Arlissa - "Hearts Ain't Gonna Lie"
In honor of Black History Month all the posts for this month will feature artists of color.
I’ve been on this girl’s flow since I saw a bootleg video of her recording this song. Her voice is clear and calling and it yearns for you to hear it. Like a trumpet she rings true, then brings in soft and subtle breathy tones that make you think of a flute by the ocean.
Arlissa is of half German and half American descent. Her debut track "Hard to Love Somebody" gained attention from publisher Capitol Records and Roc Nation, who eventually passed it on to Nas, who had previously worked with Amy Winehouse. After hearing the track, Nasapproached Arlissa to feature on it. "Hard to Love Somebody" was chosen as Scott Mills' record of the week on BBC Radio 1 in November 2012. Arlissa was named as one of the BBC’s one to watch for 2013, when she made the longlist for the Sound of 2013.
Her first official single "Sticks & Stones" was released on 3 March 2013, and was described as a 'stomping break-up anthem' and 'a fierce pop song'. The song peaked at number 48 in the UK Singles Chart. In 2017, Nelly Furtado covered "Sticks and Stones" for her sixth studio album The Ride.
Arlissa co-wrote K-pop group BTS's "Spring Day". The single was a success, topping the Gaon Digital Chart, and has since surpassed 2,500,000+ downloads. The song also won 'Song of the Year' at the 2017 Melon Music Awards.
In January 2018, she collaborated with British DJ/producer Jonas Blue on the song "Hearts Ain't Gonna Lie". She was picked in March 2018 as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month. She was featured on NBC's Today show hosted by Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, broadcast nationally in the United States on 21 March 2018 where Arlissa performed a live acoustic version of her single.
Arlissa co-wrote and performed the track "We Won't Move" for the 2018 film The Hate U Give, based upon The New York Times best selling novel by Angie Thomas. She performed the track at the film's International premier at the 2018 Toronto Film Festival.
Like Julie London she is at once distance and compelling, she is sensual without being over sexed, and while her feelings show in her voice, she also plays it relaxed. She’s got that fire that burns slow and hot, and I can not wait to see what her passion gives us next.
So today, with a tug of war, I choose Arlissa’s “Heart’s Ain’t Gonna Lie” as my, make your magic, slow burn, something cool, song for a, fold over on the pain, double down on the hope, and triple jump into adventure, Wednesday.