Welcome.

My name is Arian Rad and I’m an Iranian-American artist from rural Upstate New York. I grew up in a town called Amsterdam; a post-industrial mill town located in a lush river-valley situated between sprawling farm land and the looming shade of the Adirondack Mountains.

Growing up in isolation, I made enemies with boredom and close friends with restlessness. I always had to be doing something. Skateboarding, hiking, guitar; anything I could do alone that would tire me out enough to sleep through the night. Once I realized all melted away whilst in the throws of the creative act, I knew a life in art would be the only life for me.

I attended NYU Tisch School of the Arts where I studied acting at the Experimental Theatre Wing. It’s in this institution where I learned not only to act, but to also be a well-rounded and rigorous artist; constantly observing, constantly absorbing.

Graduating straight into the pandemic, there wasn’t much acting to be had, so I fell back on what had been there the entire time: music. It was through songwriting I was able to find the beat of my heart again. I was able to tell stories in a way that felt deeply fulfilling within, without the need for external validation. Through a constant and almost incessant practice of writing, I’ve sharpened my pen and have achieved a level of songwriting I never thought possible. Deeply personal yet wholly accessible.

On the first, cold night of 2021, in my family’s old lake house, me and several friends plotted to make an album the old way. In a warm room, with whiskey present, and plumes of purple haze in the air. What came out of the 4 week residency was my debut album: Moving.

Quickly after the completion of its recording, I hightailed it to Los Angeles to see what surprises lay in store. I’ll let you know what happens. Wish me luck.