Morgana O’Reilly’s directing debut with ARIA’s track Unravel is a provocative masterpiece where the duo’s prior years in the arts is unmistakable. Friends since they were 13, this is also the work of two professionals stepping into new realms with a wealth of experience to boot
The artists tackle a dual lens of masculinity and femininity. O’Reilly has ARIA playing five archetypal men and one hyper-sexualised female. She holds them close, with a mixture of admonishment and compassion. ARIA seamlessly shifts from character to character, costume and makeup impeccable. By the end of the clip she has fully unravelled.
Unravel is a hauntingly personal track, born out of a desire for connection and trust. ARIA’s classically trained, ethereal and melancholic vocals weave a soulful melody, soaring above a swell of strings, deep bass and grimy snare. ARIA co-produced the track with longtime friend and collaborator Abraham Kunin (The Dalai Lama, Teeks, Home Brew, Freddy Reynold, Phodiso, Rush Wepiha). Kunin’s producer chops are clearly at play when the captivating hook of Unravel takes flight; a plea for connection and trust, it sways with a hopeful lilt.
ARIA fostered her talent for singing, dancing and performing since a young age. She honed her super powers by adapting and diversifying, whether it was writing and recording the anthem ‘Friday’, in the shack with Homebrew, belting top Cs in the Festival Garden for Dr Colossus, crooning BVs for Teeks on RNZ, or laying down vocals for Noah Slee at Red Bull studios, Berlin, ARIA has lapped it all up, slowly harvesting her experiences to build her own juicy, tapestry. After her years in Berlin, ARIA is excited to be home and channelling the eclectic, artistic influences she has into this personal and vulnerable work.
Prior to O’Reilly’s directing debut she has been an actress and creator across film, television and theatre. In 2020 she starred in Prime TVs INSiDE, season 2 of Mean Mums and Neon’s The Sounds. She’s best known for her roles in Kiwi film Housebound, Aussie soap Neighbours, NZ comedy series and many theatre productions. As a creator, her one-woman show The Height of the Eiffel Tower toured festivals such as Edinburgh and New York fringe.
In a world where societal pressure means that masculine bravado is held high, Unravel is a call to cherish vulnerability and cultivate compassion for each other. It’s a story of fighting for vulnerability, empathy and strength.