AAries: Soon Come

For several years the soulful sibling duo AAries has been generating a well-deserved buzz with their music, both domestically and internationally. These two women possess a vocal prowess that can soften the most emotionally hardened woman or man, young or old. Soon the world will be able to hear the heights of their joys and the depths of their pains on their album debuting on Sony Music/Home Cookin’ Productions.

If you’re sitting there comfortably occupying the “late pass lane”, still quite dubious about whom they are, allow me to help jog your cerebral synapses right quick. AAries (Ayinke and Ayana Hipps) are the vocalists that were featured on Musiq Soulchild’s debut album lead single “Girl Next Door” and have also lent their talents to a few of Musiq’s other recordings such as “forthenight” and “Settle For My Love”. The ladies met “Mr. West Philly” via their shared management team (Mama’s Boys Music) while Ayinke was honing her skills as a writer for Jazzy Jeff’s acclaimed Touch of Jazz Studios. Upon making weekend trip after weekend trip to Philly, they befriended Musiq. It didn’t take long before their friendship evolved into a working relationship and folks began to notice the duo’s skills behind the microphone. Working with one of today’s leading vocalists has helped to place them in another realm and Ayinke states that working with him has taught them “to not take things so seriously, to always go with it and complete the song. At the end of the day you can see if you like it, but just complete it.”

Born and raised in Alexandria, VA, the sisters were reared in the church choir and warmly recall the days as babies when their father would play jazz music while they slept. Their household was never short on the flow of creative juices, so the little ladies that grew up singing Lionel Richie songs around the house with their father never lacked in inspiration. Citing both Ella Fitzgerald and Diana Ross as women that they admire and respect for their vocal abilities, tenacity and style, it is quite evident that AAries seeks a certain uniqueness, defining themselves in a way that will set them apart from the status quo, yet still encompassing that cool, “around the way” aura that people will anxiously gravitate towards.

With their schedules on full tilt these days, the current Philadelphia residents are working nonstop on their yet-to-be titled Sony Music/Home Cookin’ Productions debut. When asked if being siblings sometimes makes it tougher to decide on the creative decisions, they offer a resounding “yes, yes, yes!” However, they were able to decide on other important creative decisions when putting this album together, namely who will help them craft their sonic opus. Upon hearing details of who they have been working with in creating this album, any music fan’s interest level is sure to pique. Listeners might be treated to a heaping plate of soulful sounds from producers such as Karma (Musiq’s “Just Friends”, “Love”), The Lab Rats (Musiq’s “Buddy”), Scyience (Jay-Z’s “Hollywood”), Kwamé (Lloyd Banks’ “On Fire”, Tweet’s “Turn Off The Lights”) and several others.

A stellar cast of supporting players such as these may call for some added pressure from both the “suits and the sneaks”, yet fortunately for them they haven’t been victimized by that industry squeeze. They have had a great part in determining what they want to create, how they want to create it and who they want to create it with due to the Sony Music/Home Cookin’ co-venture. As new artists with a debut album that is more than just a “good look.” Ever so graciously, Ayana notes that they “can’t forget the people that who were the leaders of this, Ampora and KP (Kawan Prather, Executive VP, A&R, Sony Music). They signed us, brought us on to the team and they understood who we were. We appreciate that and can’t complain. They brought us [producers like] Kwamé and Scyience to us. We have to give props to those people and thank them for that.”

AAries has been given a lane to create comfortably and with that, they are now about drop a full-length disc in a marketplace that is inundated with users that focus on downloading as their primary way to access music. These days, everyone (including this journalist) wants to know what makes an artist’s music worth MSRP, when we can simply have a friend e-mail it to us for “free ninety-nine.” Let Ayinke tell it and the fans have a great reason to go to the store and cop the music because AAries has “created something that the people will hear and consider a breath of fresh air and have made something that is so personal. I’m not going for the [idea that] we gotta make something like ‘this’ or like ‘that’. We made something personal, straight up. Hopefully it will resonate and people will go and buy it.” Similarly, Ayana believes that “people will always download music and videos [in today’s marketplace]. I hope that our personalities, stories, style and our hearts will endear the fans enough to go out and buy the music as well.”

If you know like most of the world knows, these women not only possess sultry singing voices, but they know how to finesse fashion as well. You might catch them in something simple like a Leroy Jenkins hoodie, white tank-top tee, jeans, and some Dunks. Then again, you may see them do a complete 180 and represent the urban sophisticate look and not miss the rhythm of a 4/4 drum pattern. The self proclaimed seamstresses always keep their eyes on styles that reflect themselves. In regards to design as Ayana so coolly puts it, “When you see us out we may be rockin’ a pair of jeans that we made and a handbag that we designed. It’s definitely an aspiration [of ours] so when we do it, we make sure that we do it right.” The creativity these ladies possess sees no end. In conjunction with creating music, they also design a line of handbags under the moniker YinkaYana. The bags have been sold in boutiques in Philadelphia, garnering much acclaim and once they complete their debut album they will focus on developing a second season of handbags.

As if they haven’t won you over already with their past collaborations with Musiq, the YinkaYana line of handbags, and their fashion forward sense of style, when asked where they see themselves in five years, Ayana jokingly says “counting my millions!” She’s quick to stress that “It is not about the money. It’s about making sure I can get my mother whatever she wants and seeing that smile on her face. It’s about making sure that my kids can go to the universities that they choose to. It’s about being able to travel and seeing the world; broadening my horizons as well as broadening other’s horizons as well.” The ladies of AAries are passionate about uplifting culture and would like to eventually open community centers in Philly, Virginia and Florida, ultimately supporting children’s interest in art, science, or whatever constructively holds their attention. They recognize the blessings that being musicians can bring forth and with that comes great responsibilities. There is no doubt that they will elevate their gift to affect change throughout the world, be it through music, fashion or philanthropy. The charming ladies of AAries are thankful for the opportunities that they have been granted and are destined to leave an indelible impression on the ears and hearts of many for years to come. How do I know? I don’t. It’s written in the stars.