The keen reader might remember Lana Karlay from a feature we published a few months ago, celebrating ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ as “an evocative and meaningful piece steeped in cinematic allure and relatable lyricism”. Since then, the Australian songstress has been on a creative roll, unveiling ‘Running Out of Time’ and ‘Never Real’ as worthy follow-ups. ‘For the Weak’ is Karlay’s latest and newest effort, a track that completes the project’s transition from a mainstream-leaning entity to a bold pop-rock phenomenon.
Lana’s lyrical intensity is always present, once again reminding us of her talent and future potential. Boasting a hard-hitting vocal tone laid upon a catchy and brooding chorus, Karlay embraces growth and independence in the context of a romantic relationship, exploring the fleeting nature of teenage romance and the strengths of early infatuations. Now in her final high school year, the Melbourne-based creative spent some time in Los Angeles earlier this year, teaming with fellow Australian brother duo Mason & Julez on ‘For the Weak’.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with Karlay to learn more about her artistry and future goals… Interview below!
Hey Lana, thanks for chatting with us! You have been rather productive over the past year or so, releasing six singles that speak volumes about the meaningful, relatable artistry we can expect from the project. How has it been on your end? Did you find it scary to share your songs with the world? Listeners have responded positively to it, as far as I can see 🙂
Thank you so much for having me! Honestly, it’s been the craziest, most exciting year ever. Releasing music is such a weird feeling because these songs usually start as little voice memos or thoughts in my bedroom, and suddenly they’re out in the world for everyone to hear. It’s definitely scary sometimes because a lot of my songs are super personal, but I think once I realised people were connecting to them, it became way less scary and way more exciting. Seeing people message me, make edits, sing lyrics back or tell me they relate honestly makes my day every time.
Despite your young age, you have already traced a rising trajectory in the music industry, standing out as one of Australia’s top talents. Where does your nuanced artistry come from? Is there someone or something that motivated you to pursue music?
I think I’ve always been surrounded by music. Growing up, there was constantly music playing in my house, and I was lucky enough to try so many different things, from violin and piano to musical theatre and classical singing. I think all those experiences shaped how I write now. I honestly don’t remember a time when music wasn’t the thing I wanted to do. I’ve always loved how music can make people feel less alone, and I think that’s probably what motivated me most.
From a musical standpoint, what are some of your biggest influences? What have you been listening to recently?
I’m influenced by so many different artists, which probably explains why my music jumps around a little. I grew up listening to everything, from old rock bands (thanks to my parents) to pop artists, classical and musical theatre. Recently, I’ve been listening to a lot of pop rock again… figures like Paramore, Blondie, The Police, Lady Gaga, The Rolling Stones, and Avril Lavigne have definitely inspired me, but I also love artists who tell stories really well. My playlists are honestly chaos!
‘For the Weak’ marks your latest release, a piece that recentres the project’s attention on bold pop-rock territories. Is there an overall thematic core behind it? What does the record mean to you?
‘For The Weak’ is basically the soundtrack to a situationship, the moment where you suddenly realise somebody isn’t treating you the way you deserve, and you finally decide you’re over it. It follows this whole emotional rollercoaster over one week, which was really fun to write because it almost feels like reading someone’s diary. To me, it’s messy and dramatic and a little sarcastic, but also empowering at the same time. I think everyone has had a situation where they’ve ignored red flags because they liked someone, and this song kind of laughs at that.
Widening my previous question, I’d love to know what you find yourself writing about at 17. Do you prefer writing about the world around you or more about how you feel in relation to it? We should also mention that you travel to Los Angeles quite often for writing sessions.
At 17, everything feels huge. Friendships feel huge, relationships feel huge, school feels huge, and future decisions feel huge. So naturally, that ends up in my songs. I think I usually write more about how I feel in relation to things happening around me because emotions are what make songs interesting. Travelling to LA has definitely helped, though, because you’re constantly meeting new people and having new experiences, which in turn gives you so much to write about.
As you might have mentioned already, ‘For the Weak’ has been written together with Australian duo Mason & Julez. How did that collaboration come about? You are both Aussie, yet you met in the US…
It’s honestly funny because we’re all Australian but somehow ended up meeting overseas. We were introduced while I was writing and recording in LA and immediately clicked. They’re both such talented writers and producers, but also just really fun people, which makes writing so much easier. Some sessions can feel stressful, but this one just felt natural. We were laughing half the time while writing some very dramatic lyrics. I need to have fun and be able to feel comfortable expressing myself.
This is your last year of school. Do you look at the future with optimism and positivity? Do you have clear goals for the next 2-3 years?
Definitely. Finishing school feels exciting because it feels like I’m stepping into a new chapter where I can really focus on building the world around my music. Right now, my short-term goals are continuing to release consistently, develop as an artist, play more shows and keep building a strong visual world around what I create so people can connect with it beyond just the music.
Long-term, I want to keep growing as a songwriter, performer and creative overall by working with more writers, producers and creatives who inspire and challenge me. I want to keep building something bigger than just songs, creating an entire world people feel part of. I’m really excited for what’s ahead.
Lastly, there are EPs and an album in the works. What can we expect from Lana Karlay in the short term?
Lots of music. Probably too much music if you ask my friends…! Over the next little while, there’ll definitely be more singles coming which continue leaning into the pop-rock world, leading into bigger projects I’m really excited about. There’s also lots of visuals, shows and hopefully plenty more opportunities to meet people who connect with what I’m creating. This honestly feels like only the beginning.