Chela Interview

Alt-Pop princess Chela took some time out during a trip to Brunswick to discuss with BBMLive her influences, being in a punk band and where she got her distinctive name from. 

Hi Chela, how are you?

Hello, I’m doing pretty okay thanks.

Where in the world are you right now and how is it?

I’m in Brunswick, sitting in a little cosy studio that I’ve set up and I’m looking forward to recording some things in here tomorrow.

For people who haven’t heard you before, can you describe your musical style in 5 words or less?

Nostalgic, rhythmic, alt-pop

Where does the name Chela come from? Has it always been a nickname or is there another reason behind it?

One of my best friends nicknamed me Chela around 6 years ago when he was reading Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Kim’ (the Tibetan monk calls his followers his ‘chela’) and then it stuck.

You seem to have exploded onto the music scene with a bang; are you surprised by people’s reactions to your music? Did you ever imagine it to take off like this?

I’ve learnt not to be expectant in this industry, all you can do is hope for the best. I’ve been feeling lucky for all the love and support I’ve received from everyone.

In previous interviews you’ve spoken about playing bass in a Punk band when you were younger – was there a reason you decided to steer away from this genre of music?

I guess it’s because we were playing that style of music for 5 years straight, and you only naturally want to evolve after that much time. I messed around with pop music before the band so I think my music now has a mixture of everything I’ve been influenced by over the years.

Do you ever miss being in a band or do you prefer flying solo?

Being a solo artist is a lot more simple so that’s an advantage, I do miss the band though because it was with my best friends and we had the time of our lives playing together. I also miss playing bass, such a great instrument.

You signed to Kitsune to release your ‘Romanticise’ EP – was there a particular reason for this?

They contacted us to ask for a collaboration and we went straight ahead with it as Kitsune is such a credible and wonderful label. It felt like the right next step to take.

As you’ve already featured on tracks with Clubfeet and Goldroom, do you have any other musical collaborations in the pipeline at the moment?

I’ve been writing with Cassian, Ta-ku and Julian Hamilton, but we’ll wait until the songs are finished before we decide what to do with them!

Your music has a really unique feel to it, have you taken inspiration from any other artists along the way?

Of course! I wouldn’t be the same without The Jackson 5, Ratatat, Ariel Pink, The Pointer Sisters, The Shins, and Hall & Oates, just to name a few…

Are your lyrics based on personal experiences, or do you just write whatever comes into your head and not think too much about it?

I always base them on personal experiences; it’s good because it connects you more to the song and paints the vocal with true emotion. It’s also easier to find content when you’re brainstorming about how you really feel!

What do you write first: the music or the lyrics?

There’s no formula, it’s always different.

When you’re not making music, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I’m addicted to the café culture in Melbourne, my sister and I are often prancing around looking for the next best thing to eat and drink. I’ve also been getting into meditation this year, I love it!

If you weren’t making music right now, what do you think you’d be doing instead?

I like to think I’d be working in film, writing and directing.

What does 2014 hold for you?

I want to spend a good amount of time in the US, to finish writing and recording my LP.

By Chelsea Forsyth