Aria

Choosing a pink suit over a prom dress and an open mind over assumptions, 23-year-old Aria Narang will be known for their inclusivity and civility as much as their songwriting and storytelling. Aria is a queer, trans, non-binary singer/songwriter whose work embodies authenticity, emotion, and connection.

The child of Indian parents (half Bengali and half Punjabi), Aria started playing violin at age four and picked up the guitar at thirteen. Though classically trained on violin, they stretch out on stage and in the studio with improvisational vocals and intelligent yet relatable lyrics.

In 2018, Aria made it to the Top 500 out of 30,000 contestants on American Idol, as well as through several rounds of auditions for The Voice. They now perform all over the NYC area doing Sofar Sound shows and gigs in the DMV area as well.

Their debut album Confession, produced by Bryan Ray and available on all streaming services, explores themes of queerness, love, and anxiety. Their most recent singles include “Ink,” “You, you”, “Between the Lines,” and “Crickets.” produced by Daniel Berger, captures the intimate and all-powerful feeling of queer love and heart break. 

With a degree in Information Science and Social Justice from Barnard College of Columbia University, Aria is currently pursuing a master’s in Quantitative Methods of Social Sciences at Columbia University. While their academic journey bridges data and justice, their deepest passion lies in songwriting and performing — using music to speak about queer love, navigating gender, and trying to do good in a difficult world.