Chitra Unveils Bolder, Self-Reflective Era of Music in “In My Opinion”
With her bold, clarion indie-rock music, Melbourne singer-songwriter Chitra Ridwan navigates the pressures and anxieties of relationships with the grace and dexterity of a dancer. Chitra premiers her new era of music since her single release of “Give Up” which sees Chitra debut a striking shift in her range as a performing artist.
Rich with instrumentation and fierce in delivery, “In My Opinion” is a response to someone who refuses to change their patterns of behavior. Finding her footing comfortably amidst Claud and beabadoobee, Chitra propels past her humble folkstar roots to roaring rocker with angular guitars, taut percussion and sharp lyricism abound on “In My Opinion.”
“I wrote this song about trying to understand how to be there for a loved one if they don't want your help and coming to terms with that. It's about seeing patterns of behavior and getting frustrated but ultimately stepping aside,” Chitra says.
Harnessed through the “In My Opinion” chorus, Chitra lets go of the premise of capitulation – people pleasing – wrung through the phrase “I don’t want to do it no more."
Self-assured over restlessness, “In My Opinion” is Chitra’s first sample of the fruit born from a period of steady reflection, crafted into confidence through empowering growth. Her music is the vessel for navigating growth and the world with a firm lens of the present. Wide-eyed at the prospect of discovery and opportunity, crossed with a jubilant and carefree upbringing southwest of Melbourne in the Bellarine Peninsula. Her magnetism lies in catching listeners off guard with her astute observations of relationships, the world, and Chitra’s place amongst it all.
On her 2020 self-titled EP, Chitra navigated the pressures and anxieties of relationships with the grace and dexterity of a dancer, constantly in lockstep with her partner. Now Chitra’s feet are planted firmly on the ground; she’s not mincing words, and she’s not letting anyone off the hook. Today she reveals a careful shedding of the folk-pop from her earlier work in favor of a sound that represents a bolder impression of her artistry unlike before.
The sound of a revered young songwriter taking herself apart and putting herself back together even stronger will come closer into focus later this year.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Thank you for sitting down and talking to Unpublished Magazine. Our readers would love to get to know you and your music more. For any readers who aren’t familiar, what inspires your artistic style and creative persona?
[CHITRA]: Thank you for having me! I take most inspiration for my music from everyday life, my own experiences as well as those around me. I’m really interested in how we connect with other people, how we don’t and the various things that affect relationships. I just really love how you can listen to a song and it takes you to your own personal place in time and there’s so much power in that and so much can be talked about in those spaces.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Say if someone hasn’t heard of your music yet, which song would you introduce them to that encapsulates your style and maturity the best?
[CHITRA]: Ooh that’s hard! I think my newest song “In My Opinion” encapsulates it best at this moment. It’s the first song of many that are quite different to my previous EP in sound and experience. I think this song is more realized and reflective which is where I want to be heading.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What artists inspire you, either lyrically or instrumentally?
[CHITRA]: Lyrically I really love Adrienne Lenker, Flyte, Billie Marten, Angel Olsen, and then of course the greats like Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, and Patti Smith. Another one is Alvvays which I would say is both instrumental and lyrical. I think there’s a special thing in writing songs with powerful instrumentation that feels good but then also to take a second glance and realize the lyrics are so clever. Instrumentally I’m inspired by Cate Le Bon, Lucy Dacus, and Samia too.
[UNPUBLISHED]: You recently released your newest single “In My Opinion” that ushers in a new era of music for you. What can listeners expect from you in this new era?
[CHITRA]: I think this new era is as I mentioned before, a bit more reflective and realized. I really feel like I had fun with the instrumentation with these songs and took experiences from places i’ve never looked to before. To me, it feels a bit more confident and bolder.
[UNPUBLISHED]: “In My Opinion” has a heavy self-reflective energy behind it. What is the inspiration behind the single?
[CHITRA]: It was a conversation I had with a loved one who was going through some things and I was trying to be there for them whilst also trying to navigate looking after myself. Of course people cope in different ways to struggle but this was turning into a pattern that affected those around them and made it hard to support. So the song is really just expressing that frustration and being okay with supporting from a distance.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What messages, emotions or story do you hope listeners can take away from “In My Opinion?”
[CHITRA]: I think that it’s okay to be frustrated at the people you love, it’s okay to step away from something that is upsetting you. Sometimes it feels like there’s an obligation to care for your family or friends no matter what which makes it hard in those gray areas where you're also looking out for you. Just to connect in whatever way it reaches you.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What did the creative process look like for “In My Opinion?”
[CHITRA]: I actually wrote this song when I was on a writing trip. I went to an air bnb in the country and stayed for a week by myself just so completely determined to write as much as I can even if it was trash. It was both isolating – in a hard but good way – and inspiring but just knowing that I can push myself like that was nice and I got a lot from it. I recorded this with a wonderful producer in Tasmania called John Castle which was a really nice experience and Tasmania is beautiful!
[UNPUBLISHED]: “In My Opinion” also has an accompanying music video. What is the inspiration behind the video and how was your experience filming it?
[CHITRA]: I had a few ideas for the video but I just really had this urge to be so dramatic with whatever it was because it’s fun to film those things. The music video really sits in that frustration hence the day dreaming of poisoning to show how belittling it can feel to feel not heard or talked down to. The experience was really lovely, I worked with Tori Styles from Wildrose pictures and the whole crew were so supportive and easy to work with.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Have you taken any new approaches or experimented more either lyrically or sonically with this new era of music compared to your previous 2020 self-titled EP release? How so?
[CHITRA]: Yeah absolutely, I think lyrically these are all songs from moments I haven’t written about before. A lot of my previous work is heavy in themes of new love and this is more about friendships, anxiety and broader experiences. The last EP felt very innocent and fragile in a way and this feels more grounded. Sonically, what I listen to has changed a lot. The EP was folk oriented and now I'm leaning into a rockier sound with some pop elements.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What is your wildest dream as an artist? If you can have one thing happen (a milestone or dream collaboration you hope to achieve in your career), what would that look like for you?
[CHITRA]: I think having a piece of my work do really well whether that means charts or radio plays in multiple different countries would be high on the list. That or playing Glastonbury.
[UNPUBLISHED]: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the rest of the year look like for you that you would like to share with Unpublished?
[CHITRA]: I am feeling really excited at the moment. I have music I'm really happy with and a live show I'm proud of. The rest of the year will be playing shows and potentially another song from the new batch I've been working on!
