How aron! Is Reimagining Jazz
Blending the timeless sound of jazz and the intimacy of modern pop music, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist aron! is making a name for himself in the contemporary jazz world. Ahead of the release of his debut album Too Close For Running, aron! spoke at a recent press conference hosted by Universal Music Group’s 1824 about his approach to balancing the influences of classic jazz in his songs with the desire to create his own sound and further analyzes his artistry and musical identity.
There is no doubt that aron! has a deep appreciation for jazz music. Inspired by legendary artists like Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, he creates music that brings the same warmth and timeless feeling that their songs have done for years and years. But how does he balance honoring the traditions of the genre while creating a sound that is uniquely his own? For aron!, the answer is in taking inspiration from the past without trying to recreate it.
“I love the sound of these old recordings,” aron! explained. “However, if you want to hear that, you should just listen to the things that have been made then.”
Instead, aron! uses those classic recordings as a foundation for creating his own art. One way he brings the genre to the present is through his use of songwriting. Rather than singing about “nightingales,” he might incorporate something as ordinary and contemporary as a “phone” into his lyrics.
“There’s no point in me recreating the past,” he said. “And so I need to, like, add something new to the pot.”
The balance between the incorporation of old sounds and newer themes is at the center of aron!’s artistry. He described his goal as finding the midpoint between the music that inspires him and the music of today. As aron! puts it, finding the midpoint between Lady Gaga and Ella Fitzgerald!
The balance between an older vibe and newer music can also be seen in how aron!’s artistry has developed since “table for two.” Released in 2025, the song became his first to reach a larger audience of around a million streams, something aron! said he never expected at the time. He mentioned being content with playing cover songs and making music that he enjoyed.
“I was very happy. I made this thing that I like, and other people like it too,” he said.
Now, Too Close For Running is starting to represent a new chapter for aron!. While the album still contains hints of his usual sound, he sees it as his own project and a chance to explore a different side of his artistry.
Aron! explains how he enjoys when each project has its own sound. That evolution can also be heard through his collaborators on the album. Too Close For Running features collaborations with dodie, an artist aron! has previously mentioned as being an inspiration, and Mei Semones, whose musical style shares many of aron!’s jazz and guitar influences.
The two collaborations came together in different ways. With Mei Semones, she originally planned to only sing on the song but ended up contributing with guitar.
“She was just going to sing and not play guitar,” aron! said. “No, you have to play guitar. You have to make them crazy guitar parts!”
The collaboration with dodie also came from a place of admiration. Aron! described her as an artist who has inspired him, making her involvement in the album especially meaningful. The two did not record the song together in the same room but rather digitally. He left a verse open for dodie to fill, allowing her to bring her own voice and perspective to the song.
Ultimately, Too Close For Running represents aron!’s ability to take inspiration from his past inspirations and his older music while creating something that feels new and exciting, but still classic. By combining the timelessness of classic jazz with modern songwriting, new collaborations, and other influences, he is creating music that feels distinctly his own.
Rather than recreating the past, aron! is using it as a foundation to continue developing his musical identity.