Chitra charms audiences with debut LP, You Can See It When It's Dark

Chitra is about to become a prominent name in your playlists, with her debut album You Can See It When It's Dark out now and ready to become your new favourite record of 2025. The Naarm (Melbourne) based darling has cultivated ten tracks that take audiences on a journey of transformation, through a blend of "vulnerability, contradiction, and catharsis". Described by Chitra herself as a "sonic time capsule" of moments throughout her life, You Can See It When It's Dark details the monumental, the fleeting, and the ordinary experiences that can sometimes get lost in the noise of the day-to-day hustle.

Starting off so strongly with 'Big Shot', Chitra addresses the weight and immense negative presence of inappropriate comments and acts of misogyny. With a sing-along chorus and punchy lyrics, 'Big Shot' is an anthemic track for anyone who has struggled to speak out. 'In My Opinion' delves into the emotional complexity of obligation, and the often helpless feeling of not being able to involve yourself in other people's situations. Sharing "Sometimes, the hardest thing is letting people make their own choices, even if you don't understand them", 'In My Opinion' carries deep introspection and maturity in its lyrical storytelling.

Singing of a static spell in creative pursuits, 'Sold' dwells on lack of inspiration and burn-out before resolving with the idea of pursuing your passions for yourself rather than for others. 'No Blame To Take' walks audiences through a layered and multi-dimensional relationship breakdown with a dramatic grit in Chitra's storytelling, before the ever lovely slice of life 'Autumn' encourages us to search for the hidden gems in life when our schedules grow to feel mediocre.

'Close Proximity' dives into the harms of an all-consuming love and dangers of falling in love with the idea of a person, rather than the actual person themselves. A word of warning comes in 'Go Easy', a song that ushers a moment to pause and reflect on your needs and desires before jumping off the metaphorical cliff into the chaotic abyss. Chitra and Grand Pine bring us a delicate collaboration on 'Counting', detailing the need for distance yet yearn for familiarity in a relationship that you just can't move on from.

The titular 'You Can See It When It's Dark' is one of the strongest storytelling moments on this debut album. Encapsulating the experience of running into someone you once loved and the fleeting rush of emotions that ensue, Chitra guides audiences through the nostalgia, excitement, and realization of distance between yourselves now and the people you used to be. Closing off the album is 'Motormouth', an anxiety-laden tale of feeling out of place, and the dissociation and nonsensical rambles you produce in situations of nervousness.

Chitra truly encapsulates the chaos of life in the most artful way imaginable on You Can See It When It's Dark. Through both specific situations and universal emotions, audiences gain a glimpse into her experiences in a comforting nature that makes them feel less alone in moments of vulnerability. You Can See It When It's Dark is a hug from an old friend and a venture into the unknown simultaneously, with Chitra's ability to turn the everyday into purely poetic stories elevating this indie-rock-meets-folk album to a whole other level of perfection.

You Can See It When It's Dark is available to stream now, and you can grab tickets to her album launch in Naarm (Melbourne) at the Northcote Social Club in September here!