For those not already in the know, Luna Keller is an emerging singer-songwriter from Cologne who has been steadily releasing tracks throughout the year with the support of her widespread community. The latest addition to her discography is ‘Invisible Wars’, another insightful single that walks the line between indie-folk and soft-pop in order to convey the emotional vulnerability that this artist has unquestionably mastered. Acting as the second half of recent release ‘Ocean Inside Of Me’, this chapter sees Keller after a night of facing her demons and waking the the harsh light shed upon present realities. The Spanish-German musician bravely opens up about her struggles with depression, especially when you’re a high-functioning person who can mask their hardships. ‘Invisible Wars’ poignantly expresses the frustration and loneliness of this situation, both in the endeavoring song and the cinematic music video, which was filmed in both Latvia and Spain.
We wanted to get to know the dynamic artist Luna Keller a little better and so below she opens up about the intention of her project, insightful advice for fellow songwriters, and what else fans can expect in the new year.
For those who have never heard of Luna Keller, who are you, and what is your music about?
I’m a 22-year-old singer-songwriter and traveler with a songwriting problem (seriously, I can’t stop writing). I was born in Germany but spent my whole life in Spain until last year when I moved to Cologne. I wrote my first song when I was 14, and since then, I have written over 500 songs. They are like a diary or a group of friends that accompany me on my journey. Connection and authenticity are at the core of what I do; my artist name is my real name, and my songs take inspiration from my life and the things I witness in the world. I probably have written about most themes at this point, but most of my music is rather introspective, reflecting on what it means to be human and finding comfort and joy through music.
Let’s talk about the new single ‘Invisible Wars,’ what does this song mean to you?
“Invisible Wars” is chapter two of my concept album “Ocean Inside Of Me,” which was inspired by my struggle with depression and recovery from it. The album goes from darkness to light and self-love, and in this second chapter, we are still in the dark. I wrote this song during a really hard time before I found the courage to reach out for the help I needed. That frustration of fighting within yourself every day but not being able to talk about it is what fuelled this song. It’s always present and yet never visible for those around us.
And what do you hope that listeners will take away from this track?
I saw this TED talk that said something along the lines of “depression is the biggest club in the world, and every member thinks they are the only one.” That quote is so spot on, and it’s why I want to share these songs. I want to let others know they are not alone. Hopefully, listeners can feel seen and find comfort in the song. I want to let them know that it’s not shameful to go through something like this and that things do get better.
Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
The people around me, as cheesy as it sounds. My parents inspired me to go my own way, and that has brought me into a circle of truly incredible creatives. Indie artists I get to call friends and be perpetually inspired by. Not just musically but also by the way they create and connect to the world through their music. A couple of names that come to mind (and yes, you should check them all out; they are brilliant) are Dominic Romano, Thomas LaVine, Dom Malin, Pacific K, Clouds and Thorns, Mats Dernánd, HAGNÄS, IZHAV, John Muirhead, Dan Tremblay, Lisa Cuthbert, October Ember, Starur, Anna Smyrk, Eka Laki, Genesis Ritchot, Jory Avner, Taylor T, Joe Pope, Kalden Berg, Ricky Reilly… I could go on. How lucky am I to get to share this time with so many incredible musicians!
Do you have any advice for fellow or future songwriters who want to branch out of their
comfort zone?
Trust your intuition and don’t hold on too tightly to super specific goals. There are many doors that will open that are different from what you initially planned to do but will lead you where you wanted to be. Don’t be afraid to ask, reach out to people, and accept support – know that your art has worth and you deserve to be supported. And most importantly: be kind to yourself.
What are you grateful for right now at this moment?
The people I get to share this path with. My incredible family that has supported me from day one and believes in me (I recorded this album in my grandma’s cellar, my dad taught me how to record and play guitar, my mom taught me how to sing). My partner and my friends who I love so dearly and who make me feel loved and supported on my journey. My wonderful community that believes in me and my music and allows me to keep doing what I love full time (special shoutout to my Patreons, Kickstarter supporters, and Twitch fam). Without them, I would not be where I am, and I am deeply fulfilled and happy with my life and music.
What is your most played song of 2023 so far?
I rediscovered the Paper Kites this year, and “Arms” was my most played song this year according to Spotify Wrapped. That song gets me every time.
Do you have an album that you can’t get enough of?
“Inside Problems” by Andrew Bird is one I can always listen to. He is such a word wizard, and the arrangements are so freaking cool. It’s an album I can listen to sitting down with my eyes closed or while working, and it always makes the moment better.
Who would be your dream collaboration?
Oh, I could make a long list! I recently went to a Glen Hansard concert, and it was incredible, so he’s the first to come to mind. But many others could be added to that list: Lisa Hannigan, Andrew Bird, James Blunt, Paper Kites, Coldplay, The Lumineers, Jacob Collier, Paul McCartney… and of course, all the indie artists I mentioned earlier – I’ve had the honour to collab with some of them already, and we’ve made some of my favourite songs together.
And lastly, what can fans expect from Luna Keller this year?
I am releasing a song and video from the “Ocean Inside Of Me” album every month till July 2024 when the full album drops. I am very excited about sharing these songs and the videos that are all interconnected to tell the story of the album. Filming those videos in Latvia this summer was a dream come true, one I couldn’t have made a reality without the wonderful people that pledged 17k€ on Kickstarter to make it happen. So that’s a big one coming up! After the album release, I will release a couple of collaborations I’ve been working on with some of my favourite artists/people. So 2024 will be a year filled with new music!
You can also listen to ‘Invisible Wars’ in our Shades of Pop and Folk This Way playlists.
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