Get to know Mihra, and their dreamy new album, Girl And Her Symbols

Forming in 2014, Mihra is the side project for My Elephant Ride's Chevaunne Keleher, developing a four-piece band to work on a wonderfully dreamy brand indie-pop sounds, one that coalesces to perfection on sophomore album, A Girl And Her Symbols. Released last Friday, it's a "concept album," where "each song details an individual dream from a month long period of keeping a Carl Jung-inspired dream journal."

Their results are a wonderfully immersive sonic journey, with nine tracks demanding your utmost attention, just begging you to take a little time for yourself and go on a little trip into some lush soundscapes. To mark its release, we sent Keleher a few questions to find out more about Mihra, which you can read up on while you listen to the album below (just click anywhere on the embed to get it started).

Tell us about yourself?

We’re a four-piece who met in music school - of all places! We strum strings, smack skins, kiss keys and undulate underwater.

What kinda tunes we talkin’?

Something like art rock – we like delay-soaked vox set to crunchy drums, warm synths atmospheric guitar and groovadelic bass.

Production/writing process:

The writing process involved pouring over a scrawled dream journal and experimenting with translating the stories to music. I sat between a piano and a keyboard and made weird loops that turned into laptop demos, while Nathan made me cups of tea. We recorded the beds at Soundpark with Naomune Ansari, first time recording to tape which was awesome! And we recorded the overdubs and mixed it ourselves with help from Simon Lam (Kllo). We had heaps of fun with the theramin we found at Soundpark! I thought we might get a sensible melody out of it but that thing has a mind of its own?? So we used it for some spooky atonal atmos with Nao’s space echo.

Can you tell us about your new album, Girl And Her Symbols?

The album is a journey through different dream landscapes. Each song paints a strange narrative with its own distinct mood, woven with palatable pop flavours. Turn off all the lights, fill your room with water and sink into our dream ocean.

What’s the rest of the year have in store?

Release and relax. Going to have a bathe in the Melbourne summer and see what’s new on the horizon. And have a merry non-denominational holiday!

Where can we hear more of your music?

Bandcamp and Wig Wam Records.

Follow Mihra: FACEBOOK