VIAA ‘Arson’ - A High-Voltage Alt-Pop Ride

On “Arson”, VIAA takes a match to her past — and somehow makes the blaze sound euphoric. The rising alt-pop artist’s latest single is a declaration of liberation, built on a foundation of genre fusion and emotional honesty. It’s the kind of track that feels like both a breakdown and a breakthrough.

VIAA has always thrived in the in-between. Having honed her craft across R&B, indie pop, and electronic textures, she arrives here with a sense of purpose: to make space for vulnerability within volume. “Arson” channels the restless angst of early-2000s pop-punk through a distinctly modern, female lens — one that’s equal parts rebellion and renewal.

There’s a cinematic intensity to her storytelling. “Sometimes the only way to move on is to burn it all down,” she explains — and you believe her. Her voice cuts through the mix with conviction, a reminder that growth rarely comes without destruction. It’s catharsis distilled into melody.

The sonic palette — shaped with collaborators Mori Einsidler and Troi Irons — brims with contrasts: thunderous drums meet glacial synths, distortion melts into melody. Mixed by Bartees Strange, the track hums with live-wire energy while maintaining a pop clarity that’s distinctly VIAA’s own.

As a Black woman asserting herself in the alt-pop and pop-punk space, VIAA’s presence feels both vital and overdue. “Arson” isn’t just a song; it’s a reclamation — of voice, of emotion, of space. In burning down what’s behind her, she illuminates a path forward for others.

Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp