Q&A WITH EMERGING SINGER-SONGWRITER KIARA NGL
We caught up with up-and-coming singer-songwriter and producer Kiara NGL about the re-imagined version of her single ‘Every Time’, her forthcoming EP Thorns as well as her thoughts on what makes a great song. The Washington-based musician was so inspired by Sigur Rós’ album Ágætis byrjun that it inspired her entry into the music industry. Kiara NGL has released three EPs so far; catharsis, Still Life and Sad Devotion, each of which were entirely created on her iPhone using GarageBand. More recently, she has been experimenting with different DAWs on her laptop. Read our interview with Kiara NGL below:
Set the tone for us. Why the arts?
I just love getting to do something where there are no rules or boundaries. Being able to express your creativity is so freeing!
What inspired the re-imagined version of your single ‘Every Time’ ?
I always knew I wanted to do more with the song but when I first released it I didn’t have the resources to do so. Now that I have more experience and gear, I felt it was time to revisit it.
Stream the re-imagined version ‘Every (Single) Time’ below:
Take us through your collection of gear, tech or software that accompanies your creative expression.
The majority of my songs are just made using GarageBand on my phone. I’ll occasionally do some acoustic guitar, and recently I’ve been adding more gear like a microKORG synthesiser and playing around with other DAWs like Ableton.
You’re set to release an EP titled Thorns – what is the vision behind this project?
I want this to be a cohesive project. I have been toying with the idea of recording in an actual studio instead of my bedroom because I have these ideas for a much fuller and more elaborate production style.
What is your go-to method for when you need to boost your creativity?
I have a huge backlog of voice memos and notes on my phone that are just little snippets of an idea. I’ll go back and find stuff I totally forgot about and just start building on that.
What do you think is the recipe for a great song?
I don’t think that there is one – I’m going through my favourite playlist now and every song is so different! I do think a beautiful lush soundscape can really set the foundation for a great song though.
What are the biggest challenges you have discovered thus far as a musician/producer?
Knowing when to say a song is done. It’s so easy to get caught up in the little details like trying to find the perfect snare or getting the vocals to sound a certain way.
Any side projects you’re working on?
I’d love to do a poetry book someday. But for now I’m just focusing on the EP. I’ve never been very good at managing multiple projects at once.
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