Melbourne-based artist Qeeran paints vivid vignettes of 20-something heartbreak and maturation on brooding debut album IN RETROSPECT.
Qeeran is a force to be reckoned with, carving out his own sonic footprint within the lines of R&B/Soul. The Malaysian-born, Melbourne-based singer, songwriter and producer is a true master of his own destiny, with a musical background that dates back to the tender age of 5.
Drawing inspiration from the likes of Galimatias, Alina Baraz and Sabrina Claudio, Qeeran has spent years perfecting his craft, all while studying the ins and outs of Econometrics/Business Analytics at Monash University. And with his self-produced and self-written tracks, it’s clear that Qeeran is a true triple threat.
Qeeran’s debut album IN RETROSPECT set to drop next week, is a nine-song project imbued with a delicate and introspective sound, that sees the queer musician detail a range of experiences from migration to heartbreak and self-acceptance, as anchored by a mastery of simmering R&B. IN RETROSPECT was self-produced by Qeeran, and serves as a years-long culmination of the Melbourne singer’s artistry.
“Putting an album out was one of my first dreams when I stepped foot into releasing my own music,” Qeeran said of the project in a press release. “[IN RETROSPECT] is a collection of experiences I could talk about endlessly, but putting them in the context of a song has allowed me to process them in a deeper capacity and reflect on the life I’ve lived.”
The album was borne out of Qeeran’s introspective songwriting process, which saw him scan old home videos, reminisce on previous relationships and recall conversations with friends to paint a vivid portrait of the 20-something experiences of reflection and maturing. Across nine tracks, Qeeran offers vignettes of personalised-yet-universal ordeals — from the yearning for reciprocal romance on latest single GIVE AND TAKE to the gratitude of RIGHT HERE.
Perhaps no genre is better suited to Qeeran’s lovelorn lyricism than R&B, with its moody soundscapes perfectly encapsulating the singer’s brooding ruminations. It’s a feat doubly impressive for the fact that it was self-produced, adding a level of intimacy to the already diary-like lyricism. On fifth track MUTUAL, for example, Qeeran pines to keep a lover all to himself atop a lo-fi trap beat, while album closer LET THE CREDITS ROLL offers a middle finger to a departing suitor while affirming his own self-worth.
IN RETROSPECT was elsewhere previewed with the single LIKE YOUR MAN. The album serves as the follow up to Qeeran’s debut EP The Cycle of Love, which arrived in 2021. Qeeran’s debut album IN RETROSPECT is out next week.
