Edwin Arzu
LA-based r&b artist Edwin Arzu released his latest single “Euphoria” on May 27th. With over 33K streams on Spotify, the record was written by Arzu and produced by R.I.P.
Directed by Ni x Ni, the visual highlights Arzu’s thoughts and emotions. “I love that it feels like a true emergence of all my emotions, a letter of letting go,” says Arzu.
The new single follows the debut single “Forbidden” released earlier this year.
With a promising early career, Edwin Arzu will be revealing his debut project Die To Live Again this Fall.
“Euphoria” is now available worldwide.
Photo credit: Crystal Cox
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
My story starts in a borough called The Bronx, I’m first generation Honduran American. Growing up my aunts and uncles always came around with instruments on Sundays and played their native drums & sang chants. But I didn’t find my love for music till I was in Junior High, for the longest I wanted to be a computer programer. It wasn’t till I started writing poems, that’s when I decided to start expressing myself in a different way.
What did you grow up listening to?
Growing up in a Spanish home I listened to an array of artist Julio Iglesias, Ciela Cruz, Gloria Estefan, Thalia, Selena, Juan Gabriel, Michael Jackson & Madonna. My Mom’s favorites.
When did you start writing songs? What made you want to write in the first place?
I first started writing poems when I was in 8th grade, just something to pass the time, having cousins who were in a Honduran Garifuna band, I always looked up to him and wanted to make music myself. So when I graduated and went to High School I started to switch all off my poems into songs. A process I still go through; music feels like one big poem.
What gave you the confidence to be an artist and release your original music?
Took a while for me to build my confidence, I started writing for others for a long time, until I finally found my voice, looked at my life & I felt what I was writing for others wasn’t being expressed the right way, only person who can tell my story or express my sentiments is myself.
Who was the first person to ever believe in you?
The first person to ever believe in me was my best friend Eric, he was the only one at 17 that had his own apartment & he got recording equipment and I stayed at his place every weekend writing and recording.
How would you define Edwin Arzu, the artist?
I would say I’m very expressive, colorful, emotional, i’m big about self. I wanna say the right things that’ll evoke thought and emotion, especially when it comes to life and happiness, there’s a message in that.
"Euphoria" is your latest single - what's the story/inspiration behind this song?
The day I wrote Euphoria, I was going through a roller coaster of emotions, sometimes I go for walks and think too much & at that time I was thinking about how I was never truly in the moment of my relationships, sometimes I looked to far ahead & don’t enjoy the moment. Remembering when someone told me “ I like you cause you make me happy, but I liked you more before the madness”, reminding myself to enjoy what brought moment together.
What can you tell us about the music video?
The visual is Directed by my best friend Niion and Nitz, it finds me in a place of freeing myself, wanting to hold on & spotlighting my thoughts and emotions.
What's the hardest part about being an artist? And what is the best part?
I don’t really think there’s a hard part, I look at being an artist and being a human as one in the same. Sometimes we go through our insecurities, days we want to be left alone, being hard on ourselves and more. Connection, sometimes I think “hey someone is going to feel this”, emotions are universal, that's the best part.
What does music make you feel?
Music feels like one of the art forms where you can cry and smile at the same time & place you can be free and yourself, I think that’s why we always go listen to our favorite songs, they make us feel something.
Any upcoming project?
Finally after over thinking for 2 years, my project Die To Live Again, will be coming late Fall.
How did your life change since your move to Los Angeles?
A lot has changed. In The Bronx I was safe, having my mom there I had my safe net. But living in LA with no family members (until now) matured me as a person, all the lessons my mom taught me growing up finally stuck. All the growing up I needed to do I was able to do here, changed me as a person, therefore changed me as an artist.
What biggest life lesson have you learned so far?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that, we all have our own voice and no one needs to be spoken for, people can speak for themselves. I’m big on helping people, but sometimes people need their own light.
What advice would you give to younger generations?
There’s nothing wrong with being wrong sometimes, that’s where we learn our lessons.
What are your thoughts on today's global situation and on the Black Lives Matter movement?
Things are being handled poorly & many lives are dying, I have friends in other countries that are handling things way better and I feel we should look at our neighbors and figure a way, we can ensure the lives of the people will be safe. We can’t just think of ourselves.
When it comes to Black Lives Matter, this is an ongoing battle we’ve been facing for decades, generations & centuries. The lives we’ve lost are brothers, sisters, moms and dads; I just want people to sit with themselves and think, how would I want to be treated & respected. Too many lives gone & not a lot of people are being brought to justice. We need justice and we need change.
What message do you want to give to the world?
In a world of madness, we’re the only light we can bring into this world, be yourself and add more color to it.
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