Alt-Pop Songwriter Apryll Aileen Shares an Introspective Song about the “Wicked Ways” of Human Nature
Apryll Aileen is a classically trained pianist with a touch of science and spirituality; an alt-pop soulful vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter from Atlantic Canada. Sultry vocals and an alluring stage presence make Apryll a fan favourite at music festivals worldwide. She transcends genres, creating her own undefinable sound with influences coming from pop, rock, electronic, folk, and R&B. She doesn’t imitate – she creates.
Her new song, “Wicked Ways,” is a reflection of human nature and our propensity to act out and get angry at others. It’s an introspective examination of why she gets angry and says hurtful things sometimes, as well as how we judge and perceive the actions of others. Through this, we may be creating our own narratives (which are often untrue) and it’s only through walking in someone else’s shoes that we truly understand what caused their actions and words.
Watch the video for “Wicked Ways” below and learn more about Apryll via our Five Questions With segment.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
I am a classically trained pianist, singer, guitarist, and songwriter from Atlantic Canada. When I grew up, there was always a guitar and a harmonica around the table and a dog at my feet. I’m inspired by so many different musical genres but I tend to write in the alternative pop rnb space. I love to travel, meet new people, write from my soul, and sing my heart out.
Tell us a bit about your most recent release.
There were a few different inspirations for the song “Wicked Ways” – the first being a bit of an internal introspection, asking myself why I get angry and say hurtful things sometimes, and really just examining the dark side of being a human. The second was more so thinking about how we judge & perceive the actions of others, creating our own narratives, and it really is only through walking in someone else’s shoes that we truly understand what caused their words & actions.
At the time, I was working on scripts with some pretty heavy subject matter around addictions and violence. My co-writer Benie and I really wanted to shine a light and create awareness for ourselves and others. Too often, we condemn people and turn them into monsters which makes it hard for them to become better if we don’t give them a chance to believe they can behave differently. Forgiveness is truly an act of grace for it is one of the most difficult things we can do.
Where do you tend to pull inspiration from when writing?
I tend to write a lot from spiritual reflection, personal relationships, and/or travel experiences. I would say this whole album has been a bit of a journey discovering myself, while I traveled around the world, really examining my conflicting emotions and feelings. I think sometimes as humans, we see self-destructive behaviour as somewhat alluring, but yet at the same time, we know it’s taking from us. I really like getting philosophical, deep, and raw with my lyrics, in an effort to understand the social psychology of the human psyche.
Do you have any upcoming shows you’d like to tell us about?
Yes! I’ve got a few actually.
Town of Riverview, New Brunswick – Canada Day Celebration at Caseley Park
Saturday, July 1st, 1:45 pm-2:45 pm
Town of Quispamsis, NB – Arts & Culture Park
Tuesday, July 4th, 7-8 pm
Bent Ridge Winery, Windsor Forks, NS
Friday, July 7th, 6-8 pm
Shoebox Studios, New Glasgow, NS
Monday, July 17th, 7:30pm
Town of Rothesay, NB – Concert in the Common
Thursday, July 3rd, 7-8 pm
Halifax Casino, NS
Friday, August 18th, 10 pm
I’m also announcing a very special show on Saturday, September 9th in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to launch the official album release for “Bad Things” – you can signup for the newsletter to be the first to know.
What’s your goal for 2023?
My goal is to have a successful album launch this Autumn and connect more with my fans because they mean so much to me. I also would love to have some of the music from this album placed in film or tv shows because that’s really how I ended up pursuing music as a full-time career and the film industry really inspires & informs my art.