5 Songs I Love w/ KYARA

Following the release of her latest single 'Bloodshot', Flex caught up with Australian artist KYARA to discover what influences her electro-pop sound. If you enjoy KYARA's picks, be sure to check out 'Bloodshot' at the end of the article.

1. ‘Aquamarine’ - Addison Rae

To me, ’Aquamarine’ feels like a modern-day siren song — as if a siren rose from the ocean, learned the sound of our generation, and crafted the ultimate hypnotic cool-girl anthem to lure us in. I’m obsessed with Addison Rae’s artistic evolution, and this track is pure perfection. The sensual, almost haunting vocals glide over a beat that feels mysterious, playful, and intoxicating all at once. It’s that precise balance of allure and danger — beautiful yet mischievous — that I find so inspiring. My own music explores a similar space: sensual, haunting vocals wrapped in hypnotic electronic production. ’Aquamarine’ captures the exact sonic and emotional energy I aim to create — seductive, cinematic, and unforgettable.

2. ‘Too Much’ - Dove Cameron

 Dove Cameron, to me, is one of the most underrated artists of our time. Her vocal range is incredible — she can pull you in with soft, sensual whispers or command the room with dramatic, theatrical power. ‘Too Much’ is the ultimate clap-back anthem for anyone who’s ever been told to tone themselves down. It radiates unapologetic confidence, defiance, and that intoxicating femme fatale energy Dove embodies so effortlessly. I love how the song pairs sharp, expressive lyrics with lively, cinematic vocals and production, marking a rebirth — a woman reclaiming her power and voice. Her confidence, storytelling, and unwavering artistic vision are magnetic, and that fearlessness is something I deeply connect with and strive to channel in my own music.

3. ‘Challengers: Match Point’ - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross

 Unlike the rest of my picks, this one isn’t a pop song — it’s from the ‘Challengers’ (2024) film score, which completely redefined how electronic music can drive emotion. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross created a soundscape that builds irresistible tension — pulsing with anticipation, desire, and that fierce hunger to win. It’s hypnotic, electric, and almost primal in the way it makes you feel. If the two ever produced a cool-girl pop album, I swear it would be ‘BRAT’ (Charli XCX) level iconic. This score directly inspired my debut single ‘Yearn’ and taught me how to convey confidence, dominance, and sensuality through production alone.

4. ‘Jason’ - The Midnight

 Funnily enough, I first discovered ‘Jason’ in my late teens through a meme — a video of a dog playing a fire hydrant like a saxophone. Once I stopped laughing, I couldn’t stop replaying it because of that unforgettable sax solo. I eventually tracked down the original song, and that’s how I discovered The Midnight — my first introduction to melodic synthwave. The fusion of nostalgic ‘80s tones with modern electronic production felt completely new to me, both retro and revolutionary. That sound lit something up inside me. Until then, I’d been writing music that never quite felt like me. But when I began blending pop with melodic synthwave, everything clicked. That influence still runs through my work today — you can especially hear it in my latest single ‘Bloodshot’ and my sophomore single ‘Into the Dark’.

5. ‘Somebody Else’ - The 1975

 This song holds such a sacred place in my heart. I first heard ‘Somebody Else’ live — before it was even released — at The 1975’s show at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney when I was still in high school. It was one of the first concerts I was allowed to attend with just my friends. We’d queued all day to get close to the stage, and when the band played ‘Somebody Else’ and ‘A Change of Heart’ for the first time, it was pure magic. Experiencing those songs live — the lights, the colours, the emotion in Matty Healy’s performance — was almost transcendent. I’ll never forget how it felt in my body, that electric mix of melancholy and euphoria. The recorded version is incredible, but nothing compares to that moment. That night ignited something in me — it was the moment I knew I wanted to make music, to create that same kind of emotional and immersive experience for someone else one day.

Listen to KYARA 'Bloodshot'

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