Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariana Molkara.
Hi Ariana, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I fell in love with the performing arts from a very young age. I actually consider myself very lucky to have found my passion so early in life and I have my parents to thank for that. They encouraged and supported me as I explored pretty much EVERYTHING: tennis, ice skating, gymnastics, and golf… but acting and music was what just stuck, what felt right. I was a little entertainer right out of the womb so my family claims, but I officially started my journey in entertainment doing musical theater at six years old.
I still remember the euphoric experience of being on stage for the first time. A few years later, I found that feeling extended to acting in film and television. It’s hard to explain, but something about acting and music has just always made me feel safe. Art has always been my cause of joy, my source of strength, and my method of healing. It has been my lifeline. I started doing short films around the age of eight and landed my first feature film called “Septembers of Shiraz” by auditioning for an open call when I was ten. I had the incredible experience of sharing the screen in my first major motion picture with Academy Award Winner Adrien Brody and Academy Award nominees Salma Hayek and Shohreh Aghdashloo. Septembers of Shiraz helped me break into the industry because subsequently, I signed with my theatrical agent and have been acting ever since.
I have been singing and songwriting for as long as I can remember. I have been doing classical voice training with the Royal Conservatory of Music for a decade, but when I write music, I write pop. Sometimes it’s alt-pop, sometimes it’s pop-rock or even a little more R&B. I officially started my career as an independent recording artist this year with my release of original music. I’m really excited to be opening this new chapter.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey has definitely been anything but smooth. I can tell you it’s been a bumpy ride with a whole lot of dead ends, road closures, and detours, but you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve learned so much through the trial and tribulation, and not only about the business or life, but about myself! You may have often heard that entertainment is an industry of rejection, which is true, but that’s a brief and rather vague description of the hardship commonly experienced by artists in the industry. I can of course only speak for myself however and personally, I’ve found it easy to feel like you’re not good enough. It’s easy to start doubting yourself and your abilities, but that’s a dangerous and toxic road to go down on. For any artists out there feeling like they’re not enough, I want to remind you that you are beautiful the way you are and I want to encourage you to keep going. There’s always room to grow of course, but don’t let anyone ever tell you that you need to change who you are. When there’s no straightforward path or rulebook to follow, it leaves you feeling lost and helpless. I did four failed pilots before getting my first pilot to series order. I was sent home my first day on a job because the project was running overtime and so my character was axed as a result. You never know what’s going to happen. There’s both horror and thrill in that. Ha!
There’s also the struggle for representation in the entertainment industry. As an American of Iranian descent, I have fought not only to be heard and seen but for how to be heard and seen. Despite pressure to change my last name, I’ve been adamant about keeping my surname as an artist. As I move further in my career, I want to do so as ME and I want to pave the way for other artists in the MENA community, hopefully making this industry more inclusive. I remember plenty of instances where I was asked where my last name was from in audition rooms and once I replied, I could feel an energy shift. Like I said, it’s not only about being portrayed but how we are portrayed. I am a Persian American girl who lives next door to someone, loves to sing and dance, falls in love, etc. so why shouldn’t I be given the space to portray those life experiences and tell those kinds of stories? I think we’ve come a long way, but there’s definitely still much change to be made.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an actress, singer-songwriter, and filmmaker. Most recently, I played a series regular role on Nickelodeon’s comedy series Warped! which aired early this year. I have also guest starred in Nickelodeon’s Nicky, Ricky, Dicky, and Dawn, Disney’s Andi Mack, CBS’s Code Black, and ABC’s Speechless.
I’m super excited to have just started releasing original music this year. I currently have three singles out, with many more on the way. My most recent one is called “Play Pretend.” You can find my music on all streaming platforms. I have a whole new appreciation for independent artists since I started my own journey as one. It is a lot of work and responsibility, but I’m enjoying it. I’m finding that the music world is a beast of its own, but as an independent artist, it has been nice being in control of my own artistry and development. At the moment, I would say I’m probably most proud of the music that I’ve been putting out because it has all been self-made. From the composition of the music and lyrics themself to the performance to the visualization of the music, I’ve developed it all from scratch. My music is my baby. I also feel like when I release these songs, I’m being the most vulnerable I’ve ever been and I’m proud of myself for having the courage to put my heart and soul out there in that way.
I think what sets me apart from others is my ability to wear so many different hats. I call myself a chameleon because like how a chameleon changes colors, I’m always shapeshifting into something else. Within the acting world, I absolutely love doing all different kinds of genres (drama, comedy, dramedy, sitcoms, musicals, etc.) and playing all different kinds of characters. With singing, I also love trying to incorporate elements of different styles of music in my own. I love writing music. I love to direct. I’m my own graphic designer. I love to do it all. I think what’s unique to me is also my grit and my drive. I don’t take no for an answer. Whenever a door closes, I find another opening to climb through and I think that’s what has gotten me this far. People will give you all sorts of stats about how slim the odds are of making it, but I do believe that passion, hard work, and persistence will put you where you want to be. I may not know where my road will take me, but I always choose to continue pursuing my passion and never falter in that pursuit.
What’s next?
Well, I’m very excited to study business at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania next year. My goal is to pursue entertainment business and one day be involved in the behind-the-scenes work of production companies, networks, and record labels, even hopefully start my own production company one day. I hope to also continue acting and singing. As much as it’s been a great learning experience being an independent artist, it would be a dream to sign with a major record label one day, make more music, and tour the world. I’ve also had the dream of being on Broadway since I was a little girl. As you can see, I have a lot of goals and aspirations, so here’s hoping I can achieve them all in this lifetime. haha
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm6112263?ref_=hm_nv_usr_prof
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arianamolkara/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arianamolkaraofficial/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/arianamolkara
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpwIrnq-cV-jaR3jvaXCzRA
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kBZPKigAm085sDRyebHmY?si=cCJAcRwlRCqY7kcHd-814g
Image Credits
Jonny Marlow, Nickelodeon, Pretty Witty Designs, Millennium Media
