Keren Ilan turns indie pop into heartbreak and beautiful melancholy

Turning heartbreak into an ode to melancholy, singer-songwriter Keren Ilan has released new single ‘So Many Times’.

The young Israeli-based and Vietnam-born artist draws inspiration from indie and folk projects. Her concoction of rock and pop sticks out both visually and musically in the landscape of Tel Aviv, the city she calls home.

‘So Many Times’ showcases her mesmerizing vocals, understated guitar work and a knack for delivering an instantly recognisable melody.

Keren’s second EP ‘Emotional Decisions’ revolves around two characters who coexist simultaneously within her; the first is thick-skinned, sarcastic and with her guard constantly up. The other is raw, gentle, sincere and fragile.

These four tracks emphasise four different timelines in Keren’s lifetime and reflect a desire to belong, to bloom and to fill in a ”home” for her and for a lover.

“The new tracks from my upcoming EP already felt introspective when I was writing them, but now they seem to have taken on a whole new meaning,” Karen Ilan adds.

Keren Ilan // Press Photo

Keren Ilan was adopted when she was just one week old by the couple who she considers her biological parents. These circumstances have had an undeniable impact on her and, by consequence, her art.

In the music video for the single, it looks like it was shot in rural Tel Aviv before she makes her way into the city roaming the wet, empty streets with a vintage-looking umbrella. Check it out below and leave an ICM Star Rating out of 10 on the track!