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YARA (Yara Alkurd) is a Naarm/Melbourne based Singer-songwriter and Producer.
She migrated from the land of olives and vines, Palestine, at the influential age of 12. From learning English through watching Disney channel, she admits that her immense love for music stemmed from the preteen-starry-eyed-back-to-back episodes of the iconic ‘Hannah Montana’ and ‘High School Musical’.
Yara recalls the move to Australia as being both simultaneously challenging and a point of growth amongst the dramatic change of culture. However, her love for music, with all its colours and sonic flavours, as well as the artists she found in these major points of transition, have been her guide. Which is why her sound is a melting pot of Soul, Pop, Indie R&B and Jazz - with heavy influence from Amy Winehouse, Lianne La Havas and Beyoncé.
Amidst her influences found through the transition to a new place, to the songs that kept her grounded, at the end of the day, YARA stands strong in her own sound and hard earned stories of growth, heartbreak and all the lessons in between.
YARA made her debut on 2020’s International Women’s Day with bold track: “Man Hater”, a song about how society treats those who request change. Fast forward to 2022 YARA won Headline Acts’ Release Cycle. Shortly after she released her introspective single Back of the Uber on Valentines Day, the first cut from her intimate EP Lonely Love Affair, which made it’s debut in May 2023. It explores YARA's coming of age, finding self love and acceptance in the lonely hours between stumbling in and out of other people’s hearts. The introspective 5-track project showcases her ability to seamlessly weave together lavish and exciting neo-soul soundscapes, while allowing her powerful voice to shine on the top of the production with her sharp lyricism and trademark wit.
