Australian-Filipino artist VITA is all about taking it upon herself. As a singer, songwriter, dancer, and self-taught engineer, her vision and creativity shines brightly in every aspect of her music and image. But her drive and independence isn’t limited to her creative output; on her upcoming album, OPIA, she discusses themes of forgiving herself, and being herself unapologetically. A description of VITA’s sound and visuals can’t be boxed within one or two specific genres or aesthetics; it is an eclectic and exciting combination of styles. VITA’s first record, xotic, was released in 2024. In a conference led by °1824, when asked if she’d made any changes in her creative process between her last record and her upcoming one, she said that her process had become more “reclusive” and that her writing process had become more “locked down”. She opted to bring in new writers, who became like “family” to her.
She noted that the writing team for her upcoming release consisted of more women. “The last project, it was a lot of men; I love men, but also, after a while, I need some girls,” she explained. “I was like, ‘I have to bring some girlies in to enjoy this with me and have some bonding,’ especially when you’re talking about forgiving your younger self. I think women are especially hard on themselves and I think I needed that sort of camaraderie in the room to be able to get it out of me in the most authentic way.” VITA established that she was very intentional about the themes of the album. She dives into stories of her past struggles, but more importantly, in her journey to forgiving herself, finding the ability to express herself unapologetically, and helping others do the same. In an Instagram post, she described the album’s first single, “Pleaser”, as a “love letter to the 14-year-old ‘live fast, die young teenager who didn’t know any better, the 18-year-old aspiring alcoholic who was completely out of control, and the 21-year-old woman who absolutely did know better but chose violence because it was all she knew.’”
She threads this theme of self-reckoning and forgiveness throughout the entirety of her upcoming album. “Every song touches on something that I’ve been ashamed of and I don’t necessarily say out loud. It’s all very much me thinking, ‘If I just say all of these things out loud then maybe they’re not as scary. Maybe if I’m just honest with myself about who I was and who I am now, maybe I can have more intention about the love I have for myself and the way that I speak about myself.” With her previous record, VITA established herself as a rising star with an unmistakable look and musical style. With her already released single and upcoming album, she looks to build upon what she’s already created, and then push the needle even further.
- Evan Weidl
