Meet Aria Summer Wallace

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aria Summer Wallace and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aria Summer, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’m one of those lucky people that has always known exactly what I wanted to do. I was singing before I could speak full sentences and I was begging my mom to put me in acting classes at five years old. Performing and creative arts have always ignited something special inside me that’s impossible to describe and I’ve gripped pretty tightly to that my entire life. For that reason the work I do, even in the most unglamorous of moments, has never felt like a job and I’m simply grateful to have the opportunity to explore my art in new ways every day. I’m someone who views passion as not only a quality we possess or an emotion we feel, but an unignorable driving force. So when something calls to us that makes our souls feel alive, it’s up to us to listen and follow that intuitively with the fire in our hearts. In that sense, I don’t view the career path I’ve chosen as optional – I feel it’s what I came here for.

In addition to that, I personally believe that creating something – anything and sharing it with others is one of the most beautiful forms of connection we are offered in this lifetime. Pursuing a career in the creative arts means that I get to convey elements of the human experience to others and have the honor of potentially building a bond between myself and that audience who may hear or see what I have to say and they either feel something, relate to it, or both which is well…in my opinion, pretty profound. Because ultimately we’re all far more connected while floating out here on this big rock than we realize. And at the end of the day, we just want to feel seen, heard and understood while trying our best, moment to moment, to comprehend this existence. If I can facilitate a tightening of that thread between us in even the smallest of ways, I feel I may be making a difference somehow.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
When I was two years old, I told my mom word for word that I wanted to be a superstar. Kids have wild imaginations and say crazy things but I never stopped dreaming that big. It didn’t take very long for her to realize that I meant it. From that age on, I was constantly performing in some way. Whether it was memorizing lines from movies and acting out scenes or singing songs and playing instruments for family and friends, I always had to be putting on a show. I’m blessed to have had such a supportive family who ultimately believed in how much I loved it so much that by the time I was five, we had moved from Georgia to Los Angeles and I had worked my way into a full time acting career in film and television. Performances in the living room eventually became training in acting classes, auditions almost every day and creating various fun characters on set. I was also training up my voice in vocal lessons and learning how to read music, play piano and guitar as well as write songs. At one point I got to combine both of my passions and sing for some of the film projects, which meant I was in the recording studio by the age of nine for the production of the accompanying soundtracks.

After about a 10 year run in LA, we moved to Nashville, Tennessee where I took a break from the acting world and my family could live a quieter life. I fell in love with making music and I was collaborating with other artists, writing songs almost every day and playing shows as often as I could. Those collaborators and I eventually wrote and recorded my first album that we wrapped up when I was 16, right after I graduated high school. That album was so much of my heart, but one of the lessons that came with being a creative at such a young age was the realization that though the style I had chosen helped shape me artistically, it ultimately no longer resonated with the honesty I wanted to bring to my songs. I had outgrown that sound in a lot of ways by the time the album was finished, which was hard to come to terms with. I spent a lot of time soul-searching and trying to dig for the place my music would live that truly felt like me and reframing my perspective towards not viewing that record as a waste of time but more-so as a stepping stone towards my artistry that would be the most truthful. Fast forward to the present – my insanely talented musical partner Keagan Semon and I, are in the process of writing an album that truly feels like the most authentic music I’ve ever made. The style is a spicy fusion of R&B soul mixed with elements of jazz, blues, funk and disco. Our sound is very organic and the things we have to say within the stories we share are raw and refreshing. I am genuinely proud of what we’re creating and I am so excited to share it with you all when it’s ready for the world to hear.

I also still act! My time acting in Colorado has facilitated some of the work I can say I am the most proud of and a lot of that has been in the theater as well as working with independent writers who have trusted me with the telling of their incredibly impactful narratives. One of those opportunities was playing Kate Bender in “Hell at High Noon” – a fantastic indie western short film written and directed by Jerrod Briggs, which is currently in post-production, so stay tuned! Another was portraying the lead role of Amy in the regional premiere of Ruby Rae Spiegel’s beautiful play “Dry Land” at Benchmark Theatre directed by Abby Apple Boes. Breathing life into both of these characters made for unforgettable experiences that taught me endlessly about what it means to experience deep empathy through my art which is a cornerstone for me. I’ve also started screenwriting! I’m currently working on a super fun comedy series with my best friend and co-writer, Karen Gonzalez Aguilar. She is an amazing performing artist as well as a wonderful human being that I feel deeply inspired by and lucky to know. I’m so grateful to get the pleasure of working with her on this project and I’m excited to see where it takes us!

