You know that feeling when a song sounds so cheerful you could happily dance around your room, until you actually pay attention to what it’s saying? Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Leela Misel plays with exactly that kind of contrast on “OBSESSED,” a bright, groove-filled indie pop release with a much darker story lurking beneath its playful exterior.
At first, the track draws you in with its upbeat energy and catchy pop sensibility. Then there’s the flute, a distinctive musical touch that immediately sets Misel apart. It’s an instrument you don’t often expect to find front and centre in a rock artist’s world, but she makes it feel right at home. With a nod to Jethro Tull, the flute adds a memorable splash of personality, giving the song an unusual colour that helps it stand out.
But don’t let the cheerful sound fool you. “OBSESSED” tells its story from the perspective of a woman whose attraction to a man has crossed into fixation. Rather than presenting a straightforward romantic crush, Misel explores the more unsettling side of desire, where fascination becomes consuming, and the line between playful attraction and unhealthy obsession starts to blur.
That’s where the single gets particularly interesting. The music feels lively and inviting, while the lyrical perspective carries a much more intense edge. It’s a deliciously uncomfortable combination, almost as if the soundtrack to a carefree night out suddenly reveals a secret you weren’t expecting. The contrast isn’t just a clever detail; it’s the central idea that gives “OBSESSED” its personality.
Misel’s wider musical identity makes this creative choice all the more intriguing. Her sound draws from rock, blues, and soul, combining expressive vocals with guitar-driven textures and that signature flute. There’s a rawness to her artistic approach that suits a song exploring emotions that aren’t always neat, reasonable, or easy to explain. Instead of smoothing everything into a conventional love song, she embraces the tension between attraction’s excitement and its darker possibilities.
Based in Melbourne, Misel brings years of live performance experience to her songwriting, having spent close to three decades performing. Her work also reflects her Australian upbringing and Indonesian and Malaysian Tamil heritage, with her broader catalogue exploring subjects such as identity, family, burnout and the search for stillness. These themes reveal an artist interested in the complicated realities of being human, even when the music itself invites you to move.
Her journey as a recording artist began with the single “Switch,” which earned an Honourable Mention and reached the Melbourne semi-finals of the Australian Songwriting Prize through Listen Up Music. She has since released five additional singles, including “Take Me To Your Water” in January 2026, continuing to develop a sound that blends familiar rock foundations with her own distinctive musical choices.
With “OBSESSED,” Misel takes that individuality in a playful new direction. The track’s upbeat energy makes it immediately approachable, while its unsettling lyrical premise gives listeners something more provocative to think about. It’s a reminder that catchy music doesn’t always need a sweet story, and that sometimes the most interesting songs are the ones that make you dance before you realise just how twisted the situation has become.
Ultimately, “OBSESSED” thrives on its contradictions. Leela Misel delivers a colourful, flute-accented indie pop track that feels fun on the surface but explores the shadowy side of infatuation underneath. It’s quirky, catchy, and just unsettling enough to make you want another listen.
Leela Misel makes irresistible indie pop feel deliciously dangerous on ‘OBSESSED’
