Armed with the uplifting EP Senti, recently released, Melbourne-based songwriter and artist Chael kindly stopped by to talk all things creativity, performance, influence and inspiration. Here’s the conversation in full. * * * Chael – a real pleasure, thanks for the interview! To introduce things, where are you right now, and what have you been … Continued
Pop
Emerging complete with a set of visuals boldly reinforcing the self-indulgence and optimism at the heart of this pop-hip-hop fusion single, On My Time celebrates the value of appreciating a little me-time, and promises a summer-vibes ear-worm and captivating storyboard in the same instance.
“The music I make is honestly just a journal entry of what’s going on in my life, it reflects me as a person so I think my audience will grow with me and accept whatever it is I do.”
“Trying different ways to write a song or just free-styling lyrics is so therapeutic. I ended up writing an album within a month because it’s just a huge part of my life and expressing what I’m going through.”
“The hardest challenge is off the bat getting venues to let you rent them out, because I’m independent and I’m not a huge artist, even with the same budget I get turned away because of their lack of confidence in me getting a huge turnout, which I understand.”
“We Can’t Stop was created from the need to inspire and encourage people to believe in the power of resilience despite any obstacles that come our way. It was written during Covid, a time when so many were alienated and questioned so many things.”
“The things we say to ourselves can be so horrible & mean, things that we would never say to anyone else, so you want to become your own best friend.”
Building up from mildly theatrical beginnings, distant piano keys and lashings of reverb uniting a choir of descending vocal fragments – I’m Ready To Die soon finds its groove as a dramatic, evocative realm of rhythm and soul.
The new single Time and Money brings together a somewhat nostalgic RnB verse melody, with dreamy production and equally ethereal vocals, to elevate that passionate conviction and heartfelt lyricism as ever, but to deliver an ultimately unique take on his reflective style.
Riding high on an instantly catchy riff, the dreamy synths and soca-style rhythms of Just Like That pave the way beautifully for an exotic and bold performance from Monique Togara.
designed so as to fill the room with a perfect fusion of lightness and contemplation, Essence captures precisely the implications of its title and lyrics with everything from the piano-led ambiance to the passionate and focused bars of the verses.
Underling hints of influence from the likes of Bowie in certain vocal tremors and inflections, alongside an otherwise folk-pop writing style akin to The Beatles, Toxicon utilizes classic doo-wop vocal harmonies and colourful keys riffs, to maintain a sense of bounce and beauty that’s consistent with the lyrical reflections.