Arily Michele has always felt like an artist out of time. A self-described "wildflower" originally from the craggy peaks of Colorado, the Nashville-based singer-songwriter has built a reputation for weaving operatic vocal prowess with the flickering, neon warmth of vintage synthesizers.
Following the success of her 2024 self-produced concept album ‘Highway Hypnosis’, Michele is now preparing us for her next full-length odyssey, ‘Meditation for Wildflowers’. Her latest offering, ‘silver dollar’, is a shimmering, neo-psychedelic gem that proves she is one of the most thoughtful architects in modern indie pop.
The track finds its heartbeat in the tragic history of her home state, specifically the life of Rosemary Echo “Silver Dollar" Tabor. As the daughter of Horace and Baby Doe Tabor, Silver Dollar went from a life of diamond-studded diaper pins to a shack in Leadville after the Panic of 1893. "’Silver Dollar’ is inspired by the story of Rosemary Echo 'Silver Dollar' Tabor, the youngest daughter of Baby Doe and Horace Tabor," Michele explains. "The family was absurdly wealthy until they lost their fortunes in the Panic of 1893. Silver Dollar would spend the rest of her life trying to get that fortune back. Eventually, she moved to Chicago to pursue acting, but died in a freak accident before she made her break, ultimately being eclipsed by her family's scandals."
Musically, the song is a masterclass in atmosphere. Lush, cascading synths provide a dreamy backdrop for Michele’s ethereal vocals, which carry the weight of the story without losing their pop sensibility. There is a grooving, hypnotic rhythm here that keeps the track from drifting too far into the ether, grounding the harrowing tale in a relatable, modern anxiety.
What makes ‘silver dollar’ truly resonate is how Michele mirrors this historical tragedy with her own creative journey. "The song started out with me connecting Silver Dollar's tragic tale with my impostor syndrome and my fears of failure," she reveals. However, the track ultimately blossoms into a universal lesson on the human condition. As Michele notes, it took on "the broader context of realizing that we can spend our lives chasing fame and fortune, but at the end of the day, most of us are searching for happiness; happiness is more intrinsic than we think, and we won't feel fulfilled until we find it."
It’s a stunning, cinematic reminder that while the ghosts of the past are haunting, the search for internal peace is the only real treasure worth finding. You can stream the new single today, and for more, be sure to join Arily on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
