TRACK-BY-TRACK: ISHAN TAKE US THROUGH 'WHO THE HELL IS KLARA?'

Who The Hell Is Klara? is out now!

Image: Nick McKinlay.

Melbourne singer, songwriter, and busker ISHAN has dropped their new album, Who The Hell Is Klara?. To celebrate, they are taking us through the collection of songs track-by-track.

“I wanted my first album to be an intro to what I do, and specifically how I write,” explains ISHAN. “Each song is inspired by my own life but gets transformed into something beyond my lived experience. I love storytelling. It’s a beautiful art form and I want to spend my working life contributing to it however I can.”

UNIVERSE NEEDS

Universe Needs is a story about a girl with a once in a generation mind. She is brilliant, and intensely dedicated to her work. The story is told from the perspective of the ordinary guy she’s in a relationship with. He is regularly neglected by her in favour of intellectual pursuits, but he figures that the best thing for ‘the universe’ is for him to remain committed to her. 

MAKE UP MOVES

Make Up Moves is a song about two people in a relatively new relationship. It focuses on a day when they decide to stay in and dance to all of their favourite tracks. The song paints a picture of new and exciting love in a way that is carefree and celebrates the joy of simply moving together.

KLARA

Klara is a fictional character who represents me in many ways. Like me she is risk averse, anxious and gets in her own way. The whole world is telling her to have the courage to just live her life.

MY MOUTH (LA LA LA)

My Mouth (la la la) represents a realisation that I am fine just how I am, and that I don't need to say "words that I don't mean" to meet external expectations. 

OLIVIA RODRIGO

Olivia Rodrigo is a tongue in cheek pop-rock song about wanting to find a small slice of the pop star's magic in real life.

ADVENTURE

Adventure is a song about needing to escape. I tell myself I love my job and I believe it, but sometimes I can’t help but question who all of my hard work is really for. The song asks whether I should just run away from it all; prioritising a life of spontaneity and adventure.

A SONG FOR MY BROTHER

A Song For My Brother is not actually about my brother, but someone else I love very much. For years I’d watched his sense of self worth and excitement for life eroded by so-called friends who’d take advantage of his kindness and ability to always see the best in others.

SUPERNOVA

Supernova explores the somewhat precarious and practically autonomous response ‘kiss her back now and unpack the consequences later. It touches on the confusion and uncertainty of the moment in trying to determine what it is you really want and questions whether sacrificing a friendship is a risk worth taking in the pursuit of love.

CHARACTERS I DREW

Characters I Drew is a song about trying to be good to oneself. I wrote it when I wasn’t in a great place - during Covid lockdown. It represented the realisation that in the absence of other people, I could rely on that which comes from within. 

HER BOYFRIEND'S HOUSE

Her Boyfriend’s House is a song about meeting a girl and spending the night dancing, only to find out she has a boyfriend. It’s a bewildering experience but one that you look back on and laugh about. I may have got my wires crossed or she may have intentionally led me on.

Who The Hell Is Klara? is out now!