Meanjin/Brisbane's DIY dynamo, ixaras, has just dropped her stellar new single, 'This City', a track that defies easy categorisation. Crafted with producer Roeith Geraghty, the song is a truly captivating listen.

'This City' is a powerful, expansive tune featuring stunning percussion, the resonant sound of the didgeridoo, and sweeping synths, all combining to forge a distinctive and evolving sonic landscape. The song expertly builds suspense and anticipation through rising arpeggiated synths, with ixaras's engaging vocals and memorable falsetto hook leading the charge.

Speaking on the inspiration behind 'This City', ixaras shared: "'This City' is a portrait of self-reinvention in a world where survival demands transformation. Inspired by the novel Jekyll and Hyde, the song explores the psychological toll of killing off your past self to succeed. The refrain, 'This City Knows My Name', is manifestation, declaration, and lying all in one. It's about the pursuit of ambition, acknowledging what parts of yourself you've sacrificed along the way, such as the paranoia of being perceived, a love letter to the version of you that had to disappear so the world would take notice."

The single arrives with a stylish music video, directed by Mellow Minh. Filmed in Eora/Sydney, the black and white visuals are used cleverly to enhance the lighting and highlight a film noir aesthetic. The video’s narrative directly reflects the song's themes, using strobe effects to intensify the central conflict. Minh commented on their collaboration, saying, "Ixara and I met a while back when I was out on tour with Skeggs — I instantly knew as soon as I heard her play, an exhilaration that I never heard before. So, as soon as I finished the leg, I dm'd her, wanting to work with her. As manifestation has it, while in Vietnam. She hit me with this track, and it blew my mind. I knew I wanted to make something out of it — the idea instantly came to mind, and we never looked back."

This release follows hot on the heels of another significant achievement for ixaras, who was recently named the fourth recipient of Good Intent's 'Greater Good' independent artist initiative. This prestigious package includes a substantial cash grant totalling over $30,000 AUD, alongside valuable in-kind support from various industry partners. Rick Bridgman from Good Intent praised her, noting, "With songwriting and performance talent in abundance, well beyond her years, ixaras is such a truly gifted artist with a clear-cut vision for her craft and future. So excited to see GG feed into her plans and to thrive in '25 and beyond!"

ixaras has already made a significant mark on the live music scene, with sold-out headline shows and support slots for major acts like Grinspoon and Skegss. She's also graced the stages of numerous festivals, including NYE On The Hill and Valley Fiesta.

For more, be sure to connect with ixaras on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.