Karisa Explores Being Trapped in One’s Mind in New Single “Hostage of Paradise”

Fresh off her release, “next to you,” alt-pop artist Karisa has done it again with “Hostage of Paradise,” a compelling new single that blends pop, EDM, alternative, synth, and dance-pop genres for a captivating sonic meld.

“Hostage of Paradise” delves into the complex theme of mental health, juxtaposing feelings of sadness and melancholy with moments of joy and beauty. A musical depiction of being a hostage to one’s own mind, trapped in a place of darkness and sadness, even amidst the world’s physical beauty, the lyrics explore the depths of love and lust, playing with the contrast of words and descriptive visuals. Sonically drawing inspiration from 1980s classic synth and early 2000s percussion beats, the unique soundscape supports the underlying image of beauty that is continually undermined by darkness.

Commenting on the song, Karisa shares:

“My goal while writing this song was to capture the contradiction between depression and happiness, how both can exist and be at war in ​one’s mind. ‘Hostage of Paradise’ represents the internal struggle of melancholy; that despite beauty in the world, your state of mind is ultimately where your perception exists.”

Throughout her life, the Toronto-based singer has heavily relied on music and art as she comes from an artistic family filled with creation and individuality. She recalls her love of music starting to bloom when she was a child sitting at the piano, recording herself singing. Karisa’s first live performance was at a dive bar in Toronto’s Kensington Market. This experience sparked Karisa’s urge to become an established singer-songwriter and share her music with the world.

She prides herself on creating music that expresses the emotion behind various experiences in life – the good, the bad, the ugly, and all that falls in between. Karisa hopes to create songs that provide listeners with a slice of happiness or comfort when they need it the most.

Karisa “Hostage of Paradise” single artwork