A Quick Chat with Takara

Mona Lisa feels like a bold evolution in your sound and identity. What was the initial spark or feeling that led you into this “untouchable art” concept?
It honestly started from this slightly unhinged feeling of being perceived all the time 😭like the more visible I became, the more I noticed this pattern of people wanting access to me before they even understood me. and I hit this point where I was like… what if I just didn’t give that? The “untouchable art” thing came from wanting to be admired without being consumed like the Mona Lisa. Everyone looks, everyone projects, but she doesn’t explain herself. She just exists.

You’ve described the track as playing with desire, distance, and divine feminine energy. How did you translate those ideas sonically and visually while you were creating it?
Sonically, desire is in the push and pull of the music. I stacked harmonies that feel close to your ear, but then the distance comes in with space of the production. The divine feminine energy wasn’t about being loud or powerful in an obvious way, it was more controlled and intentional. I stacked the harmonies in a way where it almost feels like multiple versions of someone reaching for you at once.

There’s a really striking “matador” energy in Mona Lisa, like the song is circling the listener. Where did that imagery come from, and what does it represent for you personally?
I’m so happy you picked up on the “matador” energy!! It really came from that feeling of male attention sometimes being… a lot. Like you’re not even in a conversation, you’re in a sport dodging them and reading their energy in real time… like a matador with a bull! Like instead of meeting it head on, you learn how to move around it and redirect it while staying safe. Because you don’t ever really know how a bull will react when it gets angry… if you catch my drift.

You’ve built an incredibly strong global audience completely independently. How has that shaped the way you approach releases like Mona Lisa compared to early in your career?
So early on I was just dropping to be heard but now I'm building worlds. Every release has a purpose and I’m not creating what I think people want to hear anymore. I’m just writing for me and unfortunately, songs like this are very relatable.

Mona Lisa feels like a statement piece. Where does this track sit in the bigger picture of what you’re building next? Are there new sonic directions or projects we should be expecting soon?
Honestly every song is a statement piece. Each one’s a stepping stone in the world I’m building, not just a one-off moment. Sonically you’re gonna hear me lean deeper into that blend of soft, controlled vocals with global textures. I’m really leaning into my Afro-diasporic/portuguese influence, with really honest and hard hitting lyrics. I’ve got a couple more tunes coming over the next couple of months, leading up to probably my best project yet later this year