musical I can get my hands on. For harp, I play private and public events. I especially love trying to mix musical genres to bring harp where it isn’t expected like techno and hip-hop. As a composer, I work for a variety of media as well as live concert music. I’m classically trained for orchestral writing, but I also love pop production techniques and working with songwriters. Combining all of these aspects, my favorite projects involve interactive sound design and site-specific installations. More recently, I’ve been bringing interactive audio to digital worlds in the form of video games!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Curiosity – I make the best work when I’m having fun, and I have the most fun when I feel like I’m experiencing the world around me. Inspiration often comes from unexpected places. The easiest way to be inspired in my experience is to not try to be inspired. If you navigate the day as an engaged observer, something is bound to catch your eye. For me, most things are genuinely interesting on some level. I wish there was time to explore everything!
Separate creation and editing – whether it’s an excel sheet or a novel, creation and editing are best as distinct phases. When you’re generating ideas, creating frameworks, and just beginning to figure it out, make sure you aren’t limiting yourself inadvertently. Editing is a necessary step, but editing too early can prune the potential of your projects. Personally, I try not to start making decisions until I feel I’ve exhausted all my craziest ideas.
Be a good collaborator – It’s incredibly rare for a project to go from conception to execution with a team of one. Even if you spend 90% of your time painting in your basement, you’ll still need to talk to people to acquire supplies, find gallery space, organize showing events, etc. Being a good collaborator (maintaining good relationships) can never hurt, and often can help in unpredictable ways. I’m quite social; I like to involve lots of people in my brainstorming because I feel this is how I generate the best ideas. Whether or not you enjoy working with lots of people, try to make sure lots of people enjoy working with you. Also, most people are better than you are at something: this is an opportunity for curiousity 🙂
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Saying no is really, really important. Many artists (like me) have a “say yes to everything” mentality. This grind is a great way to get established and a great way to burn out. I struggle to say no, and I often end up pushing my limits unsustainably. Here are two strategies that have helped me personally:
Yes to Myself: Saying no is difficult partially because I have strong FOMO. To counteract this, I try to frame turning down an opportunity as saying “yes” to myself. With the time I would be spending on this project, what could I do for me? This could be anything from an artistic project to laying on the couch eating chips. This reframing also makes it much more obvious when I need to back off from taking work. I try to be in the habit of asking “did I say yes to myself today?” If enough days pass where I’ve been exclusively saying no to myself, it’s time for a change.
Accurate Estimates: For whatever I think I’m worth, I add more. For whatever I think I can do in a period of time, I take away. I do my best to compensate calculations where my self-awareness might be lacking (though it can never be perfect). This helps me be a better person to both myself and collaborators. It helps fight impostor syndrome, it helps me choose when to say no, and it helps me know when I need to say no. Accurate estimation is not easy, so I try to get better at it slowly over time.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.arielsol.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ari_harp
Image Credits
Rory Lewis, Alain Barker, Dylan Kinneavy, Drew Neal, Adrian Tapia, Tiensirin
