‘Ballerina Jewellery Box’ delivers an immersive, ethereal listening experience. It could be perceived as a tender mirage or a heartwarming caress, a hypnotic aural journey that doesn’t disappoint. Drenched in bedroom pop-esque tones and soothing melodies, the record catapults Australian songstress Kaylah Jordyn back to the limelight, following a two-year hiatus since her previous effort ‘Ultraviolet’.
Boasting evocative, malleable vocals and imaginative lyricism, ‘Ballerina Jewellery Box’ seeks to capture the current cultural push towards childlike whimsy, a move that could be seen as escapism, a reaction to a gloomy and troubled reality. Approaching adult life, Jordyn grapples with responsibility and the daily grind, yet never forgetting to keep her inner creativity alive.
‘Ballerina Jewellery Box’ is out this Friday, August 14th. Intrigued by the record, we caught up with Kaylah to learn more about her artistry and future goals… Interview below!
Hi Kaylah, thanks for chatting with us! While ‘Ballerina Jewellery Box’ marks the start of a new era for the project, you did release a single back in 2024, ‘Ultraviolet’. What caused such a long hiatus between the two tracks? Have you been writing music behind the scenes?
Hi, thank you so much for having me! I feel like time has flown by so quickly. I can’t believe it’s been two years between releases. I think most of my time went towards finishing my uni degree. My final assessment was a huge project with a songwriting portfolio and lots of marketing aspects, and I felt like I put my whole soul into that body of work. Thankfully, it was very much tied into what I want to be doing as an artist, so I’ve been able to use a lot of that work I did towards this next stage of my journey.
I’ve definitely been writing and producing behind the scenes. As a songwriter, I see inspiration in everything that I do. I could be on a walk and something special would pop into my head… I would then write it down and refine it later. I think that’s one of the many beauties of being a songwriter. A lot of the time it’s unplanned. If it’s been a while since I’ve written, though, I get this bodily urge to carve time out and write. I can’t ignore it.
I am a firm believer that music (and art in general) is a powerful tool to cope with reality; in that sense, ‘Ballerina Jewellery Box’ is a track drenched in escapism and nostalgia, a piece that seeks to capture a precise era in the Kaylah Jordyn storyline… Was the song inspired by events in your life?
I feel like ‘escapism’ is the perfect word to describe what I was going through. I was working multiple jobs, in uni full-time, and moving out of my family home, so I was really trying to escape all of the responsibilities that I took on while writing this song. I wanted to teleport back to a time where I was a lot more carefree and I didn’t put so much pressure on myself.
When I listen to the song, my childhood home consumes all of my thoughts. I can see my sister’s gorgeous pink room. I remember the fashion show my sisters and I filmed as we tried on our favourite clothes and strutted down the hallway. It wasn’t so much inspired by events, but by the place and the feelings. That chime of a jewellery box instantly brings my adult self into my childhood bedroom, surrounded by teddies, purple walls, and endless possibilities.
There has definitely been a rise in nostalgia-themed works out there, even a general push to embrace ‘childlike whimsy’ as a life philosophy. Why do you think that is? Could it be a reaction to the increasing darkness of our world?
I think with the advancement of technology, we are constantly trying to optimise our lives. There is no such thing as sitting outside to just listen to the birds anymore. Instead it’s, “Let me go for a walk, and while I’m on that walk I’ll reply to some emails and also listen to that podcast episode with my noise-cancelling headphones.” I am so guilty of this! I’ve had to make a real effort these past few months to just stop and breathe.
We are always consuming new information on social media, including things we might not even want to know about. One hundred percent, I think the rise of ‘childlike whimsy’ is a plea to go back to a simpler time without phone addictions, where we had a moment to use our imaginations. Absolutely, the increasing darkness of the world plays into this. Once again, ‘escapism’ is the perfect word.
From a sonic perspective, how did ‘Ballerina Jewellery Box’ come along? Is there a team around it? How long has it been in the works? Are you proud of how it turned out?
I was actually listening to the original demo not long ago, and I can’t believe how different they are. The song truly started out as a ballad when I first wrote it about two years ago with the guidance of my songwriting lecturer at the time, Georgia Fields. The tempo was slower and the track was really raw; it was pretty much just piano chords played by my very talented friend Isaac. He put his own personal style into what I had written and fleshed it out beautifully with some melodic lines, which are still featured in the final version. Then, it was just some very simple hi-hats and vocals I recorded in bed because I was sick.
