Khailana: Interview + New Single/Video 'The Gnome King'

KATIE BROWN - 27 OCT 2021

PHOTO: LYDIA HILL

Like a mythical creature springing forth from a Tolkien world into the modern day, Wellington-based dream-pop artist Khailana has just released ethereal new single “The Gnome King”, and it’s entirely as spellbinding as its name suggests. Her style and sound draws comparison to the likes of AURORA, Björk and Grimes, and there’s another comparison out there for you lore lovers, which is with Tolkien’s Tinúviel - an elf with an incomparably lovely, silvery singing voice who won the heart of the mortal Beren, and sacrificed her immortality for him in a collision of beauty with tragedy - a simultaneous expression of joy and pain. This resulting brand of haunting beauty is what can be heard in Khailana’s music: with a vision tuned in to the magical, she is an artist who taps into and expresses both life’s darkness and light in her delicately layered works, accompanied by a healthy dose of beguiling eeriness.

“The Gnome King” grew from the realisation that a relationship was drawing to an end, and within it a cavernous sparseness is contrasted with a mesmerising immediacy, its layered, reverbed vocals and minimal instrumentation imbuing it with an otherworldly sense of melancholy and loss. Produced alongside Sutherlandsounds, it’s the perfect translation of the timeless mythical into the modern dream-pop realm of today in its careful balancing of electronic and synthetic components with the bewitching beauty of Khailana’s vocals.

Reflecting her musical artistry visually, the single is accompanied by an equally mesmerising video made with Abstract Bear Productions (below), and it follows on from her stunning self-produced debut single “Our Monster”, released earlier in the year to glowing reviews.

We had a chat with Khailana about growing up with a love for all things mythical and magical, along with the genesis of her musical journey - read the interview below!

Find Khailana on Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube

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KATIE: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR MAGICAL NEW SINGLE “THE GNOME KING”! WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE PART ABOUT MAKING IT?

Khailana: Thank you so much! My favourite part of this process was actually writing the song, which was around 3 years ago now. I loved working on the production but this was one of those songs that just felt so good to write. I really love how many new meanings I've found within the lyrics since then too!

THE SINGLE ADDRESSES THE PAIN OF A RELATIONSHIP THAT ISN’T WORKING OUT. WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO TRANSLATE THIS EXPERIENCE INTO SONG?

I often spend quite a few days writing a song, but this one felt as though it wrote itself! I had a lot of bottled up emotions at the time and it just felt very beautiful and comforting to release them through song. Like I said, I've found so many more meanings within the lyrics since then and I feel like this song is really an ode to any kind of chapter ending and the fear that can come with that.

WHERE DOES THE IDEA OF THE ‘GNOME KING’ COME FROM?

It's a bit of a weird story! There's this movie called Return to Oz (which is an unofficial sequel to the Wizard of Oz), and in the movie Dorothy goes back to find that all of the people there have been turned to stone by a villain called the Nome King. I watched it once when I was young and it really scared me, the movie has a really dark energy to it!

Anyway, when I was writing the song I had this picture in my head of someone being turned to stone, as a metaphor for the way heartbreak and fear can take over and cause your world to feel dull for a while. It wasn't until after I wrote the line "the king would turn us all to stone" that I realised I was subconsciously writing about the Nome King!

YOU COME FROM A VERY CREATIVE BACKGROUND. WHAT INSPIRED YOU GROWING UP? DO YOU HAVE FAVOURITE MUSIC, FICTION OR FILMS THAT HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT FOR YOU OVER THE YEARS?

My first musical love/inspiration was Lady Gaga! I remember staying at a motel with my family when I was a kid, and the video for Poker Face came on the tv. I was very inspired by her growing up, she's powerful!

I was also always drawn to film, anything that was visually magical and felt like an escape into a new world. Lord of the Rings has been my favourite for a longgg time!! I even still collect the merch sometimes, I have one of the swords right next to my piano haha

YOUR MUSIC AND VISUALS HAVE A LOT OF MYTHICAL AND FANTASTICAL ELEMENTS. WHAT IS IT ABOUT FANTASY THAT CAPTIVATES YOU?

I don't really know the reason why I'm drawn to fantasy, I just always have been! Maybe it's awe at how much detail people can put into creating entire new worlds! Or maybe it's because I always felt a bit different and found comfort in escaping to these magical places? I do believe that our world is incredibly magical too though!

PHOTO: LYDIA HILL

“OUR MONSTER”, YOUR FIRST SINGLE RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR, WAS SELF-PRODUCED. HOW DID YOU GET INTO PRODUCTION?

It was never something I planned to learn, but I made friends with Michael Sutherland a few years ago who is an amazing producer and I slowly started learning just from watching or asking questions. When I started producing Our Monster I actually thought that he would work on the production for me, but he encouraged me to try it (with some guidance) and I shocked myself! We mixed the song together after that and I've felt passionate about producing ever since!

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE TO BEGIN RELEASING YOUR OWN MUSIC?

So beautiful!! But really challenging too, it's hard work! I'm just really thankful for all of the love and support that I've had so far, I'm so excited to keep sharing more of my art.

WHERE ELSE DO YOU FIND CREATIVE EXPRESSION?

I've always loved experimenting with fashion! I love collecting vintage pieces and sewing things. I also love dancing, painting, and I used to love acting a lot but I haven't had the chance to do that since high school.

WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE MUSICAL ARTISTS?

It always changes, I'm inspired by everyone! But at the moment I mostly listen to Sevdaliza, Wardruna, Julie London, Nick Cave, Noga Erez, Kelsey Lu, Rosalia and Pink Floyd.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS WITH YOUR MUSIC AND YOUR CREATIVE PURSUITS?

I have a lot of dreams. I feel really passionate about the relationship between music and visual. I would love to have the ability to create movie-like music videos! I have a lot of ideas for merch and people I'd love to collaborate with on that in the future too.

But mostly I just want to keep releasing music, make an album or EP and play really magical shows!

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