Words by Keane Fletcher

Ladies and gentlemen. We may be living in precarious times. We may be facing down our sixth or seventh lockdown. We may have exhausted everything on Netflix/Stan/Binge combined. But do not despair! New music is here!

Introducing Melbourne based indie singer/songwriter Claira J (the musical alter-ego of stage and screen actor Janine Atwill) and her debut single 'Letting Go' which drops next week on August 20.

Though Atwill herself has over 15 years experience in the entertainment industry, 'Letting Go' marks the first official release under the new pseudonym, and we here at Hipland could not be more excited! 

Produced by Robert Upward at Upward Studios with Ben Edgar on guitar (Gotye/Missy Higgins/Angus and Julia Stone) 'Letting Go' is a testament to quiet strength, an ambient and cinematic track that makes you want to lean in, before hitting you head on with its powerful chorus. 

I wrote ['Letting Go'] over two years ago, says Claira J. It kind of just fell out of me without me realizing it. At the time I was going through a mental and physical breakdown after I hit a tipping point in my life and I wasn’t really thinking about how it should sound, it kind of just evolved on its own.

Originally planned for release in 2020, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its ramifications means that Claira J has had to wait until now to release the track and its accompanying video, a hauntingly beautiful conceptual piece directed by the award winning Nick Kozakis & Liam Kelly from Visible Studios ('Dance Monkey' Tones & I) that was filmed in the gaps between the Melbourne lockdowns.

It’s basically just been a waiting game which has taught me a lot of patience. However it truly does feel like divine timing as I feel like I’ve grown so much as an artist and as a woman in the last couple of years; I'm ready to show the world who I am and give it a piece of my heart.

With the single dropping next week we thought we'd give you all the heads up so you can make next Friday Claira J day! And in the meantime, check out the teaser below, which gives you a little insight into what you can expect. Click here to presave the single on all good music streaming platforms. 

 Thanks for stopping by Hipland!