I decided to revisit the song because I was in another period of my life where I really related to the lyrics, and I knew I wanted to finish it for other people who maybe needed to hear it, too. I then took it to producer Nik Pringadi, who helped me bring my ideas to life. He really insisted on creating a ‘jewellery box chime’ to carry the track, which I loved working with him on. He was such a big support throughout this process. He pushed me beyond what I realized I was capable of and was always enthusiastic about creating the world of the song.
I’m most proud of the production because I’ve never taken this much ownership over one of my songs. I was completely involved in the process every step of the way, so it really feels like my own, which is something I’ve been working towards for a while. Of course, the lyricism holds a special place in my heart as well because it really paints a picture.
How do you usually approach songwriting? Do you start with a melody or a lyric?
I approach songwriting in a bit of an odd way, which is always fun. I try to create a mood by producing the track first, and then I topline over it with melody and lyrics at the same time. I usually have ideas written down, whether that is just bullet points or maybe a poem I have written, to use as inspiration. I think this way the track, melody, and lyrics are all working together and sound really cohesive. It’s what comes most naturally to me as someone who has grown up singing and improvising through performance.
Let’s focus on Kaylah Jordyn the artist for a second; what motivated you to pick up music in the first place? Is there anything or anyone that has helped you become the talented songwriter you are today?
When I was about five, my sister and I did ballet and hip-hop dance lessons together. I wasn’t very good at it and didn’t have the same passion for it that my sister did. According to my mum, I sang at a school assembly one time and a parent came up to her and said I sounded good, and from that day on, my parents put me into singing lessons. I completely fell in love with singing, musical theatre, and generally being the centre of attention… oops! My mum and dad, aunty, and grandparents have always encouraged me to keep at it, even though they aren’t musical themselves, and I feel so grateful to know I have them in my corner.
Besides this, I’ve had so many talented songwriting mentors along the way who have helped me to develop my own sound. My two biggest songwriting mentors have been Brodie (Magdalia) and Georgia Fields.
Brodie, who was originally my singing teacher, has played a huge role in my development as an artist. Beyond helping me grow as a vocalist, she has provided me with invaluable songwriting guidance and created opportunities for collaboration, live performance, and real-world industry experience. Her belief in me has encouraged me to pursue songwriting with confidence.
My songwriting lecturer through uni, Georgia Fields, has been incredibly influential in shaping me as a songwriter. She gave me the assurance to trust my own creative voice and equipped me with the strong songwriting foundations I lacked when I first began. Through her teaching and encouragement, I learned not only the craft of songwriting but also the importance of writing authentically and embracing my own perspective.
Navigating the modern music industry can be pretty complex, even for people with larger teams or wider industry support. How are you approaching your career from a business perspective? I have to say, Australia looks like quite a healthy environment, at least from a music discovery perspective.
Honestly, I feel like I’m just starting out. Some days I’m completely winging it by putting myself out there and hoping for the best, and other days I’m at workshops and industry events to network and learn as much as I can. As independent artists go in Australia, I think lots of us take on a DIY approach. I’m a very hands-on artist. I manage everything myself, from writing and producing my music to organising releases, pitching to playlists and radio, applying for grants, reaching out to media, creating content, and booking performances. Doing it all myself has given me a really well-rounded understanding of how the music industry works and what it takes to build a career independently.
As my project grows, I’d love to keep learning from people with more experience and eventually build a team around me. For now, though, I enjoy being involved in every part of the process and having creative control over my project.
Young adulthood is often a difficult time for many out there; Yet, struggles can often result in a supercharged creative flow. Do you feel as though being uncomfortable in life helps being more creative? I find that when life gets too quiet and routine-ish, the spark often goes away…
Definitely! Stepping out of your comfort zone is the only way we can expand! I have bigger dreams than one person can achieve in their lifetime, and I love living that way. It’s so exciting when you have endless options of things you want to do and create. Some of my best ideas have come from moments where I’ve felt uncertain or challenged, because those experiences force you to see the world differently and reflect more deeply.
Creativity thrives on curiosity and change, and I think staying too comfortable can sometimes keep us creating the same things over and over. Pushing yourself into unfamiliar situations, trying new things, and embracing a bit of discomfort helps you expand not only your perspective, but also what you’re capable of creating.
Lastly, what’s next for Kaylah Jordyn?
There’s definitely more music on the way, but I’ll keep the details a little secret for now. I can say that I’ve been spending a lot of time writing and collaborating with some incredible new people, and it’s been a really exciting chapter creatively. I’ve finally found a team that truly understands the sound and vision I’ve been chasing, and I feel like I’m stepping into a more polished, confident version of my artistry. I’m really excited for people to hear what’s next; I think these songs are the closest I’ve come to creating music that feels completely like me.