Live Review: Stara's 'Conflict Of Interest' EP is polished, poised & powerful

Sydney's STARA not too long ago gave us the first taste of a new EP she'd been working on. The track was 'I Like Being Alone,' and we got to premiere the downtempo-gut puncher back in April. With one of the catchiest hooks we've heard all year, we were instantly drawn in.

Today, she's shared her new EP in full. Conflict of Interest is a four tracker, journeying through varying shades of RnB, trap and pop. In her own words, "this project is all about embracing the ‘Conflict of Interest’ of being someone who hates parties, hates drinking, loves bed, loves being alone, loves home, loves dreaming, thinking, visualising, learning, being present and doing what I can to keep improving myself and the world around me."

'I Like Being Alone,' kicks off the release, the hazy instrumental dancing around her strong vocal, one she sings with intense conviction. 'I Hate Parties,' continues the storyline, a punchy pop track with echoed trance-like stabs and throbbing percussion. Her voice shines on this one, the track allowing for her vocal range to be showcased fully.

In an apt collaboration, 'I Crack Stones,' features Sydney's Kayar on the vocal and Stara on the production. This track in particular showcases how much of a weapon she is behind the DAW, with layers of delicate sounds piling on one another to create a thick, whole soundscape. Kayar's voice brings a similar element of emotionality to Stara's sound as she does, so whilst she doesn't lend her voice to this one, it's home on the EP feels like a perfect fit.

'I Loathe The Blindfold.' closes out the EP, the most experimental of the lot. The instrumental feels unconventional, the percussion holding the brunt of the melodic weight, whilst sharp, almost jarring sounds weave in and out of one another to create one big melting pot of sounds. There's a slight vocoder effect on her voice, giving it a metallic quality which feels cohesive against the grainy instrumental.

"The last year has been all about re-evaluating choices and breaking normalised conventions to be myself, Stara said. "And to be honest, I’ve never felt more alive and happier."

Words by CAITLIN MEDCALF

LISTEN TO MORE NEW MUSIC HERE

SEE ALSO

PREMIERE: STARA EFFORTLESSLY MELDS GENRES ON ‘I LIKE BEING ALONE,’

STARA’S ‘SIMULACRA’ EP IS THE MOST UNIQUE THING YOU’LL HEAR THIS WEEK