Interview with 4ra 4ra

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

The recessive rap identity got me during my college years, as I was experimenting with it. I found myself truly passionate about music at that time. I don’t pursue music for a living; it’s more of a hobby for me. I am primarily a digital artist and painter who started making music, so the question is a reversed butterfly effect in my case.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I draw on tablets, post-produce videos, create 3D character designs, 3D fashion designs, or simply play video games, watch anime, and series. Additionally, I enjoy attending concerts and exhibitions.

How long has your band been around?

 It’s been around one year.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

I’m based in the Czech Republic, Central Europe. As a child, I participated in folklore singing and dancing, but I didn't continue into my teens or adulthood. I’ve been chronically online since my teenage years, so it doesn't matter where I am physically located. Video games and virtual pop culture realms influence my music much more than the places I live in, as I mostly go out only to the supermarket to buy food.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

My name is Ara Ara, but with numbers 4ra 4ra, like a gaming nickname where you need to use numbers instead of letters for accessibility. 'Ara Ara' is something like 'Oh my,' said by a cougar woman in anime or an expression of surprise. I chose it because it's a sort of meme and it's a part of my real name, Klara.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

I had two shows in two different caves. It was pretty wild. I projected my visuals for the show onto the rock wall, so it felt like a 'Digital Age Painting' show.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

I'm not a picky girl. I'm comfortable anywhere with a nice atmosphere and good company. However, my primary desire is to visit my friends and tour in the US.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

 Rezz, Deathpact, Lucille Croft, Wargasm, Poppy, Grimes.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into music production and some advice that you would give to your younger self? 

Be brave and don't hesitate, even you don’t know what DJs actually do. When I started and opened the DAW for the first time, I thought there was no chance I could learn this. Yet, here I am, so just push yourself to it.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

To start earlier and to play some instrument earlier.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

The newest is always my favoure ‘coz  I have ‘Kurt Cobain’ mindset and a strong sense of self-reflection. I dislike older things; only new ones with new techniques and intention are cool in my head.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

I love performing, and being on stage all the time is my favorite. As I mentioned earlier, I'm not a picky girl. I'm not a big repertoire artist also, so my listeners don't need to request. I simply play all my music.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

I click FL studio at my home studio, sometime connecting hardware like an electric guitar or synthesizers. I prefer to develop the entire concept right from the start of the creation process, which is much faster for me when the theme and concept inspire me. My music is often inspired by anime, video games, and virtual life.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

I've discussed this with other music producers, and they mentioned that my music is like experiencing a bad trip. Kinda. My goal is to get people grooving, feeling happy, crazy, and rage in just 3 minutes. My message is to evoke a range of emotions in a short amount of time, and I enjoy confusing my listeners as well. I also infuse a behavior of  insane anime characters into my live shows and the vocal intonations of my songs.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

Yeah, I do. We’re working on a new song collaboration with the German producer Scarlett Scarlett and right after finishing this project I’m gonna jump over to the collaboration with the Brazilian producer Leo Motoko. I’m also planning to work on more complex work this year, maybe even an EP.