Meanjin/Brisbane-based Artist ixaras Returns with New Single ‘THIS CITY’
‘THIS CITY’ is the first taste of new music from ixaras in 2025.
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It’s been a quiet start to the year for emerging Meanjin/Brisbane-based talent ixaras, but the DIY artist returned last week with the release of his new single, ‘THIS CITY’.
Produced by Roeith Geraghty, ‘THIS CITY’ begins with the enchanting sound of the didgeridoo before soaring synths and purring percussion join ixaras’ undeniable falsetto, coming together for two minutes of captivating contemporary pop. It’s one of those songs that’s over too soon and leaves you wanting more.
“‘This City' is a portrait of self-reinvention in a world where survival demands transformation. Inspired by the novel Jekyll and Hyde, the song explores the psychological toll of killing off your past self to succeed,” ixaras explains. “The refrain, 'This City Knows My Name', is manifestation, declaration, and lying all in one. It's about the pursuit of ambition, acknowledging what parts of yourself you've sacrificed along the way, such as the paranoia of being perceived, a love letter to the version of you that had to disappear so the world would take notice.”
The track is accompanied by a black and white music video directed by Mellow Minh. The clip was shot in Eora/Sydney and explores film noir themes. Speaking on the video, Minh explains, “Ixara and I met a while back when I was out on tour with Skeggs — I instantly knew as soon as I heard her play, an exhilaration that I never heard before. So, as soon as I finished the leg, I dm’d her, wanting to work with her. As manifestation has it, while in Vietnam. She hit me with this track, and it blew my mind. I knew I wanted to make something out of it — the idea instantly came to mind, and we never looked back.”
A finalist in triple j Unearthed's Unearthed High (2023), ixaras shared her debut EP, full lover fake friend, at the end of 2024, with the eight-track release already garnering over 1 million streams.
Along with performing at festivals including NYE On The Hill, Great Escape Tasmania and Sweet Relief Festival, and supporting the likes of Grinspoon, Tyne-James Organ, Esha Tewari, and Aleksiah, ixaras also runs her own all-ages, DIY event management and record label Anti-Dismal.
ixaras is the most recent recipient of ‘Greater Good’, the independent artist initiative from Good Intent that includes a cash grant totalling $30,000 and in-kind services with partners Forbes Street Studios, Jungle Merchandise, Purple Sneakers, PHILTER, Zenith Records, Media Arts Lawyers, Billy Zammit, PLAKKIT, White Sky and Ben Mitchell.
Stream ixaras’ ‘THE CITY’ here.
