Keeping It Cozy: aron!’s Dreamy EP Weaves Comfort and Reflection
— May 29, 2025 —
Jazz-influenced vocalist and songwriter aron! spoke at a cozy º1824 press conference on May 29, ahead of the release of his EP cozy you (and other nice songs) arriving Friday, June 6. With a nostalgic yet fresh sound gaining traction on platforms like Instagram—where warm visuals and live guitar snippets have drawn tens of thousands of new listeners—aron! is quickly becoming a standout voice in the new wave of genre-blending artists. For him, this project marks not just a musical milestone, but a deeply personal one.
aron!
Photo by Alexa Cha (@alexandriapictures).
A Moment That Sparked It All
aron! traced his earliest musical inspiration back to a quiet moment in a local music store. “I saw this 80-year-old guy playing these weird chords,” he said, referring to his first teacher, Stan Jocks. “I was ten or eleven. I walked up to him and asked if he could teach me, and he said yes.” Those early lessons were formative—and not just musically. “Our lessons would last for hours. He would talk for most of it. He taught me to live a balanced life—not to get too obsessed with music that you forget your friends and family.” That idea of balance continues to shape aron!’s artistry. “Music is everything to me,” he said, “but it’s not the only thing.”
Reframing Success
For aron!, success has always been a personal metric. “Five years ago, when I was just playing every day at the University of Miami, that felt like success,” he shared. “It was what I dreamed of—waking up and playing music all day.” Now, with his songs reaching wide audiences online, he calls the moment “deceivingly successful.” As he put it, “This is what I’ve been waiting for, but it’s made me realize that maybe success is not an outward thing.”
Still, he credits Instagram as a turning point. “I just posted every other day. At some point, something clicked—either in me or in other people. I didn’t expect it to happen this way, but I’m grateful.”
Sound, Style, and Subtle Humor
While his music has drawn comparisons to artists like Michael Bublé, aron! pulls more directly from earlier influences—mid-century names like Tommy Dorsey, Johnny Mercer, and Matt Dennis. “They just wrote really good songs,” he said. One recommendation he gave: Frank Sinatra’s “Mad About You”.
aron! described his writing process as deeply emotional, but often softened with humor. “I can’t be vulnerable too long without making a joke,” he said. “Maybe that’s a problem, but I like music that has layers.” He’s been reading Kurt Vonnegut recently, citing the author’s ability to mix wit with depth as a guiding influence. “Funny, but it points to something serious.”
Creative Flow and the Myth of Writer’s Block
When asked about writer’s block, aron! dismissed the idea gently, but firmly. “A teacher once told me that writer’s block is because you’re too lazy to push through,” he said. “It’s more of a mentality thing.” His process involves daily routines that keep him grounded—tea, journaling, walks in the park, and consuming media that comforts him.
aron! vs Sunny Side Up
aron!’s solo work is rooted in a cozy jazz aesthetic, while his side project Sunny Side Up brings a more indie band vibe. “There’s not a huge difference in how I write for each,” he said. “All the songs come from the same place—I just decide later which project they belong to.” Though the band’s members have since graduated and moved on, the spirit of collaboration remains central to his work.
Visual Storytelling and First Impressions
aron! also spoke about the visual components of the new project. “Usually someone hears the song and asks if I want to make a video. This time, I had a basic concept, and my director Erin flipped it completely. She suggested putting a table on wheels, and I was like—yeah, that’s it.” He said working on the visuals has started to influence his songwriting in return. “Now I’m thinking more visually while I write.”
As for the EP cover, he admitted he was hesitant. “I didn’t want to be on the cover at first. It felt weird. But people said, ‘It’s your first project. Let people see who you are.’”
The Role of School, and Learning to Say No
Reflecting on his time at the University of Miami, aron! spoke about growth—both creative and personal. “When I was younger, I thought I was too cool for school. But once I got to college, I got over that. I found my community there—friends making things, sharing ideas.”
One major takeaway: the power of saying no. “I used to say yes to everything. Then I hit junior year and realized I was burnt out. You can’t give your full attention to anything if you say yes to everything. That applies to songs too. Not every song has to do everything.”
Looking Ahead
aron! will celebrate the EP with a live show in Los Angeles on June 4, followed by a release party on June 6. “We’re flying my parents out for it. That part means a lot,” he said.
Asked about the future, aron! kept things grounded. “I don’t want to be boxed into any genre. I want to keep it real, keep it cozy. That’s the core of what I do.”
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