KLP, in her own words: "I wanted to BE that artist trying to get my own music played."

The Sydney-based musician has had a big twelve months releasing music, leaving triple j and now, becoming a mother.

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Header photo by She is Aphrodite.

It's been a big year for KLP. The Sydney-based musician has done so much more than be your stock-standard electronic singer/producer, calling an end to a long stint at triple j - where she was the presenter for House Party - and then, in late-2018, the announcement of an incoming child (#KLPregnancy); signalling an incredibly exciting time ahead for KLP both personally and musically. It's been somewhat of a rollercoaster for the musician - for example, leaving a staple position at triple j comes with uncertainty and its own scares, but it opens up free time to reignite and properly explore her true passion - making and sharing music - something she's refocusing on in 2019. Under The Influence is KLP's launch into 2019, kick-starting the year ahead with a club-centric return to her house-infused roots that's focused on a swelling, bass-driven production, with vocal cuts and synth melodies joining in over the top.

Written in Berlin, it's the first taste of a more substantial project yet to come from KLP, which aims to encompass the whirlwind of the twelve months just gone. To further solidify the changes going on in her life, she's written a piece for us that really brings everything together - her move into musicianship, leaving triple j, her next chapter and more. Dive into it all below while you stream Under The Influence, and stay tuned for a big 2019 to come from one of Australia's finest.

One of the questions I get asked the most is ‘what’s one piece of advice you would give someone wanting to be in this industry’ and ‘how do you deal with the inevitable changes or highs and lows that come along with being in the creative industry (or life in general!)’. To me, the answer is simple - I get on with it, move on, and it generally doesn’t affect me too much.

But then I find myself asking, ‘well, how on earth did you get to that point?!’ ‘How is it now easier for you to deal with the changes and the low times?’

If I look back at my childhood, I’ve been working in the music industry for as long as I can remember. I know that seems like a little bit of an exaggeration, but it’s actually the truth. I grew up coming home from school and walking around the back of my house into my dad’s studio where my brother and I would hang out. We sang TV commercials, did voice over’s, performed in musicals, shopping centre shows, in bands. You name it; I have probably done it – I have always just lived for entertaining.

I remember my dad saying at first he thought I was just trying to copy him when I showed interest in music and performing, but then he saw me up on stage and over time my absolute obsession for music grew and he realised I had “the itch”, and it wasn’t going anywhere!

Getting into this industry from such a young age gave me lots of things, but the thing I think that has really helped me with the most is, it gave me a good work ethic and a very steady sense of resilience. I experienced the ‘NOs’ and the lows that came along with being an entertainer as much as (or even more than) I ever experienced quick or easy success. I had SOOO much practice at it that I just became better at dealing with it with every single knockback or hurdle. I never had an easy way in through a side door. To this day I have to either open the door myself or somehow try to knock it down and let myself in.

I came to realise that things come in waves – things work – things don’t work – things start – things end. AND THAT’s OK!

More recently a question I get asked is, wasn’t it hard to leave triple j? The thing is, I never set out to have a radio show (I was discovered through my own music being on triple j unearthed and asked to audition!) and I definitely never set out to have the responsibility of choosing to play (or not play) other peoples music on a radio show – in fact – having that power sometimes freaked me out because I knew how much it meant as an artist myself to have a song played. I wanted to BE that artist trying to get my own music played – a task that was a little harder to do while being on the other side.

I struggled in my last years of hosting House Party toeing that line of curator/tastemaker vs artist, and I really missed the artist side and being able to give it the energy it requires and deserves. I wanted to be able to listen to music, DJ music in my sets and not think about what would work for House Party, but just think or play what I liked!

So although it’s sad when one thing ends, I was also just excited and ready to give it my best Marie Kondo - thank it for the joy it brought me but be ok with letting it go!

Already I find myself spending all the extra time and energy on my own music and damn; it feels good. I sit in my studio and just write, make beats, record vocals, lose track of time and forget to shower. I’ve been trying to finish off as much music as I can and have it sitting ready to go so I can keep putting stuff out consistently this year, even when I take some time out to experience another little change coming (becoming a mum!).

Going through this new period has been relatively easy for me because I’ve done it so many times before! And you know what, I know I’ll have to do it over and over again and again in the future. There will be high highs and crazy lows, but I know I am tough and strong and through it all, I’ll be ok.

So my piece of advice is: expect change – embrace and welcome it along with the lows because on the other side there will always be a high just waiting to appear and make it all worthwhile.