Ivy Adara Stranger Interview

Offering up clever and catchy confessions magnified by expansive pop soundscapes, Australian-born and Los Angeles-based singer and songwriter Ivy Adara encourages such a connection. With her next project set to be released in 2022, this vivacious young songbird has only just begun her journey with her latest single, "Stranger."

"'Stranger' was one of those songs that just fell out. In one moment, everything I had been feeling over a couple of months finally made sense," said Ivy Adara. "I had been completely detached from reality, almost as if I was floating above myself, watching me live a life that was so far from who I really wanted to be deep inside. I was feeling so depressed my dad came to visit me in LA all the way from Sydney.

For the first time in my life, I could acknowledge that I felt like a stranger in my own skin. I fell on my bed and wrote the lyrics in a number of minutes. I picked up my pen and wrote down some chords. I picked up my guitar, started singing and 'Stranger' fell out, like it had been living inside me forever. I was just a passenger. The song was not a part of me, I was a part of the song."

Being a lover of pop, Ivy was tempted to base the song on a structure that was driven by a catchy chorus. Instead she engaged her classical roots and love of old hymns by keeping the song revolved around one simple refrain, and travelling back and forth to different verses.

Ivy's raw, ethereal vocals chase a vintage acoustic guitar that provides an organic canvas to tell the story of a girl who's brave enough to face her demons in order to find herself again. Inspired by her love for the acoustic genre, she wanted to channel the integrity that undergirds the music of Carol King and Carly Simon. Wrapped in a warm, driving rhythm, the lyrics make you want to dance and cry all at the same time. "Stranger" takes you to a place where you can be honest about where you are today, while being hopeful about who you can be tomorrow.

Ivy recognized her path early on and wrote her first song at seven-years- old (inspired by Aussie artist Kasey Chambers). From then on, the budding talent simply never stopped writing, leaving her discography's total streams exceeding 200 million on Spotify alone. Becoming an in-demand talent behind-the-scenes, she seamlessly transitioned into the spotlight as a solo artist with her first EP Introduction. She then went on to perform co-written song "Bye Bye" at Coachella and on many more stages with acclaimed DJ, Gryffin.

Adara has had countless sync success on shows such as So You Think You Can Dance (FOX) and Love Island (CBS) with upcoming releases featured in the JLo movie, "Marry Me" and with artists such as Mae Muller, Cheat Codes and Tinashe. The songstress has received recognition on a global scale as a songwriter collaborating with renowned producers, artists and songwriters such as: Cirkcuit, Captain Cuts, Roget Chahayed, Oak, Selena Gomez, Rita Ora, Daya, Jennifer Lopez, and G-Eazy.

With her next project set to be released in 2022, this vivacious young songbird has only just begun her journey with her latest single, "Stranger."

Interview with Ivy Adara

Question: How would you describe your music?

Ivy Adara: My music is hopeful and dark, warm and empowering, it's vulnerable and authentic. It's music with a conscience that intertwines hope and pain to tell stories of humankind. No matter what production surrounds my music, it's always driven by a story. Maybe one that has never been heard before or maybe one makes you think a little deeper. Where there is a story, there is a link for human connection and an opportunity to love. And that, at the end of the day is why we are all here.


Question: Can you tell us about Stranger?

Ivy Adara: Stranger was one of those songs that just fell out. In one moment, everything I had been feeling over a couple of months finally made sense. I had been completely detached from reality, almost as if I was floating above myself, watching myself live a life that was so far from who I really wanted to be deep inside. I was feeling so depressed my dad came to visit me in LA all the way from Sydney. We're both big music fans so we were listening to some classics when it hit me. For the first time in my life, I could acknowledge that I felt like a stranger in my own skin. I fell on my bed and wrote the lyrics in a number of minutes. I picked up my pen and wrote down some chords. I picked up my guitar, started singing and "Stranger" fell out, like it had been living inside me forever. I was just a passenger. The song was not a part of me, I was a part of the song.


Question: Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

Ivy Adara: Yes! I ultimately hope that listeners take away hope! I never want to avoid the truth and I always want to encourage people to embrace the opportunity to grow.


Question: Has moving to LA influenced your music?

Ivy Adara: Yes! Incredibly. The people I work with in LA have showed me so much about creativity and story telling. I am so thankful for this. The city itself can be isolating and lonely, so living there has taught me a lot about connection, patience, and resilience.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Ivy Adara: Connection motivates me the most when writing music. I was singing at a showcase when I was 7 and I remember looking into someone's eyes from the crowd and they looked right back as if they could see right into me. He felt exactly what I was feeling through the song. I was shaken that I could connect with a complete stranger like that. Music is so powerful and I just want to be a part of creating that moment.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Ivy Adara: Right now I'm listening to a lot of Jon Bellion and John Mayer and my guilty pleasure is definitely Kiss Me More by Doja Cat. IT SLAPS.

Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Ivy Adara: The idea of being part of telling great stories has always been an inspiration. I've never wanted to do anything other than write songs. Also, my dad. He's the coolest and I love to write with him.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Ivy Adara: SO MANY. But probably Lana Del Rey or Johnny Cash.


Question: How does it feel to hear your song played all over the airwaves?

Ivy Adara: It's amazing. It means that hopefully people are resonating and it's giving them a place to experience a connection, whether it's an upbeat song or a ballad, I think that's awesome.


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success? Ivy Adara: I have faced empty bank accounts, being isolated from moving across the world, rejection and abandonment from people and labels, but the hardest challenge I have faced is having the courage to believe in myself. Everyday we have a choice to believe the voices that speak to us from insecurity and hurt, or we have a choice to believe the voices that are speaking out of love and courage. Unfortunately it's just much harder for me to believe the good guys! But that's okay, it's a process.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Ivy Adara: The people.

Question: What's a typical day like?

Ivy Adara: I write, I drink tea, I watch movies and I write some more.


Question: What's next, for you?

Ivy Adara: I cannot wait to release the project that Stranger is apart of! After writing this project, I know what people mean when they say "I poured my heart and soul into it" and I just can't wait to share it.


Question: Can you share your socials? (links please)

Ivy Adara: Facebook 
Instagram 
YouTube 
Spotify 
Website 


Interview by Gwen van Montfort