Looking back on my life thus far feels wildly surreal sometimes. I can’t believe some of the things I’ve had the opportunity to do and I am overwhelmed with thankfulness. Have there been challenges? Oh man.. have there. I think any artistic path comes with its fair share of challenges but I also think how we overcome those challenges and choose to move forward only enhances our experience as artists in the long run. A fuel to the flame if you will. In the pursuit of both of my passions I have almost given up at one point or another many many times and had to pull myself out of hundreds of spiraling rabbit holes thinking I’m just not good enough. It’s important to trust in divine timing and remember that we are always evolving. I firmly believe a strong support system coupled with an effort to keep a faith in yourself that remains constant no matter how much you grow and change is what makes you successful. If you have a dream, there is nothing that can stop it but you.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would split our time between the city and the mountains for sure. We’re just so lucky to have such easy access to both here in Denver!

First and foremost, I would do my very best to take them to a concert at Red Rocks. There’s truly nothing like seeing live music at that venue. It’s one of a kind! Speaking of hiking, I’d make sure to get em’ out onto some of Colorado’s magical terrain. If we’re looking for something short and don’t have an entire day, St. Mary’s Glacier is one of my favorites. For a longer experience, I’d take them to Dream Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Perhaps even a day of snowboarding if it’s winter and they’re feeling up for it! Winter Park is my favorite resort to ride. We could stop in Idaho Springs on the way back and grab some Beau Jo’s famous mountain pies.

As for city things, Meow Wolf is such a blast! A unique museum of collaborative art installations and I enjoy it every time I go. We’re absolutely grabbing a yummy cocktail at Honey Elixir in the RiNo art district and exploring the gorgeous street murals. While we’re in that area, we’ll hit the dance floor at Beacon and maybe head over to Embassy for some karaoke. At some point I’ll take them for a delicious brunch at Root Down. They simply NEED to experience a late night espresso martini and grilled cheese from Pony Up. And they absolutely HAVE to try the tacos at McDevitt Taco Supply. I’ve done some work with their catering team for a few years so I may be biased…BUT, it’s my favorite and they make the best vegan taco you will ever eat, no contest. Maybe we catch another show at one of Denver’s other iconic venues like Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom or Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox before they leave. Lastly, I feel I can’t let them be on their way without a walk through Cheesman Park on a sunny day!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There is not a single thing I’ve accomplished throughout my journey that would have been or would continue to be even remotely possible without the endless list of family members, friends, mentors, coaches, agents, directors, producers, collaborators, and any other someone that’s chosen to believe in me and what I do. To each and every single one of them, I am grateful beyond words and I’m not sure they will ever know how much it means to me to have had their support and their guidance over the years. The entertainment industry is wildly challenging at times and my tribe has been such a strong source of encouragement that tenaciously pushes me to persevere. They have shaped the artist I have been and the artist I am striving to become and for that, a simple thank you hardly feels like enough.

With that being said, I can’t imagine I would be doing any of this at all without one person in particular. My special shoutout, without a shadow of a doubt, goes to my mom. From the very beginning she has always, and I mean always, ensured that my dreams are not only pursued, but celebrated and lifted up as enthusiastically and as often as possible. She will always be my biggest fan and I owe so much of any success I’ve had or will ever have to her unfailing love and support. Momma – you are my sunshine. I love you.

Website: www.ariasummerwallace.com – under construction and COMING SOON!

Instagram: @ariasummer

Facebook: facebook.com/ariasummer

Youtube: @therealariawallace – under construction!

Other: imdb.com/name/nm1502522/

Image Credits
Risa Scott, Michael Ensminger, Kevin Snyder, Shawna Carter, Amy Taylor, Alexandra Sosa, Kimberley Pember