Interview by Blossom Fox // photos by Kalindy Williams
As a poet who’s lucky enough to call Chitra a dear friend, I’ve always been utterly enthralled with her ability to transport you into moments of heartbroken hope through her songwriting and innate storytelling.
Her raw verses are melted with melodies you’ll be dreaming of for weeks, in a way that’s both soft and strong in its presence.
The two of us often have conversations about our creations and all of the ebbs and flows that come with being artists. I sat down with her to unpack her ever changing relationship music. What comforts her through the gritty moments and other rolling reflections as she releases her new single Motormouth on the fifteenth of November.
What environment do you desire to write and create in? Place, soundtrack, weather, feeling, etc. Paint us a picture.
I took a solo writing trip a while back and stayed in Daylesford at this airbnb that had a big window looking out onto trees, where the sun would peer in. I moved the whole lounge room around so I could face them when I wrote. The challenge that week was to write an album (which I did!). The soundtrack would be whatever was going on outside, especially if that sound is rain and thunder. I wrote from 6am to 5pm and threw all other responsibilities aside, that was my perfect writing scenario. I hope to do that again soon, that kind of feeling of freedom is something I’m always grateful for.
What’s your relationship with performing on stage like? Has it changed as you’ve grown and gotten older?
Ooh nice question! Performing has always been something I loved and simultaneously something that has made me so nervous. The nerves have never shifted for me over time, but I think it’s really hard to grasp the line of nervousness and excitement. Thinking about it, when I started playing it stemmed from self-esteem and now as I’ve grown it’s from wanting to do well and for people to have a good time.
Regardless, I’m learning to not let that be a bad thing, I care about what I do so much so of course I’m going to have big feelings about it.
I’ve worked on this live show with my band for a while and the energy and love I feel from them has brought so much joy and care that it’s really changed performing for me. I’m so proud of it and have felt the most comfortable I ever have. I’m so grateful to them.
With everything in your life that you juggle (work, uni, friends and fam, partner, music, self care, etc.), what brings you great comfort when you need it?
Yes! The never ending juggle that we all do. Well, turning my brain off is nice. I think I have a dopamine addiction or whatever they call it. But I watch tv to escape my brain like most and I wish I could say I was doing something productive and artistic like painting or something but sometimes you just need to watch really terrible tv (my favourite genre) and turn off your silly little brain.
You wrote a beautiful piece recently on what your music journey has been like in the last year, navigating a lot of change and reckoning with the state of the music scene in Naarm/the country as a whole – how did it feel to release that piece into the world?
Terrifying and silly! Who do I think I am, Carrie Bradshaw?
No, it’s kind of funny because my favourite way to connect with people is one on one big chats as you know and this is very much the opposite. I realise I have this mentality that must have been taught to me that you shouldn’t give it all away until you know someone better but I kind of despise that, so I’m trying to be more honest and open.
I think there are some people in the community having really important conversations around the music industry and I just really wanted to connect with anyone feeling similar and thinking about sustainably playing music. Transparency and community are the first things that come to mind for me.
At the bottom of that piece, there’s a snippet of a song you’ve written – on a personal note, listening to it was like you had taken the words right out of my brain and made them make sense, which was so wonderful. On a wider note, what does it do for you when you write from or through sadness?
Okay, you’re the sweetest angel. Much like you I assume, it makes the most sense and is happening before you think about writing it. Writing through sadness, or any feeling really, is relief and reflection. I’m a bit of a hoarder in that regard though, playing an old song can feel like I’m back in that moment and saving them all. Not always healthy if you know my songs ha.
All of us have a little angel and devil on our shoulders or that voice in our head that gets real loud sometimes – what does yours sound like, and how do you turn it down when needed?
Mine reeks of the pressure of perfection. I tend to lean into the usual comments of things not being as good as they can but it gets tiring quickly. If I’m doubting something, I’ll share it with a loved one who will tell me the truth. Turning those thoughts down is very hard but my go to is distracting myself with another task until I’m feeling kinder.
What would 16-year-old Chitra who’s starting to make music say if she saw you now?
This is a very cute question. I think she would be really proud, knowing I make music I like and not for anyone else would get a kick out of her. I’ve got to do so many things I’m proud of and things that have been really hard and I did it all.
What would you say to her?
I would say lead by feeling, you don’t have to be a theory genius or know every musician who has ever lived. Don’t be afraid to learn on the way, that’s usually the hardest and best bit. Oh, and never date someone who uses dating apps to promote their music.
