Writing intensely relatable indie pop, it’s no wonder so many listeners have gravitated to ISHAN’s music. The young singer-songwriter is one of Australia’s most rapidly rising stars, scoring achievement after achievement. The release of his highly anticipated debut album Who the hell is Klara? follows two impressive tours in India and millions of streams. The lively record features 10 stories that explore everything from self-discovery to love. There’s something for everyone, and with his definitive musical statement finally out, ISHAN is ready to touch the hearts of his passionate fanbase and beyond.

While in the middle of touring across Australia and the UK for his album launch shows, I interviewed ISHAN over email to discover more about his writing process, the advice he’d give to other singer-songwriters, and to find out who exactly Klara is.

What was the writing process like for your debut album? Were you writing songs with a cohesive album in mind, or just writing standalone songs?

ISHAN: The songs in Who the hell is Klara? were written over an 18–24 month period and the process started well before I even had a career, so the idea of an album at that stage was a bit of a pipe dream. Ultimately, what ties all these songs together is that they are all about characters I find fascinating, which is why I felt good about combining them all into an album after I had already finished recording the first few.

Each song features a lot of relatable storytelling. What song’s story or lyricism is the most compelling to you?

ISHAN: That’s such a tough one to answer… It’s like asking a parent which kid is their favourite! If I just focus on the storytelling and not the music, then ‘A Song For My Brother’ stands out for me in terms of narrative.

I found it fascinating how you released one song at a time leading up to the release date. It’s not a release strategy you often see! What made you want to tease the album that way?

ISHAN: I find this topic really interesting. It was less a question of “teasing” the album and more a question of me asking myself what I think fans of my music would prefer—releasing tracks much later or getting them out sooner but one at a time. Given I am a young independent artist, I didn’t have the budget to record all the songs on the album at once. ‘My Mouth (la la la)’ started to get a lot of traction on social media and everyone was asking me to release it, but the other songs on the album weren’t even recorded at that stage. So, instead of waiting months until I could afford to get in the studio, I started to release the songs one at a time so I could accelerate getting them into the hands of fans. My guiding question is simply what is in the best interests of fans. That pretty much dictates how I release music.

As of this album release, you’re 21 years old. You’ve toured India and Australia and are preparing for your debut shows in the UK. Being a touring solo artist at such a young age is an incredible achievement. How have you found entering and navigating stardom, especially since you’ve been passionate about music for years?

ISHAN: I’m not sure I would use the word stardom! I still have a long way to go. Ultimately, everything is in service of this music that I love to create. Living in the public eye has both pros and cons, but it is part and parcel of having my music reach more people. Mind you, I am still at that stage in my career where I am barely recognisable when walking down the street. That is definitely starting to change, and if it accelerates, then I will deal with it.

What advice would you offer young singer-songwriters trying to break into the music scene?

ISHAN: I have a number of quotes from mentors that ring in my ears. One of those is that the harder you work, the luckier you get. The more rejections I accumulate, the more I’m knocking on doors and putting myself out there. 

With Who the hell is Klara? now released to the world, what do you hope to express to your audiences with this album?

ISHAN: I just hope they find characters that they can connect to. Whether it is the guy in ‘Universe Needs’ who loves someone who is dedicated to her work and needs his support, whether it is the singer in ‘My Mouth (la la la)’ who is trying to learn to be true to themselves and not worry so much about others, or the girl in ‘Klara’ who constantly gets in her own way and lets her fears dominate her, I just want fans to find narratives that speak to them.

Finally, here’s the question I’m sure you’ll be asked a lot—just who the hell IS Klara? Is she a real person or not? If she’s more of a concept, what does she represent?

ISHAN: Klara is a made-up character, but she has a number of similarities to me. I am naturally risk averse, which is not a great trait when you are a professional artist. Klara gets paralysed by her own worries, and the song asks her to “live while you’re alive.” Klara and I are very different, but she reminds me to keep striving to overcome my limitations.

Who the hell is Klara? is out now on all major music platforms. Keep up to date with all things ISHAN on Instagram.

Photography credit: Nick Mckinlay