Today we’d like to introduce you to Ari Fulco.
Hi Ari, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Arian, but my friends call me Ari or AJ. I’m a 3D artist, passionate about cinematography, environment art, animation, and programming. I’m also a music producer who jams under the stage name Falconite! I’m incredibly grateful to be here, and I’m super excited for what the future holds.
To be honest, visual arts didn’t captivate me as a child. My drawing skills left much to be desired, and I lacked the patience for daily practice. However, I did enjoy painting and sculpting whenever the opportunity arose in school, but again, I didn’t invest enough time. My childhood was filled with musical instrument obsessions, beginning with the violin in 2nd grade, followed by the piano and flute in 4th grade. Though I loved music, I struggled to discipline myself to learn, often preferring video games or hanging out with friends.
Looking back, I can now see the little seeds that eventually sprouted into my interests today. I fondly remember using Pivot Animator, a flash game that allowed users to animate pre-rigged stick figures, animals, and props frame by frame. My friend Vincent and I would spend hours creating hilarious little animations, having the time of our lives!
Around the same period, my 10-year-old self discovered a new music genre that blew my mind: trance. This introduction to electronic music opened a whole new world of artists and sounds for me. I began to explore different trance artists from the early 2000s, which helped me understand the concept of music genres. Soon enough, I dove headfirst into the vast ocean of electronic music, discovering legends like Deadmau5, Daft Punk, The Crookers, and countless others that I can’t even recall. I grew up in the era of Limewire and the ever-looming threat of computer viruses – good times! Special shout out to Armin van Buuren, Kaskade, Dash Berlin, Daft Punk, and Deadmau5, who I consider my sonic heroes. These incredible artists have profoundly influenced my music creation and general interests.
Throughout my journey to where I am today, I’ve embraced learning with open arms. A curious soul by nature, I’m most intrigued by the world when I’m behind a computer. It’s a side effect of growing up glued to the screen! I attended multiple institutions, such as Cal State Northridge and Santa Monica College, exploring various subjects related to game design, animation, and programming. As an artist, I now try to use my extensive knowledge of these diverse subjects and weave them together into a harmonious tapestry.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Eventually, life took an unexpected turn and flipped everything upside down. My mom informed me that my stepdad, Gary, had been diagnosed with cancer and would be fighting an uphill battle in the years to come. Gary was a remarkable inspiration and role model to me, being an aerospace engineer, gamer, and all-around amazing person. He ignited my interest in computers, coding, electrical and mechanical engineering, and above all, maintaining a curious mind. My mom, a creative and loving individual, instilled kindness and compassion in me. Both of them significantly influenced my character and interests.
Tragically, my mom, who struggled with alcohol and cigarette addiction, passed away suddenly when I was 14. My dad followed shortly after, leaving me alone for a brief period. Thankfully, my granddad Armand Fulco, a UCLA Biochemistry Professor, took me in and tried to provide a sense of normalcy. He was incredibly intelligent and humorous, and I cherished my time with him. My aunts, Suzanne and Linda, were also there for me during this tumultuous time, and I grew closer to that side of my family.
Unfortunately, my grandfather developed Alzheimer’s during my early high school years. I took care of him throughout those years, which proved to be incredibly challenging. It was the darkest time of my life. Sleep was scarce, as he often needed help or company. Watching him go through that experience was heartbreaking, reminding me of taking care of my mom when I was younger. Being a caregiver from a young age has instilled patience in me and a desire to surround myself with love and positivity.
Having gone through immense pain and witnessing loved ones suffer and pass away has taught me the value of expressing love and appreciation while we can. It’s crucial to let people know how much they mean to us now, not later, and to cherish the love and care that we receive from others. My Aunt Suzanne has helped guide me a lot and she has been the person that’s kept me sane and making smart moves. I’m grateful to her and for her guidance and for taking me with her on her adventures so I could see the world. She helped make some of the most special memories in my life. Shout out to Sunray aka the Human Blue Jacket – hey auntie! (Only she’ll get that one.)
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I absolutely adore the works of director Edgar Wright, particularly his movies Baby Driver and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. The way he emphasizes music’s role in driving the on-screen action has always resonated with me. This approach heavily inspires my own productions, as I love giving music a front-row seat in animated creations. While it’s not always the case, it’s something I strive to make a signature element of my animations.
At the moment, I’m enthusiastically chasing two dreams. First, I’ve been producing music and have built a wonderful, supportive fan base on Instagram. I’m constantly getting kind messages and rarely encounter negativity. I’m grateful for the amazing people who listen to my music and appreciate the warmth of their comments. My goal is to play at major festivals like EDC, Rezz Rocks, and Hard Summer – I’m a festival fanatic! I adore attending music fests when I’m not working myself into sleep-deprived madness!
I also make animations over at youtube.com/falconite and a lot of times my work lets the music take the front seat much like Edgar Wrights work. Please check it out if you ever need some tunes or are curious! My second dream is the creation of an animated sci-fi series. I’m eager to share this captivating story that unfolds over the course of five episodes and beyond. I hope maybe one day I could get a production company to pick up this idea and produce the story at length instead of the shorter more focused episodic way I am approaching it. A teaser and the first shot for it is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6JmclBHfHE
What were you like growing up?
I was certainly the class clown, always trying to make people laugh and smile. Perhaps it was my way of coping with the difficulties I faced at home, as it’s common for people to mask trauma with humor. I was constantly making new friends and loved being the reason someone laughed. As a computer nerd, I enjoyed playing games, reading fantasy books, and having sword fights with my friend Vincent in the front yard. Growing up, I played a lot of World of Warcraft, and the cinematics in Blizzard games inspired me. Although I didn’t know how 3D animation was made, I started feeling the urge to create it during my early teens.
For the most part, I tried to maintain peace and avoid trouble. However, things changed after my parents passed away, and I became more withdrawn. I had been a theater kid until their deaths when I moved from Arcadia to West Los Angeles to live with my grandpa. It was a whole new experience, having to make friends from scratch in a new place. As a result, my personality changed, and I developed a deeper emotional capacity compared to my peers. This emotional maturity led me to feel isolated and drove me to seek solace online, particularly in World of Warcraft.
I made some of my best friends online, like John, the guildmaster of my old raiding guild from 2007-2012. He became one of my closest friends, and I felt most comfortable hanging out with him and others online after my parents died. Also, during this time, I started showing interest in dating. I had several girlfriends in high school, but I eventually preferred being alone. This preference for solitude is a defining characteristic that has stayed with me to this day. I like being in my own world, and I think I always have.
Contact Info:
- Website: ajfalcon.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/falconitemusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Falconite
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/falconitemusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6L8Rxwpf9ExHUVwpqpYyZe?si=CMc2ZQEfSz6MsSlF1wFh0w
