Aron! Is Redefining Modern Jazz Through His Debut Album Too Close For Running
By Bethany Mikrut
Verge Record's very own Aron! has recently released his first album, Too Close For Running, on September 18th. Originally based in Charlotte, North Carolina, the NYC-based artist has taken massive inspiration from 50s and 60s jazz musicians, including Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.
Too Close for Running draws on the feeling of being "down bad" and choosing to not run away, rather embracing the full extent of love and romance. Creatively, the album cover tells the listener so much about the direction behind it. Unironically, being similar to William Tell's story of a dad shooting an arrow at his son's head, the cover draws inspiration from Cupid hunting and catching him. The album features 12 tracks and includes collaborations from esteemed contemporary jazz icons, including Dodie and Mei Semones. Aron hopes that listeners will be able to cherish this album in their own way, and mentions that it is like passing a baby onto another person. Aron states, "This is when it is not about me; it becomes its own thing." In addition, Aron wishes that other people will be inspired to create their own art and music after listening, as it sparks creative and emotional connections through vulnerability. For Aron, this was an album of learning, trying, and learning to fail forward rather than backward. As this is Aron's debut album, the songs have been a long time coming. Aron emphasizes that the majority of these songs have been accumulated throughout his entire life, although recording and mastering only took a few months.
The album features hits such as "Not For A Lack Of Trying," "Call Me When You Can (Feat. Dodie)" and "Macramé (Feat. Mei Semones)." Throughout all twelve tracks, vulnerability and taking risks are a major theme. In addition, the balance between deep affection and overattachment, and "how not to be too much. For example, Aron wrote "Macramé" while spiraling about a future with a romantic partner, including starting a family, designing rooms, and taking the next step in a relationship. Ultimately, each track reveals a bit more about Aron's artistic and emotional story.
Similar to artists such as Laufey, Aron's music bridges both worlds of contemporary and modern jazz. For Aron, balance is a major aspect of his creative direction, as he tries to balance honoring tradition while making himself stand out. He mentions that, "if you want to hear that, listen to music made then," to point out that he prioritizes unique contemporary jazz, which will be very different from traditional jazz of the mid 20th century. However, he also states he still strives to "find the midpoint between Lady Gaga and Ella Fitzgerland," in an attempt to combine and balance both time periods and musical elements. This is primarily due to his childhood musical role models, especially Frank Sinatra with "I'll Never Smile Again," that influenced much of his current artistry.
Due to his unique musical genre, collaborations played a crucial role in constructing the lyrical and musical story surrounding Too Close For Running. The primary collaborators include Dodie on "Call Me When You Can" and Mei Semones on "Macramé." For "Call Me When You Can," Dodie and Aron were never in the same room, and Dodie was able to take creative direction on her lyrics and from Aron's fake stand-in verse, in addition to playing the clarinet. "Macramé" started as a song about Mei Semones, in which she agreed to collaborate on both vocally and by playing guitar. Aron emphasized the importance of connection in the industry and praised how social media made collaborations lower-stakes and easier to initiate.
Aron's musical direction is one of a kind because he balances between traditional/contemporary and jazz/pop. He mentions he frequently ignores outside expectations, while he narrows into what he prioritizes and has experienced to create many of the instrumental tracks and lyrics. John Mayer even noticed Aron's music for the first time on his radio segment, which highlights emerging artists. Aron was forever thankful, as he "basically came out of the womb listening to John Mayer," and thanked him for uplifting the next generation of musical artists. With the current speed of the music industry, Aron is hopeful as the next generation turns to humanized jazz music compared to the rise of artificial music being fed through social media. He jokes it is due to "TikTok, La La Land, and Laufey," but more likely the thirst for human connection and authenticity.
Live performance is also another crucial part of Aron's artistic development and direction, as he is able to try and test new things to later do in studios or on tour. He says, "Every time I play, there are new things I learn." Aron hopes to continue performing all of his music, especially "Not For The Lack Of Trying," "Love is How You Lose," and "Clementine."
We look forward to what is next in store for Aron, as he is already moving on to what his next project will be. In the meantime, make sure to stream Too Close For Running on streaming now, and stay updated.