Arica Long
Bedford, Pennsylvania, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Arica Long grew up in Schellsburg, spending summers in Rainsburg and Cessna, became a military police officer in the U.S. Army and now is following her dream of singing country music. Long is releasing her first album, titled "Dare 2 B Different" on Sept. 24 and celebrating with a release party at Bad Boyz bistro in Bedford from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Long graduated from Chestnut Ridge High School and spent a year studying videography at Pittsburgh Technical Institute before she joined the Army. "I just knew I wanted to be an MP for some reason," she said. "When I walked into the recruiter's office and said I want to be an MP, he asked, 'Don't you want to even look at other jobs?' I said, "No, I want to be an MP." Long was stationed in Korea during her three years in the military. It was there that she was wounded. She was refused re-entry into the military and was honorably discharged in 2002. "After that, she decided it was time to pursue her dream," her manager, Kate said The two met in Pittsburgh in 2009, after Long played a demo. In November of that year, they traveled to Nashville, Tenn., to record an album, and after four days, Long had her first paying gig in a city that is usually pat-to-play. Based on love,loss and the joy of a country lifestyle, the "Dare 2 B Different" shows Long's sassy side with songs like"Second to None" and the album's single "Weapon of Mass Seduction." She also tries to portray her softer, sweeter side with "Goodbye" and 'PS I Love You," a ballad about the love letters her late grandfather sent to her grandmother while he was away, serving in the armed forces. As a singer and songwriter, Long said, "I have loved all types of music my whole life." Country music most influenced her through her mom, and Long said, " I remember listening to George Strait's 'Right or Wrong' when I was little trying ti sing all the words." As A recording artist, Long now covers "one of my all time favorite songs when I was growing up": "Fishing in the Dark" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. - Bedford Gazette
Discography
Album: Dare 2B Different
Single: Weapon of Mass Seduction
Photos
Bio
Singer/Songwriter Arica Long is best described in her lyric's "You know I'm sweet A little sassy A little Wild but always classy I'm a little bit of everything All rolled into one and you can bet your ass I'm second to none!!" From a small town prom queen to a military police officer in the US Army, and now as a rising country star Arica has always taken center stage.
Arica's debut Album "Dare 2 B Different" is a collection of songs based on love, loss, and the joy of a simple country life style. She proudly shows off her sassy side with up beat cuts like “Second to None ” an almost humorous autobiography, “Country to the Bone” reminds us of the joys of a simple country life style and the albums first single “Weapon of Mass Seduction” a heavy hitting rock driven track that will leave the fans wanting more.
Arica also shows her fans the endearing sweet side that her friends and family know and love so much in songs such as “Goodbye” the heart felt personal account of the pain a soldier endures before leaving on a deployment and “PS I Love You” an emotionally driven deeply personal ballad about the love letters her late grandfather sent her grandmother while he was away serving his country. Arica hopes showing this softer side will allow her fans to connect with her on a more personal level.
Dare 2 B Different is a labor of love, a songwriters attempt to share her joy and pain with the world through her love of country music. More than that “Dare 2 B Different” is not just an album title but also the motto Arica has lived her life by. From triumphs to failures Arica has always pushed the envelope never taking the path of least resistance. She hopes as she starts on her new journey into the world of country music this motto will not only set her apart from the rest but also inspire her fans to take a chance on themselves and follow their dreams.
Links
