A With The Autumn Leaves Contest Promotion Winner, Arianna Pappas

"Seasons" 
Written by Arianna Pappas, Joseph Wandass IV and Julia Morey
Interview by American Songwriter

Arianna Pappas: I started writing lyrics and melodies when I was a young girl. I began combining the two in high school as I was learning to play guitar.

Julia Morey: I wrote my first song when I was in 8th grade (about a decade ago!) ⁘ right after I got a keyboard piano for my birthday ⁘ the same one I use to this day!

AP: This song cycles through the "seasons", pairing heartbreak lyrics with a delicate and dreamy melody. Every time I listen to it, I can see the fall colors changing and fading. I think it perfectly represents what two people can go through in a relationship.

AP: I originally started writing "Seasons" for a school project a couple years ago. My professor provided us with an instrumental track as a launchpad, and I ran with it. The chords and arrangement immediately made me think of being forced to let go of someone. I received great feedback at the time, but the song was unfinished. Three months later, I worked on it with Julia for a bit, then brought Joe in on the collaboration. She has a masterful way with words, and he has strong ideas and demo-making abilities. We wound up with a piece of art that we are all proud of.

AP: My favorite songwriters include Jessi Alexander, Hillary Lindsey, and Paul McCartney. What I love about Jessi and Hillary is that they both have an incredible knack for storytelling and delivering a powerful message in a fresh way. Being a fairly new Beatles fan, Paul's intricate melodies and complex ideas always captivated me as a listener.

JM: I have so many! Nicolle Galyon is one of my favorites for sure. I'm constantly inspired by her unique and emotional way of storytelling. Amy Allen ⁘ because of course! Pop-writing queen! I'm also a huge fan of Zach Bryan, Lauren Hungate, Julia Michaels, Lauren Watkins, and Lori McKenna.

AP: Just go for it. Take every opportunity you can. You never know when something will pop. I certainly didn't!

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