Melbourne pop artist RARIA has just released her debut EP, Boys Who Broke My Heart, and it’s her way of finding herself after a series of heartbreaks. Written over the course of a couple of years, it’s a deeply personal and emotional release that’ll hit home if you’ve recently experienced a break-up (or have one in your past).

I spoke to RARIA about the EP, as well as her plans going forward. I really enjoyed chatting to RARIA about the release, and how she deals with heartbreak, so hopefully you’ll learn something from the chat!

Ben Madden: Firstly, can you introduce yourself and your music?

RARIA: Hi, I'm RARIA and I write pop songs mostly about heartbreak & boys!

You’ve just released your debut EP, Boys Who Broke My Heart – can you tell me about the inspiration behind the EP?

The inspiration behind my EP was from all of the heartbreaks I've been through over the last 3 years. It’s a collection of songs about the boys who broke my heart and was my attempt to find closure through it all!

I know the songs were written over a long period – how do you relate to those songs that you might have written a couple of years ago, versus ones that you’ve recorded relatively recently?

Although some of these songs were written months ago and others a year or so ago, I still heavily relate to all of them. I remember I was crying so much while writing these songs and it was challenging to find the right lyrics to describe what I was feeling. But now I listen to them and scream the lyrics in my car with my friends happy as ever. It’s funny how writing songs can give you so much closure.

What are your top 3 tips for getting over a heartbreak?

As a first tip, surrounding yourself with your family/friends is so important!!! Secondly, set a goal to complete at least 3 things every day. For example.. (eat 2/3 meals, drink 2 bottles of water, and go for a walk outside); sometimes it can be so hard to do even the most basic things when you’re heartbroken so don’t try and overdo it; try and stick to at least 3 things. I promise it will help!

Lastly, taking a solo trip and pushing myself out of my comfort zone really helped me become more connected with myself and my emotions, maybe it might do the same for you too!

Some people might be afraid to put their heartbreak into their lyrics. What emotions go through your head when you’re writing a song about heartbreak and love, and do you find it cathartic to turn these experiences into music?

I feel like I never really get over a situation/heartbreak in my life unless I write a song about it. It’s my way of letting my anger out towards that person because sometimes the people that break our heart don’t give us enough closure.

While writing any song about heartbreak I just say whatever it is I’m feeling in the moment, I don’t normally filter my lyrics, I just say it how it is. I definitely find it cathartic to write about my truths and experiences and I always feel so much better afterwards!

After experiencing heartbreak like the ones, you sing about on the EP, has your relationship with the search for love changed?

I think the idea of ‘love’ scares me a little bit now. It feels like it’s always the same thing that ends up happening to me, and to be honest, sometimes I don’t mind it because it helps me keep writing music and makes me a stronger person. But I hope one day that story changes :).

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Finally, what are your next few steps, both personally and music-wise?

I would love to do more live shows! And obviously, keep writing and releasing a whole lot more music. I have been writing so much lately, I wish I could just release everything right now haha. Also, I CAN'T WAIT to travel overseas again! Hopefully, that will be on the cards soon.

You can follow RARIA on Facebook here, Instagram here and Twitter here.