Karmel Jager Nowhere To Go Interview

Karmel Jäger is a Sydney based DJ, producer and singer. Her latest track,"Iso, Nowhere to Go", is the third release from this budding Sydney artist. Originally a professional classical singer, Karmel moved from London back to her hometown of Sydney in 2017. Transitioning from classical to electronic music fairly quickly, Karmel released her debut self-produced track in 2018 and began DJing in early 2019. Karmel has been honing her producing skills alongside building a DJ career, releasing a second track in 2019 and being booked for clubs nights including Sunday Service, Undisclosed (Goodbar), This is Living, Gigs in the Garden (The Roundhouse), Birdcage (Slyfox) and Toyko Sing Song.

Karmel honed her craft at the Sydney Conservatorium and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Based in the UK for three years, she performed as a classical singer throughout Europe, and recorded extensively as a session singer at AIR and Abbey Road Studios, appearing on soundtracks for films, tv and videogames, including the likes of BBC's Sherlock, The Avengers, Star Wars and World of Warcraft.

Thanks to her diverse musical background, Karmel finds it difficult to stick to one genre, and plays deep house, house, minimal, progressive, techno and rnb.

Interview with Karmel Jager

Question: How would you describe your music?

Karmel Jager : An eclectic mix of electronic vocal dance music.


Question: Can you tell us about Nowhere to Go?

Karmel Jager : Nowhere to Go is basically a mini tantrum that I wrote and produced from start to finish one day during the height of Sydney's isolation. It's a jazz-hop electronic track with sultry vocals and mellow, jazzy riffs. It's about the frustration of being in isolation, yearning for connection and a longing for days seemingly out of reach.


Question: What inspired Nowhere to Go?

Karmel Jager : My inspiration for writing the track was one of Charli XCX's insta streams. She was making her iso album, and watching her share her process, so raw and honest, I just got inspired to make a track. I wrote it from start to finish in a couple of hours, so I really love the raw quality of this track.


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

Karmel Jager : If there were to be a message from this track, I think it would be to try to find ways to get out of negative thought patterns, and to look for positives. Mental health is such a huge issue, and especially at a time like this, finding ways to make yourself feel upbeat is really important.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Karmel Jager : Live for classical, recording for pop.


Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Karmel Jager : Of my own music, I don't have one yet! As a classical singer it was probably Von Ewige Lieber by Brahms. The story is told first from the narrator's perspective, then from the man's and then the woman's. It's a beautiful story of the strength and power of love.


Question: Can we expect a tour once COVID-19 has passed?

Karmel Jager : I'm not really at the touring stage yet. Electronic live sets are pretty complicated to set up. I've done a few live sets, but I want to spend more time working on a set-up that I'm really happy with, before taking it out on the road.


Question: Do you play any instruments?

Karmel Jager : Yeah, my first instrument was the violin, then I taught myself piano before studying the viola, and finally taking singing lessons in my mid-teens.

Question: What was it like to study music in London?

Karmel Jager : To be at a world-class college with amazing musicians from all over the world was so inspiring for me. Combined with amazing teachers and the performance opportunities that followed.. I found it was all pretty surreal.


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

Karmel Jager : Eli Brown. I would love to top line for an Eli Brown track, and if he liked any of my production ideas I would basically die!


Question: What's a typical day like?

Karmel Jager : Oh, there's really no such thing as a typical day for me! I mean, iso has pretty much shut everything down for now, but before that, a typical day for me would really be either performing or preparing whatever was most urgent! So I could be doing anything from planning DJ sets, searching for new music or producing a new track to sending out invoices or doing a gig. When you release your own music there's press as well, so taking time out for interviews, and to thank radio stations for playing your music is another part of it.


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Karmel Jager : Believing in myself enough not to give up. So many people either give up or don't give their passion a real go in the first place, something I totally respect and understand. The music industry is pretty tough, there's a lot of sacrifices, and you do have to really want it more than anything to make a career out of it.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?
Karmel Jager : The fact that I get to do what I love for work is such a privilege. Having music as one of the most central parts of my life means I really just get to be myself, fully, most of the time. That's how I see it anyway. It's pretty crazy really, when I stop to think about it. I'm really grateful for the life I get to live.


Question: What's next, for you?

Karmel Jager : Next up I'll be releasing the music video, and then the club remixes of Nowhere to Go, followed by another track in a few months' time. I'll be recording vocals for some other producers' tracks, and I have a couple of live streams coming up soon with Love Dance Radio and Undisclosed, so make sure you check out those. I'll be posting about it on social media.


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

Karmel Jager : Instagram 

Facebook 


Interview by Gwen van Montfort