Years ago I recognized the need to create a brand for my artistry. Everyone in the industry has one, and so it felt as though the smartest thing to do was to pick a brand that would have the greatest longevity for my personality. I factored in things like happiness, my interests, and the sustainability of a persona. In the end, I couldn’t find anything except authenticity.
I committed to speaking my truth as I knew to be at any given time. I committed to being myself. I committed to making music and art that was in my heart and soul to create. And, I have never second guessed that decision.
For all you The Queen’s Gambit & chess fans out there, Chess Moves was created out of a love for chess and a distaste for my opponent. It’s about the game within the game and the rules of the game itself which all must abide. The chess metaphor was particularly fitting for the relationship described in the song and can be applied liberally to many different scenarios.
What I think I love most about this song, is my creativity. I tell a story, interwoven through a deep metaphor of a game that I have loved since I was a child. It is also a game that I discussed in depth comparing football players to chess pieces with my ex who is the subject of this song. I drop multiple languages throughout, and take risks while creating what to me is a sonically beautiful piece.
Every now and then a song hits me differently as its creator. I can often remember the different stages of the recording process, whether it be the table I was sitting at when I started writing by hand, when I was deciding on the artwork with my engineer in the studio, and after I finally pressed that “upload” button on SoundCloud. I have a deep love affair with all stages of the process.
The moves you make should reflect where you want to be in 5, 10, 15 years or more. I made the move to choose authenticity as my brand years ago, before I had ever even step foot into a studio. Listening to my latest work, all I can say is Thank You to my past self for choosing me.
Checkmate.
arielle london 
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