Nicole Ariana makes her return to music with a neo soul-inspired single. "Return to Sender" marks the singer-songwriter's first single since her 2022 debut album, Crybaby. In the years between releases, the Billboard, RIAA-certified songwriter manages to pick up where she left off in 2022. Her blend of soul, pop, and R&B cuts through the mundane of today's music and shines through on "Return to Sender."
For many, expecting the sounds of Crybaby, Ariana says "Return to Sender" is about the healing.
"CRYBABY was all about heartbreak and dark nights trying to heal from it, "Return to Sender" is about confronting the dark nights, and truly healing, not just from typical love heartbreak, but the kind that some of us carry from childhood and try to push down, by self-medicating and being the life of the party, hiding behind a smile, drink in hand."
Ariana is releasing her solo version of "Return to Sender," which started as a duo with Noah Malcom. The result is a return to form while ushering in a musical rebirth for her career. The single is soothing in its approach while harboring themes of self-doubt, healing, and burnout.
For Ariana, "Return to Sender" is much more than her return to music.
“Return to Sender is a confession — a love letter to the version of me that got lost along the way,” Ariana explains. “I spent years building my career while inadvertently holding myself back. On paper, I was winning — awards, a Billboard #1, writing trips in LA and Nashville, performances in the UK, Sweden, and Estonia — but inside I felt like a fraud, waiting to be exposed. This song was written when I finally stopped running from myself.”
"Return to Sender" gives listeners a glimpse into the next chapter of Ariana's career. Alongside a cinematic music video, "Return to Sender" is a raw emotional single for an artist looking to get back to her roots. With her first single under her belt, there's no telling what's on the horizon for Nicole Ariana.
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Photo Credit: Meghan Tansey Whitton
