Interview: Kyara Talks Up Her Debut Single, ‘Yearn’

Sydney indie-pop artist, Kyara recently revealed her dynamic debut single, Yearn. The addictive track has been turning heads all over and in the small time since it’s release has landed some impressive online streams. To get to know Kyara a little better, we recently caught up with her to find out more about the single and what has inspired her career so far.

Congrats on the release of your debut single! How does it feel to have it out in the world?

Thank you so much! It feels incredibly surreal. I’ve been making music for years and have never felt sure about how I should go about debuting my music to the “world”, but as soon as ‘Yearn’ was born, I didn’t even really stop to consider if it was ready for release. I just went with my gut and acted on pure instinct. Now it’s out there and I couldn’t be prouder or more grateful for the positive and supportive response it has received – especially for a debut release.

‘Yearn’ is such a powerful debut—can you tell us about the creative process behind the song? What inspired you to write and produce it yourself?

With this track in particular, I was inspired after watching the film “Challengers” at the movies. While I was watching it, I was bopping along to the incredible score of the film – which you’ll definitely find in my Spotify Wrapped at the end of the year – and the music, I found, really resonated with the songs I had been making.

I had already written a slew of tracks and knew what my sonic identity was, but I wanted to write something – within my sonic realm – that was catchy, confident, and unmistakably me to debut with. Watching and being engrossed in the film somehow brought me this joy and spark that I had been waiting for, and the story was something that I related to deeply in certain ways. Once I sat down to write and see what came out, nothing could stop me. It’s as if I blacked out, regained consciousness after a few hours, and had somehow started writing the catchy, powerful, sultry anthem of my dreams.

The feeling that inspired ‘Yearn’ was so personal and intimate that I was the only person who I trusted at the time to translate it into sound in a way that captured the intended experience as I had imagined it. Although I have always been writing and producing my own music, I am definitely open and keen to collaborate with other writers and producers on future projects.

The track explores themes of seduction, power, and female pleasure. How did the film ‘Challengers’ influence the narrative of ‘Yearn’, and why were these themes important for you to address?

When I wrote ‘Yearn’, I had just been through this massive journey of self discovery when it comes to romantic relationships. I felt as though I had always been the pursuer, and I was ready to take a step back and be chased and chosen by someone else. This was a topic that was heavy on my mind, then when I watched ‘Challengers’, I felt like the universe had watched my experiences, heard my desires, and charged me $20 to see it play out on screen.

The film closely followed three main leads, and I felt as if I could strongly relate to each of them in a way. Two characters were chasing after the female lead, yearning for her love and approval, and the female lead wielded this power she held over them in her favour.

Obviously, this wasn’t the healthiest dynamic, but it did prompt me to imagine what it would be like to be unconditionally adored and desired by someone, as she was. When I visualised myself in her place, I felt powerful, and it ignited a feeling of desire – or “yearning” – within myself that I didn’t expect.

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Your production on ‘Yearn’ is both lush and commanding. How do you approach blending electronic elements with your vocal performance to create such an immersive sound?

My approach to blending electronic elements with vocals in ‘Yearn’ was deeply influenced by synthwave, but I aimed to simplify it for a more hypnotic pop sound. I chose a driving beat and a straightforward instrumental setup, where the chord progression and bassline repeat throughout. This intentional simplicity ensures that the focus remains on the vocals and lyrics, rather than overpowering them. Instrumentally, to enhance the drama as the stakes grow higher in the story, I added keys and strings after the first chorus, enriching the track’s emotional depth.

Also, I tend to craft the melody and lyrics simultaneously, so they naturally complement each other, in this track mimicking the sensation of building tension and desire, creating a sense of anticipation for the drop.

I approached the actual vocal performance with the intention of maintaining a controlled sultry, softness, as I wanted to make the protagonist’s dominance and sensual control in the narrative known. The bridge, however, sees a controlled shift in performance, whereby the protagonist offers a role reversal, baiting the “love interest” with the prospect of him taking charge, as she yearns for him to show his hunger for her.

You mentioned that ‘Yearn’ delves into the complexities of romantic dynamics and the allure of surrender. How do you think your listeners will connect with these themes?

I believe listeners will resonate with ‘Yearn’ because it taps into a universal desire to feel wanted, valued and sure of yourself. The song captures the duality of confidence and vulnerability – when listeners sing along, they might feel a sense of empowerment and control, while also connecting with the protagonist’s underlying “yearning” to be yearned for, ironically. This interplay between confidence and desire creates an emotional depth that I think people will find relatable. The sensual tone of the track amplifies this need, cloaking the deeply emotional longing in an alluring and seductive mask.

As a new voice in the indie pop scene, what do you hope to bring to the genre with your unique style and storytelling?

I aim to bring a fresh, cinematic, and dreamy perspective to indie pop, infusing the genre with both emotional depth and a positive twist. While I enjoy exploring playful and cheeky themes, as seen in ‘Yearn’, I also address topics of longing, love, and loss in my other tracks (stay tuned). My goal is to present these experiences in a vibrant and nostalgic way, highlighting the beauty of the stories rather than their sadness.

I want listeners to feel like the protagonists in their own personal movie, getting lost in the music and creating vivid, emotional montages in their minds.

With ‘Yearn’ marking your debut, what can we expect from you next?

There is definitely more music on the way! You can expect more of my signature cinematically influenced electropop, with each track exploring a range of dreamlike atmospheres – whether sweet, sensual, dark, or even nightmarish… You’ll have to stay tuned to find out what’s next.

Kyara’s impressive debut single, Yearn is available now, everywhere.