Tag: Lana Karlay

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lana Karlay Drops Dreamy Pop Gem, “Cross Your Mind”

After exploring a real rock edge with recent singles “Think it Through” and “For the Weak,” Djilang/Geelong-based singer-songwriter Lana Karlay is leaning back into her pop roots on her latest track “Cross Your Mind.” Lana’s pure, angelic voice is tailor-made for pop music, although there’s still a bite to the lyrics that reflects her love of rock. If Peach PRC and Ariana Grande are among your favourite artists, I know you’ll vibe with this one.

One of the biggest differences between Lana and the other acts I’ve mentioned is that while they’re around 30, she’s still in her teens. She’s not just good for an 18-year-old though; she’s simply good. Her age is a bit of a superpower, allowing her to create songs that resonate deeply with young listeners. While Peach PRC and Ariana are casting their minds back to the challenges of youth, Lana’s still living through them.

She uses that very real, recent experience as fuel in “Cross Your Mind,” a pop anthem about recognising your own value and choosing to walk away from someone who doesn’t see it too. This song is full of yearning, as the lyrics recognise that while walking away is the right decision, it’s never an easy one to make when there’s feeling involved.

“Cross Your Mind is about reaching the point where you realise you’re carrying the weight of a relationship on your own,” Lana explained. “You’re constantly thinking about the other person, making excuses for them and trying to hold everything together, while they only seem to think about you when it’s convenient or when something goes wrong.”

Lana co-wrote and produced “Cross Your Mind” alongside brothers Mason & Julez. Mark Parfitt, who’s worked with big-name acts like Justin Bieber and Meghan Trainor, managed the mastering. The team helped Lana realise the pop-rock sound she’s been working towards.

“While my previous releases have explored different sounds, ‘Cross Your Mind’ feels like the point where everything has come together. More than anything, I feel like ‘Cross Your Mind’ is the closest I’ve come to finding my own sound,” Lana enthused. “It feels authentic to who I am as both a songwriter and performer, and it’s the direction I’m really excited to keep
exploring.”

With every new release, I hear Lana becoming a more confident and compelling artist. And even though the year’s approaching an end, she’s not done for 2026. I hear there’s at least one more new song on the way. Follow Lana Karlay on Instagram to learn more about that when it drops.

Image used with permission from Dara Karlusic

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lana Karlay Explores Her Edge With “Think it Through”

I’m relishing the reinvention of Djilang/Geelong artist Lana Karlay. Hot on the heels of “For the Weak,” she’s released another pop-rock number called “Think it Through.”

“It feels frustrating, messy and a bit chaotic, that feeling of wanting to shake them and say ‘Wake up, you deserve better’,” Lana explained of the song’s inspiration. “At the same time, there’s that selfish emotional side too, because you care more than you probably should. It’s direct, unforgiving and very much a scream it in the car kind of song.”

Like “For the Weak,” Lana penned “Think it Through” in Los Angeles with Aussie expats Mason & Julez and they have a similar Veronicas-esque edge to them.

“This song came together incredibly quickly; it was one of those sessions where everything just clicked. By the end of the day, we all kind of looked at each other and knew we had something really special.”

It really feels like Lana is finding her voice in this pop-rock space, which delivers a little more grit than her earliest releases. She says “there are so many more songs sitting unreleased, half-finished, or still in demo form,” so it sounds like we’ll be hearing a lot more from her through the remaining months of 2026. Lana will also support Darcie Haven at CHURCH, the newest under 18th venue in Djilang/Geelong, on August 29.

Image used with permission from Hunger Digital

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lana Karlay Finds Her Rock Edge With “For The Weak”

Emerging talent Lana Karlay continues her musical evolution with the release of her latest single, “For The Weak.” This one has more of a pop-rock edge than previous releases, sitting somewhere between The Veronicas and Michelle Branch. Personally, I love this new direction and hope we hear Lana releasing more tunes in this vein. Although she’s still in high school, I bet many of my listeners can relate to this song inspired by a week-long situationship.

“’For the Weak’ is basically about a situationship that burns out almost as fast as it starts, like a full-on week of lovebombing and mixed signals,” Lana said. “It kind of reflects how fast and intense relationships can feel now, but also how quickly they fall apart. The song moves through each day of the week, showing that shift from excitement to confusion, to finally seeing it for what it actually is. It’s really just calling the whole thing out, no romanticising, just honesty.”

Lana wrote “For The Weak” with Aussie expats Mason & Julez during a trip to Los Angeles this January.

“’For the Weak’ was super spontaneous, working alongside Mason & Julez for the first time, we weren’t overthinking it, we just started getting thoughts out and followed the beat and vibe we were all feeling,” Lana recalled. “Once we locked into the storyline, everything flowed really naturally, and the song kind of wrote itself from there.”

The release of “For The Weak” continues to move Lana closer to dropping an album and a couple of EPs. And she’s somehow finding time to wrap up her high school studies. Expect big things to come from this Naarm/Melbourne-based talent.

Image used with permission from Hunger Digital

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Teen Sensation Lana Karlay Drops Soulful Single, “Running Out of Time”

Lana Karlay is set for a busy year juggling her rising musical career with her year 12 studies. The talented 17-year-old from Djilang/Geelong has just released a new single, “Running Out Of Time” which she wrote and recorded in Los Angeles alongside producer Esthy. It features guest vocals from US artist Cam’dn and is the ideal showcase for her heavenly voice.

Lana was recently named Emerging Artist of 2026 by KROCK and Forte Magazine and you can expect to hear a lot more from her this year. She’s got another single and three music videos on the way to support her upcoming debut album, along with a return trip to the United States for more writing and recording sessions. Mark my words, she’s destined for big things.

Image used with permission from Hunger Digital