ARIA - Wishing Well

ARIA - WISHING WELL

Aria, a New-York based singer songwriter, released their latest single Wishing Well. It is a thoughtful folk-pop track that showcases the simple, yet deeply emotional depth to their songwriting. Inspired in part by artists like Adrienne Lenker, Aria channels personal experience of loss and moving on into a sound that is warm and genuine.

Production wise, Wishing Well leans into a clean and angelic sound that gently expands throughout the verses and chorus. Jason C. Sill’s production and Nick Chiapparino’s guitar arrangements make for a live-sounding acoustic space that is becoming all the more popular in today’s modern folk-pop stars. As a little detail, while recording, each guitar take was slightly varied. When mixing, these came together in a way that can sound like a conversation within the track if you listen closely.

Lyrically, Wishing Well showcases Aria’s songwriting skills. They use each line to focus on all the layers of heartbreak, distance, and the gentle, yet brave, act of letting go. The chorus clearly sings, “I’m wishing you well, I can’t tell you, but can’t you tell?” and repeats like a soft incantation. This is strong though, demonstrating how repetition can function as a powerful poetic tool. The double meaning of the title also adds something to the track: the literal offering of well-wishes and the symbolic “wishing well” showing someone who is still filled with hope. Aria’s writing in Wishing Well is simple in ways, but also so thoughtful, avoiding unnecessary abstraction and opting instead for honesty that is clear and raw.

Ultimately, Wishing Well stands out as an understated folk-pop ballad, with no lack of emotions and intention. This track could easily be on repeat for fans of Taylor Swift’s Lover era, of Olivia Rodrigo’s slower tracks, and the dreamy folk-pop vibe of artists like Role Model. All in all, Aria’s Wishing Well is a song that is better described as a thoughtful meditation on love, release, and the pain that remains.