There’s no Aries placed in my chart, but I do have Aries in my heart.
It’s that part of me filled with all fire, that part that takes things to the wire.
That trailblazing motivation, a competition, impulse and impatience two sides of the same currency, the liquidity to juggle and dream, or rather bring that dream to reality.
What’s on my mind will end up on your mind, I’ll say it straight, and if I don’t, I know you’ll know it at any rate.
It’s probably the Capricorn in me that resonates with Aries, we’re both cardinal, sitting at the start of our own Season, we can lead, but more importantly, we turn the wheel. With our hands-on approach, we must turn the wheel, for the wheel compels it.
Rams and goats are basically cousins anyway, right?
Aries Season Mix: Kamal Naeem
Kamal Naeem is the man behind this month’s Aries Season mix. My memory’s a little fuzzy but I would have met him through Blank Slate Records, a label he used to co-run which I was put onto back in 2014. A few years of social media later and I can tell you Kamal exudes a bright and light-hearted vibe, partly positive smiles and partly cheeky smirks, never shying away from a hot take in true Aries style. His mix for Honey Soundsystem’s HNYPOT series was a 2020 highlight and I rung in this year listening to a New Year’s Eve party broadcast from his Berlin home, so it feels fitting to have the DJ turn in a mix for us now. His set’s a sleek excursion through ’80s funk, pop and house, filled with springtime passion – perfect since Aries is the sign that ushers in this new, rejuvenating season. Just hit play and let it let some more light into your life.
Listen to Kamal Naeem’s Aries Season Mix here.
The Art of the Aries
So the first Aries artist we’ll spotlight this time round is Akira Toriyama, though I’m not here to talk about him to be honest. Let’s talk about his most iconic creation instead: Dragon Ball’s Goku. Son Goku. Kakarot himself. The carrot-named, carrot-clothed Super Saiyan martial artist himself. He who has been a milkman, a firefighter, a farmer, a security guard, and the Guardian of Earth in his time. He’s an incredibly determined character – once he sets off on a path, it can take several sagas, series, even shows to halt his journey. Even death doesn’t stop him, and it’s tried like four different times. Literally everyone in all of the Dragon Ball universe is inspired or awed by him in some way. He wants to win, he’ll take it to the next level to do so, and his big mouth will serve as comic relief often enough. Truly an embodiment of pure main character energy, perfect almost to the point of being grating (and there are those who would hate on Aries). In fairness, Goku’s an alien so we can’t really apply this interpretation of astrology to him but I would absolutely read him as Aries over all else.
Next is Spanish romantic painter and printmaker Francisco Goya, who makes the list ahead of fellow Aries artists Leonardo da Vinci and Vincent van Gogh. Goya’s best known for the freaky Pinturas negras series of fourteen paintings created towards the end of his life, when he was sick in various ways and felt more inclined to depict a darker perspective on humanity in his work. These include the famous Saturn Devouring His Son and Witches’ Sabbath, the latter featuring a goat-devil. Goat-gods are often devils whereas rams often find themselves sacrificed in biblical contexts – sacrifice is indeed the burden true trailblazers must bear, incidentally! Other Goya series include a serious take on early 19th century wars, and a more hilarious take on the shenanigans of Spanish society towards the end of the 18th. Following that thread diving deeper into Goya’s history, here’s a happy picture painted before all that of a cheery boy riding an unbothered ram:
Probably the most important person on any list, Aries or otherwise, is queen Mariah Carey, who we respect and stan in all her glory. A couple of years ago she singled out other March Aries divas: Chaka Khan, Elton John, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, and lastly Lady Gaga, who does not have a soul. When you consider the traits and characteristics of the Aries, it shouldn’t be so surprising that there are so many iconic divas grouped together under the sign. To be honest, every Aries is a diva in some way, these are just the famous ones.
Finally, I’d like to give a shout out to another March Aries musician, Tracy Chapman, just because it’s an excuse to then post one of my favourite memes:
That’s it from me this Aries season – it’s been a real rollercoaster but I promise it won’t kick your ass if you face it head-on.
We’ll be back in Taurus Season with SEPARATION ANXIETY - a livestream we’ve been prepping with Sable Radio. Keep Saturday 24th April, 6pm-midnight free in your diaries, we’ve got an amazing night in store for you and it’s taking me everything to not leak the excellent line-up to you right now. Announcement soon come.
Take care,
T x
