THE RIDER: Mango Dreamgirl's Top 10
The artist on liminal spaces, euphoric crying and soaking up the magic of the Milky Way
HAPPY SATURDAY to all and HAPPY BIRTHDAY + HAPPY RELEASE DAY to Mango Dreamgirl — that’s Brooklyn musician and producer Mariel Ross—whose new single “Be Underwater” (soooo Pisces) is out TODAY!
“‘Be Underwater’ is a song inspired by the natural sounds of the earth, specifically water,” the artist shared of her new single. “Lyrically, it represents an offering, a self-discovery, a desire to return to the most basic elements. Anything beyond that i'd like to leave up to interpretation by each individual listener. Please enjoy :) <3”
As Mango Dreamgirl, Mariel “explores the experimental electronic sonic space,” finding inspiration in “the worlds of fantasy, cyber-futurism, medieval madrigals/baroque choral music and Lynchian art styles.”
See these influences in visual action with the artist’s music video for her last single “Cement”…
Then don’t miss two upcoming opps to catch Mango Dreamgirl live:
March 23rd at Pete’s Candy Shop (FOR FREE!)…
And April 15th at Arlene’s Grocery (GET YOUR TIX HERE!).
Now grab some tissues and prepare yourself for Mango Dreamgirl’s ultra-tender Top 10 —
May it inspire you to go forth and have the sweetest of Saturdays <3
MANGO DREAMGIRL’S TOP 10
1. Open world video games
skyrim, world of warcraft, cyberpunk 2077, etc.--traipsing around in a fleshed out world made for exploring, where developers put easter eggs and little tributes only someone who is trying to 100% can find. THAT IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT BABY. my music exists in what has been coined as the "mangoverse" in an article about my 2024 EP from the FADER, and that world to me is my very own open world RPG that i'm always exploring and looking for easter eggs in.
2. Trinkets & tchotchkes
i absolutely love a trinket. lately, my live setup has changed to where i need a table for all my gadgets and i've been loving bringing some little trinkets to place around to world build until i have the access and funds for a full visuals package ((someday)). i have a little white rabbit that i got at the renaissance faire from a fairy, some plushies that my sister brought back from Tokyo, other little things i like to look at and that make me happy. i also love creating crafts and gifts. for my EP release party, i handmade custom keychains for everyone who attended and i definitely would love to continue making little offerings of gratitude for the people who support me <3
3. My siblings
i am very privileged to have 3 wonderful siblings who inspire me every day. i have very close relationships with all of them and get to experience their incredible talents and brains all the time. we are able to collaborate in so many ways (my sister hand drew my album art for I've Never Been on the Roof, my brother mixed my single that's coming out on 2/22, my other sister always gives me great feedback on my unreleased tracks) and they make me laugh laugh laugh laugh. i feel very lucky to have them in my life <3
4. The sky
day or night, rainy or clear, i absolutely love the sky. i find so much inspiration and wonder in it and always find myself stopping on my walks to look up and just take it all in. i spent some time in Escalante, Utah a few summers back and got to experience the sky in a way you couldn't even imagine as a city dweller. I COULD SEE THE MILKY WAY!!!!!!! ugh, it was really cool and i think about going back all the time. 10/10 would recommend.
5. Angus Dei by Samual Barber (specifically the VOCES8 version):
nothing moves me the way that choral music does. if you want to feel the power of the ancient magic in your bones, you must listen to this song and hopefully fall down the rabbit hole of madrigals and baroque music after that.
6. A free Palestine and social empathy for those who might be different than yourself
fix your hearts or die!!!!!!!!!!!!! - David Lynch <3
7. Office parks
i love an office park. pristine lawns, huge parking lots, shiny chrome buildings; it's essentially a liminal space and makes me feel both weird and comforted at the same time. as a tween, i used to perform with a children's music performer called SteveSongs and we once played a show for a large insurance company's big summer family party that was hosted at their headquarters and it was the most beautiful office park i'd ever seen. i just can't get enough!
8. Flute with copious amounts of reverb
it's just a perfect sound to me. i'd like to buy a flute and learn how to play it. my sister was good at flute in her childhood and i've always wanted to try to pick it up so i can play in on my own music. i usually use the logic default flute sound and just manipulate it with enough effects and stuff to make it sound otherworldly but sometimes i want the breath from a real human!!!
9. Crying
crying is such a beautiful thing and i wish people allowed themselves to do it more. have you ever cried while on the train listening to music or reading a book or reading a horrible text????? euphoric. crying at the club? euphoric. crying in your bed and waking up with puffy eyes and a forgetfulness about the depth of the pain you were feeling? euphoric.
10. Love
love is the most powerful force in the world. i encourage everyone to love more. love your community, love your friends, love your life. we're all only here for a short time; there's no time to be too cool, there's no time to think sincerity is cringe, there's no time to dwell in misery. the best way to counter evil is to love love love. love your hobbies, love the earth, love the art around you and tell people how much you appreciate them whenever you can.
Follow Mango Dreamgirl at @mangodreamgirl, buy music on Bandcamp and add songs to your Spotify playlists!
Feature image provided by the artist.