Published
Wed, Sep 21, 2022, 14:10
- It's out October 21st through Local Action.
Ariel Zetina has announced her debut album, Cyclorama.
Arriving October 21st via Local Action, the LP draws inspiration from Zetina's background as a theatre writer and producer. The album cover, designed by Dylan Bragassa, features Zetina alongside album collaborators Cae Monāe and Mia Arevalo in an imagined theater production.
"I imagine all the tracks on this as the lights and action projected onto the cyclorama," Zetina said. "The whole album is like the cyc, a representation of the sky. Or an imagined sky. An imagined dance floor. An imagined theatrical production."
Spanning nine club-ready tracks, Cyclorama includes collaborations with Bored Lord and Violet, as well as her peers in the Chicago club scene: Monāe, Arevalo and DANNN.
In addition to the theatre, Cyclorama also draws heavily on Zetina's personal experience as a trans woman of colour. On the first single, "Have You Ever," which features Monāe, Zetina said "Cae and I—and many trans women–have been in so many situations where society tells cis men they cannot be with trans women and this explores that and gives power to all trans women in this situation."
"Gemstone," which features Arevalo, "is a call for trans women to take time with [their] transition because it will all happen eventually," Zetina added. "As two girls who have started our transition almost a decade ago, I think we have both seen that we have always needed to take our time. Reminders not to rush or compare yourself to other girls. I've been so many different women in recent years, and I'm excited to continue my journey."
Listen to "Have You Ever" featuring Cae Monāe.
Tracklist
01. Cyclorama
02. Have You Ever feat. Cae Monāe
03. Smooch Track with DANNN
04. Chasers
05. Birdflite Tonite with Violet
06. Slab of Meat
07. Smoke Machine with Bored Lord
08. Gemstone feat. Mia Arevalo
09. Tropical Depression
Local Action will release Cyclorama on October 21st, 2022.