Meet Ariel Laporte | Lead/Vocalist of Against All Odds

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ariel Laporte and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ariel, what is the most important factor behind your success?
As cliche as it sounds, the most important factor behind our success is the support we have from our family, friends and fans. Seems generic, but it’s as simple as that. I could tell you it’s the way my band writes music or how we perform on stage but we wouldn’t be where we are without those who are undeniably loyal. I have an outpouring of support from my husband who sacrifices his ear drums and sanity during rehearsals. Friends and fans who will travel hours to hear us play, download every song, buy every piece of merch and show up in inclement weather to our shows. And then there is our family. They are the ones that passionately sing our praises to every person in the universe regardless if they want to hear them sing it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
This feels weird calling myself an artist when I have a day job. Dental Hygienist by day, Rockstar by night. Sounds like an odd combination. I pride my work as a Dental Hygienist but that’s not what I am here to discuss. My passion for music has always been strong. When I was younger, I’d write poems and lyrics, hum melodies, harmonize to whatever cassette or CD I had at the time while jumping up and down on my bed pretending to be the next Pat Benatar. All I could ever imagine myself doing was playing to a live audience and creating beautiful music that connects to others souls. However, reality is a foe and I knew I was too shy to ever truly become the Rockstar I dreamed. So I did what any smart kid would do, go to school for something that I was almost equally passionate about but never gave up the dream. I never stepped away from creating music, the energy has only transferred from being alone to becoming Against All Odds. The hardest part about being in a band is keeping it together! Creating music you know YOU love to put into the world is nerve wracking and the second hardest part. Lessons learned suuuuuuuckkkkk! And we HAVE learned a few. We have gone through a few line-up changes…that’s putting it nicely…. almost lost part of the heart of our band, hated our sound, loved our sound, overcame paralyzing stage fright, learned who to trust, still learning who to trust and forever learning from our mistakes. We are Against All Odds because against every odd, we have persevered through it all. WE saved ourselves, WE stuck together through the lockdown, through the chaos the music industry has thrown at us, through every failed attempt to finish recording our music, we are still alive. I want the world to know my band and the amazing sound people are missing out on! I want the world to connect with us through our music and know that whatever chapter their life is in, we are in it with them. Music connects us and gets us through. Our music has been the driving force for our survival and we want to infect the world with it so the world will survive with us!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ooo, there are so many great places! I’d start local and take them to Lathams Bakery here in Forney. They have great breakfast and lunch options along with homemade pastries…there is something for everyone there. After, we’d pop across the railroad to Back Porch Candles/Boutique for hand poured candles to take back home… their selection is boundless! In Dallas, we would definitely drop in at Cidercade for unlimited play on classic arcade games…you could spend hours there drinking cider and attempting to crush your friends at pinball and Pac-Man. A must for anyone that visits, is catching live local music at Six Springs Tavern in Richardson. They are huge supporters of original music and constantly have artists showcasing during the week. I would know cause my band Against All Odds is one of them! And before my friend left, I would have to take them to YardBird across from Clyde Warren Park. I am a sucker for a great cinnamon roll and YardBird has THE BEST cinnamon roll I’ve had… ever! The kicker is, they only serve it during brunch on the weekend so be sure to make a reservation before dropping in.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First off, I must Shoutout to David Jarvis for mentioning me to yall along with Rick E. Warden with ‘Blow Your Brains Out’ for bringing me into their light. Always a must is the love and support from my husband, Jeff who knows every word to every song I have written and still loves me for the space cadet I am… I wouldn’t take for him! Can’t forget the parents and sib for bringing me up in this world, loving me wholeheartedly and allowing me to express… well… me and the crazy human I’ve become. A huge Shoutout to my bandmates who I never want to create another piece of music without… Ben my lead guitarist and co-writer. He is absolutely brilliant at creating music that’s not only in his head but inside mine… not an easy task. My favorite lefty bassist Jared who is also very talented but too humble to admit it. And of course, our new drummer Bret, who brings a great vibe into our mix. Lastly, the biggest Shoutout is to my music teachers who have always seen in me the light I could never see in myself. If it weren’t for their persistent encouragement for having the confidence in me that I never knew I had, I wouldn’t be performing today knowing that music is my big love.

Website: linktr.ee/aaodallas

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/against.all.odds.aao/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Against.All.Odds.AAO

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnzQ7gE3q8MFgSKX-XzMoJA

Image Credits
Ronnie Blea with rb2photography Kevin Crawley