Photo credit: Alexander Aitken
Chela stands out as an oasis at a time when skin-deep instant gratification is demanded from the performers we admire. Simultaneously uncompromising, expressive, and eloquent, the Australian/Filipino alt-pop artist Chela (Chelsea Wheatley) has stayed true to her vision since she erupted through our collective speakers with her breakout single “Romanticise” in 2013. Her kinetic silhouette, garnished with a distinct tangerine mane, has been burned into our retinas ever since.
Sifting through Chela’s music, one can hear the work of someone who has applied painstaking perfection to her craft. “Romanticise,” “Zero,” and “Full Moon” all reflect a knack for penning meaningful pop songs with a twist; songs that come from a real place, like a delicately prepared cocktail in which the mixologist has made each ingredient from scratch. Quality over quantity is undoubtedly a proverb taken from Chela’s bible.
These talents have not only connected her with music fans around the world, they have also been lauded by her peers, landing Chela appearances and collaborations on tracks with Seth Bogart, Clubfeet, Damian Lazarus, and Goldroom who’s summer anthem “Fifteen” (featuring Chela) has amassed over 15 million YouTube views and 8 million Spotify streams.
With the release of the Chris Zane (Passion Pit, Holy Ghost!) produced single “Bad Habit” last year, Chela proved she’s not just a 3, 4, or 5-trick pony. The first of a batch of songs she’s been patiently waiting to let loose into the world for two years now, “Bad Habit” sees her baring all and purging the guilt she feels for making some very human mistakes. The listener gets a glimpse into the darkest corners of Chela’s psyche and we feel liberated with her through her musical expression.
“Losing Belief” is Chela’s latest single and with it, she announces a new EP due this fall. “Losing Belief” stems from the despair that comes with a loss of hope in one’s passions. Conversely, the end of the song offers hope for the future, which she explains as “a mantra for those who lose belief in anything and need to be reminded that their own power is all they really need.” The song hinges on the lyrics, “I don’t need validation, I’m the one with the muscle, I’m good.”
Emotions like this are endured only by beings who pour their heart and soul into their work; music is Chela’s lifeblood and it has been since she started playing punk clubs at 15 years old.
Like “Bad Habit,” the clip for “Losing Belief” was directed and choreographed by Chela herself and yet again highlights her distinctive aesthetic; she invites fans into her funny, strange, and wonderful world through a hyperrealistic lens and somehow these elements come together to create perfect harmony, to create a video very uniquely Chela.
Chela says of the music video: “I wanted to convey the message of the song through the video, and represent it in the form of religion. So I created an imaginary religion based on my logo and conceived the story of a friendship group losing belief/realising the power of self together. With the help of my friends we managed to throw together a high-production idea on a DIY budget on one beautiful day in Perth at my family house on the beach. It was a particularly special experience being able to film in a home that is so close to my heart, surrounded by the walls that have seen my life in stages. Religion has been an extremely hot topic in my family, both my Granddad and Dad have written books about it. So in a sense, this was my way to contribute.“
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