Deep Dive Into The Journey Of LA-Based Australian Artist: Takara
Takara is an Australian-born, Chicago-built, LA-based singer who possesses not only a powerful voice but the ability to put her innermost thoughts and feelings into written word.
It’s crazy to think she hasn’t been doing this her entire life because the talent comes so naturally. She’s able to take painful situations and turn them into something beautiful – it’s not about the heartbreak, it’s about the idea you were ever able to love. To feel.
The emptiness of loss is replaced with the reminder that to experience love at all is a gift. Pair this with beautiful pipes, and you’ve got the makings of a pop star. Takara, in her words, is the ‘maker of independent music & coffee’.
Keep reading for Takara’s take on music, expression, style, and more.
What’s the best part of being a musician?
I have never been great at connecting with people, I grew up a little on the spectrum. So it’s really hard for me to connect with people face-to-face sometimes. I feel like I use to want to say a lot and not know how to say it. So when I started putting it into songs and realized people listening to them and connect with them. It helps me in my regular day-to-day life. Being able to create every day, just do art every day is something in high school, especially because they made you feel like it has to be going towards a goal to get a grade, but, they didn’t teach us that we could just enjoy life through art. So I guess I’m enjoying life through art right now.
Has music always been your career plan? And what was the defining moment you realized you wanted to do music?
I guess I’ve always wanted to do it. I didn’t see it as a realistic option, but, I told my mom when I was 9 years old. I turned to her on the plane back to Australia and I have seen a music video on the screen in front of me and in the words. I turned to her and said I’m going to do that one day.
Which I sort of remember. I don’t remember the exact words. After that, it was just a hobby. Didn’t think it was possible, then I got to a point where I was like I could keep doing this without any end goal or I could just go full out and I did.
So I guess I was just hoping for the best and guessed a lot of my way through it. I didn’t really know what I was doing but also watched Youtube videos of people like Russ. Watching his interviews made me realize it was possible I just had to go for it.
Music is all about expression. What do you like expressing in your work?
Just how I’m feeling if I’m happy or sad, the ability to get them out and put them in a song is like therapy for me. So if I can express myself and the people have really connected and they’ve been through very similar experiences as well then it’s a really nice feeling.
I feel like a lot of people don’t (especially in Los Angeles) don’t really talk about how they are really feeling. You’ll hear it in a song and say ‘oh I relate to that,’ because I’ve been through this. But, I’m not gonna walk up to someone on the street and say ‘do you want to hear about my trauma?’
When it’s in a song, it’s so digestible and I definitely love that part about it.
How much has your style changed since you started doing music?
I use to make music catered to what I thought people wanted to hear, which at the time in Australia was dance music like EDM and I feel that it didn’t really mean much, it was very empty but it was still a vibe…you could dance to it. Whereas now, I like to actually say something that means in a song. It’s moved more to a neo-soul R&B vibe, which is more natural to me. I just started making music that I wanted to hear and feel good expressing myself in. Instead of trying to catch the vibe.
The title says it all ‘Kind of Messy,’ where did that come from?
Just life in general, I used to go around and tell my friends that they were kind of messy as a joke, and eventually, I went through a couple of breakups, and then I realized I was the one that was kind of messy… then, there we are.
As an emerging artist today, what would you say are some of the challenges you face?
It’s so acceptable now to put music out, it’s been made so much easier but at the same time, and because of that there are so many people putting music out. So breaking through the noise has become really hard. There is so much expected of independent artists where you have to be on TikTok and Instagram, and you need to be pushing your music every day. Sometimes it is like where do you find the time? Because we all have day jobs…You have to support the music somehow because Spotify is not paying (laughs)
But yeah just finding the time, the motivation, and breaking through that noise which is what I’m currently trying to do.
What sets you apart from other artists?
Obviously, I don’t know what artists do on their own time, but for me, it’s determination. I use to bounce around from studio to studio in Chicago, studios that were costing me hundreds of dollars an hour. Money which I really didn’t have at the time, I couldn’t keep that up forever so I stop going to studios, I was still bouncing around Chicago until I thought ‘you know what, I’m still going to figure out a way to do this, we’re going to figure this out somehow.’ So I got on YouTube and typed into Google search, the question that I had… How to be an independent artist? I wasn’t going to let anything stop me.
What are some of your favorite artist collaborations?
Anything that Anderson .Paak and Cordae do, have you heard their music? They have a song ‘RNP,’ it’s such a good song. They actually just dropped a new single that’s really good. I love Ed Sheeran and Russ’ latest song that’s amazing. Considering Russ is independent but I was so proud, even though he doesn’t know me. I’m so proud of him for doing that and leading the way and now I feel like I can do that one day. I also hear a song called ‘My sister’ by Shaybo and Jorja Smith which is great as well. I love when girls link up, girl gang over here all day.
Name a few artists would you love to do a song with and why.
Rihanna and that goes without saying, did you see the Super Bowl performance? I would obviously like to work with Russ as well, would love to have him on a song one day when I’m a bigger artist. But mainly, I love just working with my friends just people I’ve met who are also independent. I have a nice group around me and we’re all coming up together… I love working with my friend, Clay as well, and there are some other people that just happen to be around.
Are any of these people featured on your new project?
Yaf is currently featured, the others I’m opening the others up to an open verse competition, so I don’t have those features yet, but, I definitely have some people ready to go.
What’s your best advice for aspiring musicians?
I feel like I want to tell everyone everything, always giving unsolicited advice to my friends, but, I use to get overwhelmed about all the stuff I need to do to get to this huge level. Whereas now I’m more about what can I do today that’s going to move me forward tomorrow.
As long as you’re taking baby steps that is all that matters, it doesn’t matter how big the step is you’re going to get up the hill eventually.
Also only you can be you and only they can be them, I use to compare myself to people around me, thinking oh what are they doing? They’ve just put this song out I really like it so I should be doing that. Maybe that isn’t meant for me and they can only have the experience they’re having. So I just have to focus on myself and since I can’t be them, I have to be the best version of myself I can be.
What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Maybe that I have a twin. That is something people are surprised about. She helps me write a lot of my music. A lot of people will see her and think she’s me, we have to work out if we actually know the person or if they’ve met the other one of us.
The Fox Magazine is all about inspiration, what/who inspires you the most?
I would say, my mom. She always wanted to be a singer when she was younger, she’s from Australia as well so there weren’t really any opportunities for that. Also had kids really young so she never got to fulfill her dreams. I remember one time I’d told her hey I put this music out, do you want to hear it? She was just so proud and told me ‘ I always wanted to do this, I’m so glad you’re actually doing it.’ I’ve learned from her that if she didn’t go for it and wishes she did, I’m definitely going to go for it.
What was the last thing that inspired you?
After watching Rihanna at the Super Bowl, I was like wow she’s pregnant on stage and had this whole career in front of her. Just seeing that and the longevity, and her make-up plug as well. I’m just in wow, you can do it all. I was kind of seeing myself through her, it was just so inspiring.
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