Introducing #271 - Chitra
Let us introduce you to Melbourne based indie-rock singer-songwriter Chitra - who has just released her latest single ‘Go Easy’ - a perfect companion for fans of Julien Baker and Angel Olsen.
Patient and restrained over wrung-out guitar strums, 'Go Easy' although more languid than the recent ‘In My Opinion’ speaks to the frustration in moments of impasse. “Go Easy is a song I wrote about sitting on a feeling when you’re hesitant to act on it. Anticipating the worst but being drawn to it constantly,” she reveals. Calling to mind the commanding alternative-indie sound that forged Jack River and MAY-A's paths, Chitra speaks with dismay to the opportunities that never materialise in voicing your thoughts aloud.
On 'Go Easy' she plays with the archetypes of indie-leaning stereotypes, often riddled with introspective anxieties that coddle rather than empower, especially when particularly far from reach. Instead of floundering in their turmoil internally, she considers moving on from their debilitation with a shared ability to play with perception and expectations as boygenius. In charge of her own path here, Chitra leaves dismay in the back of her mind with a call to keep calm and carry on, singing "I don’t wanna find what I know that I can’t hold... A call to change is never answered quick." Not to be misread as needing to be left alone to pluck up the courage, but rather, to move on from spiralling in the "what if".
Chitra took a moment to talk to us about her music.
Hey there Chitra- how are you? So your track ‘Go Easy’ is out now - can you tell us what it is about?
Hello! I’m really good thank you. Yes it is! Go Easy is about sitting on some feelings you’re having and feeling hesitant to act on and kind of anticipating the worst but being drawn to it anyway.
Where are you from and what are your favourite things to do there?
I am living in Melbourne, Australia. My favourite things to do here is to go see live music, visit the coast with friends and get coffee at one of my local cafes. It’s starting to heat up here so I’m looking forward to having a drink in a park and maybe start a garden (that will hopefully stay alive)
What are the key influences when it comes to your music?
At the moment key influences would be Alvvays, Mitski, Lucy Dacus, Soccer Mommy and Flyte!
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never listened to your music before?
Songs about frustration in a fun, sometimes upbeat and cathartic way haha. I think my newer songs are rockier like all my influences but still hold those universal stories for people to relate to but still feel very very personal to me.
Now the track is out there - what next for you?
I’ve been playing a bunch of shows in Australia which has been really fun as I’m really enjoying my live show and I’m sitting on a lot of songs that i’ve been working on that I’m really excited to release sometime in the future. Would love to come to the UK and play some shows at some stage too!
