Earlier this month, Melbourne-based artist Ciel released her debut single, the ethereal and utterly hypnotic 'Remedy' – a song about unhealthy relationships and growing beyond youthful illusions.
"[Inspiration for 'Remedy'] came after about a year of weird relationships where I felt as though I had to solve all the issues even if it wasn't my fault," Ciel says."There were a few situations where I felt like, if I felt needed or wanted then it would get better but the reality is it doesn't."
Although her debut release, 'Remedy' highlights Ciel's ability to craft lo-fi atmospheres rich in dreamy, chilled beats, with her achingly honest vocals beaming hope into your ears.
Who is... Hello! My name is Ciel. I am 20 years old from Melbourne and have been doing music since I was about 6.
I didn't start singing until I was about 15, but it was all just for fun and not too serious as my main instrument was the oboe so I focussed on that. I have been writing songs for ages, but I didn't start recording them until last year.
I sound like... I think I have a pretty dreamy sound to my music. I love putting reverb and things like that on tracks. Initially I did that to hide my voice in the track because I didn't really like the sound of it, but I like it now and use it to enhance my voice instead.
I'd like to say that the vibe of my music is similar to Gracie Abrams or NIKI, or even maybe some of Chelsea Cutler and Jeremy Zucker's work in terms of lyrical directions but that could just be me with wishful thinking.
My first gig was... I haven't had a gig yet. I played in school bands and choirs, and things like that, but not my own gig due to COVID and being a bit shy.
I think once I can have people over and we can practice for some gigs I'll be on stage in no time. I'm gaining confidence in myself and my musical ability day by day.
When did you settle on the group's name, and was it a unanimous decision... Well, I tried to think about nicknames and none of them sounded good as a stage name if I'm honest. My nicknames have very little to do with my music and are sort of just inside jokes with my friends that would make no sense to anyone else.
I started thinking about my sound and how it was sort of dreamy, so I started looking up names with dreamy and ethereal meanings. I found a few but they were also names in 'League Of Legends' and I didn't really want to have that as my name haha.
Ultimately my mum suggested Ciel because it means 'sky' in French and I really liked it. Also found it fitting that she named me as an artist considering that without her I wouldn't have had the opportunity to do a lot of the music stuff I do now.
In the studio I usually... My studio is my bedroom haha. It's just a few bits of musical equipment and my laptop, and me until I send it off to other people to give feedback to or fix up.
Lance Robinson did the producing for 'Remedy' that I couldn't do, as I'm still learning how to and I have limited equipment in my room. I usually do it around midnight to 2pm because that's when I feel most motivated, and doing it in between uni and work is a bit exhausting but I do have bursts of energy at night.
Sometimes I'll be in a discord call with friends and I start putting the track down with them there so it feels a bit less alone, plus I feel more productive.
If I could tour with anyone... I wish I could tour with Chelsea Cutler or Gracie Abrams or NIKI, or anybody. I'd be happy to tour with anybody for the experience if I'm honest as long as they were nice :))
Social media is... Very distracting. I tell myself I'll have a 15-minute break from study and then it will turn into 2 hours, but I enjoy it.
I find a lot of the content in my feeds to be supportive, especially in helping myself gain confidence as an Asian-Australian because I struggled to find any Asian role models in Australian media when I was younger, but now I am overwhelmed with inspirational Asian-Australians in my feed, particularly women.
My favourite app at the moment is... Probably Instagram. I use it a tonne and it always has cute dogs or cats to look at, and it brightens my day.
To date, my most embarrassing moment was the time... I've had a fair few. I think the most recent one I can think of is that I've met a few people a few times and totally forgotten it's happened.
So when I see them later they'll be like: "Oh I haven't seen you for ages how are you?" And I'll feel awful because I can't remember when I met them.
Life on the road can be... Haven't been ahaha.
The most scary scenario I've found myself in, was... Probably when I accidentally ate something with peanuts in it. I'm allergic to peanuts, so it was a bit scary.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be spokesperson of the band... Probably anyone from 88rising or a YouTuber by the name of Ur Mom Ashley; she's super cool and I think it would be awesome if she knew my music.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? Probably anywhere in New Zealand or Japan. I went to both places on holiday and I felt very at ease in both places; they have calming atmospheres.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... This is a bit of a tricky one; three isn't a lot of people! I'd love to talk to NIKI, she's a massive role model of mine and I'd like to pick her brain about music and life in general.
I think Liz Gillies would be fun at a dinner party, she seems super sarcastic and charismatic in interviews so I think she'd be fun. Last would probably be Valkyrae, she's a streamer and she seems like the sweetest person plus we could talk about games and maybe she could help me be less bad at games ahah.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? I would cook all desserts. There would be brownies and choc chip cookies and cakes. I used to bake a tonne when I was younger and I still enjoy it now.
When it comes to pets are you a lover or hater of our furry friends? I have two very cute, mildly large cats, I love them.
No matter the expense, send me a case of... Strawberry green tea bubble tea with pearls.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... Literally like three years ago... oops!
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Doing the dishes after making food.
Do you have any phobias? I have a phobia of peanuts. I'm allergic and scared ahah.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? Ummm, I don't know I think I'd be bad at all of them. Maybe a cooking or singing one? Who knows, I don't think I'm reality show material.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? My target would be my best friend Euan and I would want to jump scare him as payback for all the other jump scares he's done to me.
Best local takeaway joint for a 2am feed that will leave you with a food coma? Honestly just Maccas. Gimme da nuggies and chips please.
Which fictional character best describes your personality? Maybe Elizabeth from 'Pride and Prejudice' or Rory from 'Gilmore Girls'? They are both kind-hearted and opinionated.
I'd like to think I stand my ground on things now that I've grown up a bit, and I do like to be productive and get things done. I also really like coffee and the only real exercise I do is walking so that fits.
Maybe I could be Meg from 'Little Women'; I'm not too sure. If there is a shy, studious character who is also a bit clumsy that is probably me.
Last show you binge-watched? I'm really bad at bingeing shows; I don't know why I'm just bad at it. But I'd say the last show I binged and was captivated by was 'Queens Gambit', it's crazy good.
