Arietta Finds Her Frequency on Rising (An Album Review)

Arietta Finds Her Frequency on Rising (An Album Review) #drumandbass #dnb #usdnb #azdnb #arietta #dnbgirls #musicproduction #musicreview #risingbyarietta #drumandbassproper

DJ, producer, musician, academic, and ethnomusicologist Candelaria Alvarado—better known as Arietta—has been a steady presence in the US drum and bass scene for years. With her latest full-length release, Rising, out on March 13, 2026, she takes a significant creative step forward. The album marks the first time Arietta fully integrates live instrumentation with electronic production, bringing together her formal musical training and personal exploration into a cohesive project. The result is an album that feels both ambitious and deeply personal—in fact, the mixed media album art was created by Alvarado’s son.

The cover of Rising

Rising opens with “Chacc,” a reflective, meditative introduction to Arietta’s evolving sound. Gentle, glitchy textures give way to delicate stringed instrumentation and low, rumbling bass, creating an atmosphere that feels organic and ritualistic. Drawing inspiration from a vivid past-life meditation connected to the Mayan Yucatán, Arietta builds a track steeped in emotion and cultural resonance. The live drumming from Exit Records artist Currency Audio becomes the driving force, lending the song a raw, grounded energy.

The second track, “Don’t Wanna Waste This,” shifts the mood without losing the album’s introspective core. A collaboration with Phoenix-based producer Lavandar, the song pairs rolling bass and crisp drum work with a vulnerable vocal performance that captures the claustrophobia of being trapped inside one’s own thoughts. Arietta has described the track as recognizing personal exhaustion without yet knowing how to change it—a theme that resonates clearly in its restrained, emotional delivery.

“Native Dub,” produced with Mexico-based jungle artist Rainforest, takes a heavier turn. Anchored by cavernous dub textures and an oppressive low end, the track leans into discomfort rather than resolution. It is gritty, physical, and hypnotic, built for movement while also encouraging deeper reflection. Its tribal undercurrent gives it a sense of grounded intensity, making it one of the album’s most immersive moments.

“Decision” stands out as one of the album’s most dynamic tracks. Featuring Grammy-nominated bassist and vocalist Panagiotis Andreou alongside renowned bassist Jason Lindner, it unfolds gradually—opening with spacious atmospherics and subtle FX before a meditative male vocal enters. When the drums and bass finally arrive, they hit harder than expected, pushing the track toward a tense breakdown and a powerful drop. In a single motion, the song moves from darker jungle textures to pure dancefloor energy. Yet it never feels formulaic; instead, it plays like Arietta’s personal reinterpretation of what dancefloor drum and bass can be. The emotional undercurrent—a conscious decision to face difficult healing—adds weight beneath the surface excitement.

The album reaches an emotional turning point with “Masquerade,” featuring vocalist Sophia Bavishi. Beginning with a lullaby-like softness, the track gradually blooms into one of the album’s most melodic and soulful pieces. Bavishi’s lush, expressive vocals take center stage, making this the most overtly song-driven moment on Rising. It’s also the track that most closely aligns with the classic dancefloor sound Arietta is known for—upbeat, accessible, and deeply human.

Jason Lindner returns on “Evolve,” a gentler, more reflective collaboration that offers a moment of calm after the album’s intensity. Subtle lo-fi textures and dreamlike atmospheres create a sense of peaceful integration. For Arietta, the track represents a point where emotion, body, and sound finally come into alignment, and that sense of balance is palpable throughout. It’s a quiet highlight and a welcome reminder to slow down.

Candelaria Alvarado aka Arietta

The album closes with its title track, “Rising,” another collaboration with Rainforest. Warm pads, a thick rolling bassline, and carefully layered vocal textures bring the project to a graceful conclusion. Unhurried and confident, the track feels less like a grand finale and more like a gentle exhale after a long journey. As Arietta herself explains, “Rising isn’t about pushing toward something new; it’s about letting myself be where I already am.”

Taken as a whole, Rising showcases an artist expanding beyond genre boundaries while remaining rooted in drum and bass. It’s an album built on collaboration, introspection, and musical curiosity—one that rewards both the dancefloor and the listening chair.

Till next time!

Tally G