Perth born, LA-based songwriter Chela has spent the past few years carving out her niche as one this country’s most exciting, eclectic pop exports. This year, she released her second EP, the stunning Delivery.
Now she’s dropped a brand new, futuristic music video for the EP’s title track. ‘Delivery’ is dystopic, hologram-indebted video that explores the concept of someone’s soul mate existing in another dimension. “[I] wanted to create that same sense of longing, loneliness yet hopefulness I sing about in the song with the visual.
“When Chelsea approached me to produce the ‘Delivery’ music video I read the treatment and loved the concept. It stood out to me as a unique vision I was interested in helping bring to life.”
To celebrate the release of the music video, we got Chela to send us through an annotated photo guide of her time in Los Angeles. So check out her new video below and prime yourself for the Los Angeles vacation of your dreams.
Watch: Chela – ‘Delivery’
History
One of the greatest things about this city is the meaningful history which seems to appear on almost every street corner. This picture was taken at The Bradbury Building on South Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles. I chanced upon it the other day when taking a regular visit to Grand Central Market for lunch. I’ve walked past it so many times, but hadn’t looked closely enough. I learnt that they shot some scenes here for one of my favourite films, the original Blade Runner.
Grand Central Market
This is the first place that comes to my mind when I can’t be bothered thinking of somewhere to eat because the market has it all. It is home to some of the best Filipino, Middle Eastern, Salvadorean, Thai, Italian, Jewish, Southern and Mexican food that the city has to offer. It also has a high-quality range of juice, ice cream, sandwiches and mole. This is all set amongst a jungle of neon signage, festive feelings and good ol’ downtown upbeatness.
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Thrifting
Never have I been to a city which has better second-hand wares on offer than Los Angeles. I make a regular habit of thrifting, or as we Australian’s like to call it; op-shopping. It’s one of my favourite pastimes. I often think, if I saw this in Melbourne, I would buy it straight away, but the gems are so easy to come by in LA that I find myself buying less of what’s mediocre.
Songwriting
Having the ability to write songs with so many gifted, world-class writers and producers (such as Gus Dapperton pictured here) at your doorstep is something very uniquely LA. The high quality of work that gets created here does more to inspire than to intimidate, plus lyrical content isn’t hard to come by when you’re living in a place so full of character, darkness and adventure.
Mexican Culture
Something also uniquely LA is the influence and history of Mexican culture. Taco trucks and rainbow-coloured fruit carts dot the streets like mini lighthouses calling to your hunger (and shallow pockets) whenever you need them. The sound of fluent Spanish being spoken casually in storefronts plays like a soundtrack to LA. The beloved Hacienda-style homes make me feel immediately like I am merely a guest in a city with many stories to tell.
Veganism
I’m not a strict vegan by any means, however, I prefer vegan food for many reasons, and for people like me, LA is vegan culinary heaven. Most restaurants cater for vegans, however, some of LA’s best restaurants are purely plant-based so there’s no need to sweat it. Some of these include Cafe Gratitude, Sage, Crossroads, Elf Cafe and Shojin. Or try some of the more casual spots like Tehuanita 2 Truck, Honey Hi, Cake Girl, Matcha Bar, Flore and the list goes on.
Weather
It’s an obvious one and a Californian cliche, but the weather in LA is indeed the damn most perfect, happiest weather I’ve ever been sunburnt with. I’ve never been sunburnt here because even on the hottest of days, LA’s sun is friendlier than Australian rays. This makes bike-riding, picnic-ing and hiking all the more doable and enjoyable. Also, looking out to a blue sky in the morning does lift one’s spirit.
Supermarkets
I am obsessed with Trader Joe’s! Thank God I got that off my chest. I imagine TJ’s being the supermarket they have in heaven where every staff member is genuinely happy, helpful and wearing a Hawaiian shirt. Oh, and the selection of products have already been whittled down to the best variety for you, with organic options galore. The cherry on top is that it is the best value in town. Erewhon is the much more luxurious version of TJ’s for the less frugal, and every second customer is a celebrity of some kind. Meet in the middle at Wholefoods and Lassens, and forget the rest really unless it’s a speciality Mexican, Filipino or Japanese supermarket like Mitsuwa or Northgate.
Little Tokyo
Oh, how I love thee Japangeles. Your ramen, matcha and lantern-lined laneways give me happy heart feels. Sometimes I come just to buy King Trumpet mushrooms because they come with a cute Japanese drawing on the packet like most Japanese things do. I also love visiting Daiso at Little Tokyo mall, and the number of nerds who draw to this area like flies, looking for cosplay outfits and vintage games.
Characters
Speaking of nerds, LA has such a wide variety of interesting people living within it. I constantly meet people with fascinating life stories to tell, and they’ll tell you happily! LA has been a magnet for the worldly creative soul and it shows in every community. People aren’t afraid to show their inner-quirkiness because it is so celebrated to be unique here. Hurrah for LA!
You can catch Chela live at one of the forthcoming dates
Chela Supporting Gus Dapperton
Thu 5 December
The Zoo, Brisbane, Qld (Sold Out)
Fri 6 Dec
Howler, Melbourne, Vic (Sold Out)
2020 Dates
Sat 18 Jan
Heaps Gay Roadwerk Street Festival, Sydney
Sat 25 Jan
Heaps Gay Roadwerk Street Festival, Newcastle
Sat 15 Feb
Gaytimes Festival, Yarra Valley, Vic
