Dora Jar on the Creative Fire Behind Her New Album

Dora Jar’s new album, No Way To Relax When You Are On Fire, is an turbulent exploration of what it feels like to be navigating life’s uncertainties in your 20s. Through its unique sound and abstract lyricism, Dora invites listeners into a world of contradictions, where moments of bliss meet the weight of overwhelm. The album mirrors her journey of self-discovery, often returning to the question ‘Who am I?’. During the process Dora finds herself caught between her desires to share and her fears of being seen. With this project, she opens up more than ever before. She reflects not only on her own inner turmoil but also on the universal experience of self-discovery.

“I feel like there’s a lot of contradictions in being an artist. You want to share so much but then you are scared to be seen. (…)Sometimes I feel very unsure of what I am even saying and it is hard to trust the mystery.”

The Art of Spontaneity: Dora’s Creative Process

Featuring a wide range of musical styles Dora describes the album as a “fun house” with different rooms, each song is distinct but still part of the same space. Dora’s songwriting process begins with the guitar, allowing the first chord progression she plays to dictate the direction of the song. This intuitive approach keeps her music fresh and exciting. Each song feels like a spontaneous creation rather than a perfectly planned project.

“I don’t know anything about the guitar technically. I just know I love the feeling of playing it.”

Finding Inspiration: Spirituality in Songwriting

Lyrics come to her when she is walking around and her observations effortlessly turn into poetic metaphors. She tends to stick with abstract lyrics since she likes people to make their own connections while listening to her music. Dora explains how the best part of music is how there are so many different ways to feel one emotion and how one word can evoke so many things in people. Her spirituality deeply impacts her songwriting, with meditation helping her clear thought spirals and trust her intuitive process. “Sitting in silence,” she says, “allows me to align with the universe,” often bringing images to her mind that form the foundation of her lyrics.

“When I am in a state of tapping into the void, I tend to have a lot of pictures coming to mind. That helps with song writing.”

The Magic of Live Performance

One of Dora’s most cherished moments comes during the song Debby Darling. When she looks out into the crowd she can see fans reciprocating the emotion which she pours into the music. ‘I love shows where I can see everyone’s faces,’ she shares, emphasizing the emotional connection within small venues. While appreciating the intimacy of smaller venues Dora can’t wait to one day fill stadiums. Opening for artists like Billie Eilish and The 1975 has given her a taste of how much fun it is to play her music in arenas for a big crowd.

“It’s all about being in the moment and letting the audience lead us to new exciting places.”

Q&A

To me, listening to your album felt like entering a new magical world. What was your intention for listeners when creating this album? What do you hope your fans feel or experience while listening to it?

I would like anyone to feel courageous, open and dancey and like the strange parts of them are the best parts of them!

“No Way To Relax When You Are On Fire” is such a strong title, and relatable to many young people going through a self-discovrey journey. What would your advise be to someone who hears the album title and relates to it?

I’m trying to think of my younger self right now. I definitely went through turmoil especially in my early twenties. I feel like fire represents anger and I think that underneath anger there always lays some universal sadness that can help our hearts open and then ulitmately it can help us connect when we realise that we all are struggling. I guess the advice is: Let the feeling of the heart just go through its natural course and lead you through whatever grief or sadness comes. Let it show you something beautiful and be patient for that.

Capturing Emotions: Turning Sound into Visual Fairytales

Dora describes her creative decisions as something that just “happens in a moment” rather than being a planned decision. The visuals, heavily inspired by the smoke staircase in Mary Poppins, reflect the contradictions that run through Dora’s music. Something intangible yet capable of lifting you up. This idea resonates throughout the album, where emotions are constantly shifting, much like the changing sky Dora often references. The everchanging nature of the visuals mirrors her exploration of identity and impermanence in the music. Looking at the sky is a sense of comfort, reminding Dora that every feeling is just temporary and how the world is everchanging.

Final Thoughts: Embracing Complexity and Authenticity

By pushing herself to let go of perfectionism and embrace the unknown, Dora begins to overcome imposter syndrome. In doing so, she creates space for her fans to do the same. To celebrate their quirks, contradictions, and most vulnerable emotions. With No Way To Relax When You Are On Fire, Dora Jar not only redefines her artistic identity but also invites her listeners to redefine their own. The courage it took to produce such an unapologetically authentic work reflects her hope to inspire a generation of people to accept themselves in all their complexity. This album inspires you to find beauty in the messiness of life.