Ōtautahi-based rising contemporary folk singer and songwriter Keren Mara has today released her vulnerable new single ‘Under the wind’.

Today’s stunning release is telling of Keren Mara’s knack for raw and emotive storytelling – as she shares her journey of overcoming trauma to help others do the same. “This song acts as a mantra of knowing your inner strength,” says Keren. “It’s about finding peace in the darkness, and also knowing it’s ok to feel and express emotions.”

Made with the support of NZ On Air, this reflective new single was recorded at Keren’s home studio, alongside co-producer Harry Finlayson-Hood. It was then mixed and mastered by Jackson Levi.

‘Under the wind’ combines Keren’s gentle and emotive vocals, with the folk-driven instrumentation of harmonicas, tambourine, acoustic and slide guitars. Keren says ‘Under the wind’ is part of a collection of music she’s currently working on, all written during a five-year period in which the artist overcame immense trauma.

Having released a range of singles since 2020, Keren has cultivated an undeniably warm sound that is sure to bring comfort to any listener, especially those experiencing hardship. “For anyone who’s been through trauma and heartbreak – you are stronger than you think,” says Keren. “You deserve to be happy and enjoy the good times as they come.”

A peaceful accompaniment to the track is the beautiful, soon-to-be-released ‘Under the wind’ music video. Filmed with Neato Productions at Te Onepoto/Taylors Mistake in Ōtautahi, Keren says that she, “wanted to include the stunning views of Taylors Mistake because being out in nature is very healing and soothes my soul.” Set to be released over the coming weeks, be sure to press play on this stunning track now and stay tuned for more from this exciting up and coming talent!

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Photo credit: Neato Productions and Keren Mara

Growing up as a ‘Third Culture Kid’ in a sheltered Christian environment across Asia, Keren spent much of her childhood in Thailand and moved around a lot. This upbringing led Keren to delve deep within herself and take comfort from artists such as Leanne Rhymes, Mariah Carey and Faith Hill. Alongside these artists, she was primarily exposed to Christian folk/pop music. It wasn’t until Keren was older, and having lived through some unimaginable loss, that she went back to her first love, music. She began her music career by getting her degree at Ara Institute of Canterbury (2021), and hasn’t stopped since. Keren has been gigging around Christchurch with her duo partner and co-producer, Harry Finlayson-Hood, and in 2023 joined the gypsy fair for 4 months as a musician and stage manager. Keren Mara’s narrative-driven songwriting and ethereal vocals paint a stunning image of her uplifting resilience – with her latest single ‘Under the wind’ set to make waves across Aotearoa!

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