Stella Dunai – Sounds of Oz

If you need a soothing soundtrack to ease you into your working week, Naarm/Melbourne-based alt-folk artist Stella Dunai has got you covered with her beautiful sophomore single “I Love You Too Eagerly.” Part lullaby, part waltz, this sweet single explores all the joy and fear that comes with falling in love.

“This is a pure and sweet song about being head over heels in love with someone and rejoicing in that, while also acknowledging an undercurrent of anxiety that you could be overbearing, or too much when you are being open about your love and genuinely yourself,” Stella explained. “It is about putting everything on the table and leaning in without embarrassment, learning to put trust in the other person when they say that they feel the same.”

I love the intimacy of this song. Built around a live guitar and vocal take, complete with some of those raw moments that some producers might call imperfections that need polishing, it just feels so honest. There’s nowhere for Stella to hide vocally, and you can hear and appreciate every poetic word she sings. Take a little moment to properly listen to this one, because it’s so special.

Photo credit: Young Ha Kim

The last few days have been pretty rough, so I’ve been all about music to soothe my mood. I’ve got my latest serotonin hit from “Can’t Sleep,” the debut single from Stella Dunai. While this is Stella’s first solo single, you might know her as part of Naarm/Melbourne R&B collective Empress. This song’s a lot folkier with dreamy vocals that will get right under your skin.

Stella wrote “Can’t Sleep” while battling insomnia as she travelled through Italy. It’s a little ironic that it sounds like a beautiful lullaby, but I’m digging it.

“I was in the mid-summer heat in Florence with an old wonky nylon string guitar I bought for €20 in France and carried with me on trains and buses,” Stella recalled. “I went on to work at a vineyard in the Dolomites and the owner insisted I play a song for her. So the first people to hear ‘Can’t Sleep’ were Anna, the vineyard owner, and her two Italian friends who spoke very little English – under the stars up on a vineyard in the mountains.”

With her debut EP Nothing to Be Scared Of slated for a November release, we’ll hear a lot more from Stella soon.

Photo credit: Bridgette Winten

Tag: Stella Dunai

Stella Dunai Releases Beautiful New Single, “I Love You Too Eagerly”

Stella Dunai Makes Stunning Debut With “Can’t Sleep”