Kara Manansala with band (November 2024), photography by Hills House Media
Kara Manansala participated in the Interplay program in 2024 (it still feels weird writing about that in the past tense). After incredible Interplay showcase performances in November 2024, both Kara and fellow Interplay artist Ms. Chipeta were programmed into this year’s WOMADelaide.
Your original sound is a fusion of contemporary genres, can you list some of the artists who’ve influenced your current sound?
I listen to so much different music that I’m sure all creep in, in some way or another! I’d say the biggest one at the moment is the nu-jazz scene—which I didn’t even discover until I was at Uni—, particularly a lot of the sounds coming from Naarm (Melbourne) and artists like Hiatus Kaiyote, Jordan Rakei, Audrey Powne and Allysha Joy. Then there’s artists of the 90s/200s RnB and Pop scene that I grew up on (eg. Mario and Neyo) and artists I admire for their lyricism, stunning melodies and harmony like Eloise, Bruno Major and Olivia Dean. Lately, I’ve also really been digging some groovy instrumental stuff, even throw a little DnB in the mix there, or Hip-Hop too – as I said, truly a mixed bag!
You recently did a support slot at OzAsia for L-Fresh the Lion, describe how that felt and what performing your original music live means to you.
I’m so grateful and glad for that opportunity! It came at a point where I was feeling really stuck and unsure of my music. We hadn’t played for a while (by my own choice) and I’d forgotten how great it could be! I went up feeling so apprehensive and came off feeling fulfilled and inspired! I think to make and then share original music is such a vulnerable thing, and I’m always picking my music apart to assess if I feel it accurately and authentically represents who I am and what I want to put forward. A lot of my songs have come from specific experiences, or grappling with emotions and worries, so it can sometimes feel super exposing, especially in the context of lyrics. In instances where somebody else has related to something I’ve written about, I feel it’s an incredibly freeing and comforting feeling for us both. It also just means funnn, it’s so fun and profoundly special to create and share in that with some of my bestest friends. It’s pretty much as important to me that they are enjoying themselves as it is the audience or even myself.
You received mentorship from Naarm-based singer-songwriter-producer Allysha Joy during Interplay. Describe the experience of learning from an accomplished international artist, and what you will take from this mentorship.
Mentorship from Allysha has been so wonderful. While I’ve been in a bit of a weird spot with music and ambitions this year, it has been so critical to have met and connected with her this year through Interplay, and to allow her way of moving through creativity, music and life to remind me of so many things I feel I’d forgotten. I now move in a completely different way through not only music, but just this life in general, that I feel is in no small way influenced by her. She’s given me so many great insights into a lot of the behind-the-scenes action of music and press etc, that proved so helpful especially after my WOMAD offer and all of the bts work needed following from that!
Briefly describe your experience taking part in the Interplay program in 2024, and share one memorable moment for you.
For a lot of this year, I was really struggling personally, and felt like I was wasting what is so objectively an incredible opportunity. Interplay kept me connected to people throughout all of that and made sure I wasn’t alone for if and when I came out the other side. It has been so wonderful to truly be handed so much information and resources, even if some of them felt so far away from being relevant, I feel more comfortable and confident in being prepared for when those opportunities do arise. Interplay was really an anchor to music for me, being surrounded by people reminding me that I am in the right space, while I struggled to feel worthy of creating art. I can’t think of a specific memorable moment right now (though I’m sure there are many), but I am just overall so grateful to the program for being my musical lifeline, at a time that I might’ve completely let go otherwise.
Kara Manansala is hitting the ground running in 2025 with performances already announced for New Found Sound and WOMADelaide.