Teen recording artist Ariel Franz shooting for the stars
By David C. Lannan for Country Music News International Magazine
After years of singing covers and pop originals, Arizona’s Ariel Franz is now writing her own originals and branching out into new territory. In 2023 she was discovered at an event for the Josie Music Awards weekend held at the Nashville Zoo. Clarksville Creative Sound co-owner and producer Curt Ryle was there with his son, Brayden, and another of his artists, Jadyn Rylee when he heard Ariel sing.
“I was mesmerized by her voice,” he said in a 2023 interview. Thus began her country music career. She recorded 12 songs in 4 days and a couple of music videos. Singles from her original recording session have been released slowly so each has time to get recognition. Three have topped the EACM Chart and another is climbing the chart now.
Then during Christmas and spring breaks Curt convinced Ariel to try something a little different from the country pop songs they had recorded. She recorded a few traditional country songs and a couple of Christian country songs plus more music videos. One of the Christian country songs, “You’re That Kind of Beautiful,” dropped Nov. 30.
“To me it means that all the beautiful things around us, all reflect the goodness of and beauty of God,” Ariel said about the new song.
She said the line that touched her most from the song is “‘Cause you knew the needs of many outweighed the needs of one.’ This is my favorite because it shows how much God loves us.”
Ariel said it feels different “but it’s a good different” about singing new genres. “I like being diverse and plan on exploring even more in the future.”
Now Ariel has started writing her own original songs. She said the first one was inspired from her middle school years. She said not everyone will relate to the song.
After completing her first song she wrote 2 more and plans on making more in different genres.
When asked what her favorite part of songwriting is she said, “Getting to express the emotions. Getting to write a story. Getting to make it personal.”
She has also been approached by several songwriters about singing their songs. “I think I will sing the songs written by others, but I would try to keep it separate from my work. Collabs are also something I want to do,” she added.
Later this month she will sing the National Anthem for a fundraising event for Jazmine’s Journey and will have her own Christmas concert hosted by the First Baptist Church in Coolidge, Arizona. The concert will be streamed on Facebook and/or YouTube and may be broadcast live on the radio.
“I’m really excited but also a bit nervous. I don’t think there will be more than 100 people so it’s probably not going to affect my career too much but I am super excited because I finally get to know what it’s like to have one,” Ariel said.
And beginning in January, Ariel will become the female lead vocalist for the new contemporary praise band at Grace Community Church in Surprise. “I am super excited to sing with the band. I think it will be a cool experience,” she said. During her middle school years at a Christian school she sang solos, duets and with the school worship choir.
When asked what her future holds Ariel said she wants to try to do 5 different genres, make more of her own music and have more concerts or sing at more places.
“Please go ahead and take a listen to some of my songs,” Ariel said. “It would mean a lot to me, and I will have even better songs to come in the future. It gets better every time.”
Ariel can be found on Spotify, YouTube, most major streaming platforms and her website, www.arielfranz.com. She is also available for pop, country and Christian songs at your special event as well as the National Anthem. Booking information is on her website.