Kalopsia on psychedelic escapism, shoegaze influences, and the art of world-building.

Melbourne-based artist Kalopsia, the moniker of Maia Efstathis, crafts dreamy, psychedelic pop that feels like an escape into another world. Blending shoegaze textures with groovy basslines and ethereal vocals, her music is as much about atmosphere as it is about melody. Her latest single, Earthbound, explores themes of love, anxiety, and self-preservation, wrapped in a hypnotic, otherworldly soundscape.

We caught up with Kalopsia to talk about the making of Earthbound, the visual world behind her music, and what’s coming next.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

My name is Maia Efstathis and I’m a Melbourne based psychedelic pop artist, originally from Brisbane. My sound is defined by lush shoegazey guitars, groovy bass lines and soft airy verbed out vocals.

‘Earthbound’ has this dreamy, psychedelic atmosphere, but lyrically, it deals with escapism and anxiety. How did those themes shape the song’s sound and structure?

I think the whole theme of escapism really shapes my sound - not only in Earthbound. I definitely am someone who uses music as an escape from reality. I wanted this track to feel otherworldly in its tones and melodies, to set a scene that doesn't feel like real life. I actually made a music video that sets the scene a bit more https://youtu.be/txCPOtFjdMI?si=4mjX2cmI8q8Mbmxk

I animated it myself, it follows this alien creature who finds its way back up into space after discovering a magical pearl…

You’ve cited artists like Melody’s Echo Chamber and Crumb as inspirations. What drew you to that hazy, psychedelic-tinged pop sound?

I think it's just always been the music I loved and been drawn to the most- it feels so easy to get lost in. Melody's echo chamber in particular perfectly melds fuzzy crunchy tones with lush synths and the soft dreamy vocals

The song explores the tension between love and self-preservation. Was there a specific moment or experience that sparked the lyrics?

It was written based on a personal relationship experience; the idea came at a time where I was experiencing a lot of anxiety and didn't understand why. So I had to make changes in my life - including a breakup - in order to get to the bottom of it and find myself again.

There’s a hypnotic, almost weightless quality to your music. Do you start with that sonic mood in mind, or does it emerge naturally as you write?

I think it emerges naturally as I write! I used to shy away from that sound for some reason, but now I am just embracing it as it feels the most authentic to me.

You’ve got a show at Brunswick Music Festival, what can people expect from a Kalopsia live set?

I am really excited for this show, I have a new 5 piece band lineup that's mostly female now, and it feels so right. I am also bringing back some theatrics into my set - I’m making homemade costumes for all of us to set the scene. Sonically, I am going down a more shoegaze route these days - so expect fuzz, phasers and heaps of reverb.

What’s your approach to production? Do you prefer layering sounds gradually, or is it more of a spontaneous process?

I produced and recorded all parts of Earthbound myself in my bedroom, so its always a spontaneous process. I write, record and produce at the same time because for me, hearing all the tones and effects helps inspire me to write the next parts. I like to really focus on each tone and how it interacts with the other instruments.

‘Earthbound’ features swirling synths, fuzzy guitar solos, and warbly arpeggios. What was the most exciting part of building the track sonically?

The most exciting part was probably experimenting with all the different effects such as phasers, reverbs and delays ect! And also adding in all the synths is always fun!

Shoegaze and dream pop often have an immersive, transportive quality. Where do you imagine listeners being when they hear your music?

For this song in particular, it feels very oceanic and so I kinda picture a coral reef with colourful fish mermaids when I listen to it! Definitely somewhere whimsical!

The name Kalopsia suggests a kind of altered perception. How does that idea tie into your music?

Thats right! Kalopsia translates to the illusion of beauty. There’s different ways you can interpret the meaning, but the way I see it is that you can find beauty within everything, illusion is the first of all pleasures. I think this ties in well with the psychedelic escapism element of my music and viewing escapism in a positive light.

What does your songwriting process look like? Do lyrics come first, or does the music set the tone?

For this track, I started with the guitar riff and recorded that straight in, then added drums, bass and synths. The vocals came last for this song and it was actually the first take vocals that I ended up using - just because they felt the most authentic. I was hiding in my room using a $30 microphone, I’m pretty sure it was at night time so I was trying to be quiet and so the vocals are quite soft and imperfect. But that's what I like about them, they're real! I took my time writing the lyrics too, they may sound a bit ambiguous and they may not make sense to everyone but they make perfect sense to me!

What role does visual aesthetic play in your project? Do you see your music as part of a larger sensory experience?

I am definitely a very visual person, so the visual aspect always has a big place in the creations as a whole. I see Kalopsia as a whole world rather than just a music project. I play in a couple other Melbourne bands and we all have this similar view on our projects, we like to be characters in each others worlds when we create together.

My whole style/aesthetic has changed up a bit lately, for the music video for Earthbound I was heavily inspired by the french animated film La Planete Sauvage. David Lynch is also a huge inspiration for me visually, I feel my music exists in a world thats bordering on a fever dream.

What do you love right now?

I have been really into animating right now, I have been making lil loops and gifs for my friends and am keen to keep the theme of animation in all my music videos.

What do you hate right now?

I can't really think of anything right now, hopefully it stays that way haha.

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?

It’s hard to pick an album from their discography, but I’ll go with “discovery” from Electric Light Orchestra. This album is really significant for me and I have been loving it ever since I was a kid, there's just something about their melodies and layering that hits home for me.

With ‘Earthbound’ marking a new release, what’s next for Kalopsia? More singles, an EP, or something else in the works?

I have another single on the way in a couple months, along with an EP that I am planning to release at the end of this year!

Start Listening To: Kalopsia