March 31, 2024 • 37 mins
Earlier this year, we got to sit down with Zimbabwean-born artist, Kye and talk all things music and how spreading joy is at the core of her musical expression. We had a blast talking about her musical influences, going down nostalgic memory lane and speaking about representation matters.
Get into our interview with Kye and let us know your thoughts.
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About Kye
In the short time since KYE formally introduced herself to the world,she's already won over audiences with her celebratory, sun-soakedsound that effortlessly bridges pop and R&B, keeping joy and freedomat the forefront with shining rhythmic deliveries, championing herundeniable songwriting and vocal talents.Zimbabwean born, London raised, now Naarm/Melbourne based,KYE’s relationship with music blossomed as a young child growing upin the UK. In between vivid memories spent singing through sicknessand health, gospel songs, talent shows, girl bands and more, her voiceflourished with each deep embrace of her identity.Deeply informed by her experience as a young black womanexperiencing life through a predominately white societal lens, KYEfindsherself today confident, strong and humble, ready to share her mantraof embracing openness andfinding joy in it, with the world.
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Keep Up with Kye
Instagram: @getitkye
TikTok: @getitkye
Website: https://www.getitkye.com/
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I'm always always said be careful.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Love those umboo.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Let it well, use your head.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
They will tear you lack a purple talk.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Oh no no, no, yeah.
Speaker 5 (00:33):
Yeah yeah yeah, oh no no no.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Hi.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
I'm Amanda and I'm Romby.
Speaker 5 (00:42):
Welcome to It's Laying.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
We're in a long distance friendship that started over twenty
years ago when we were in high school.
Speaker 5 (00:49):
We'll be talking about all things life, love, family, anything
and everything else under the sun.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
Delve deeper with us because in life, you know, Jine Layers.
Speaker 6 (01:01):
No no, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah no no.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of its Laired
Special Edition. And today we're so so excited.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
We have a special guest in the building. We have
Kai here with us.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Welcome Kai, thanks for having me.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Yes, okay, we're so excited. But before we get into
all things dell all the way deeper with you, we
just wanted to let the people know a little bit
about Kai. Who is Kai and what's she all about.
In the short time since Kai formally introduced herself to
the world, she's already one over audiences with her celebratory,
(01:47):
absolutely celebratory, sun soaked sound that effortlessly bridges pop and
R and B, keeping joy and freedom at the forefront
with shining rhythmic deliveries championing her undeniable songwriter and vocal talent.
Zimbabweent born what Up London Raised now noms Slash, Melbourne
(02:07):
based Kai's relationship with music blossomed as a young child
growing up in the UK.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
In between vivid memories spent singing through sickness and health,
gospel songs which all Zimbabwians can relate to, talent shows,
girl bands and more, have voice flourished with each deep
embrace of her identity. Deeply informed by her experience as
a young black woman experiencing life through a predominantly white
societal lens, which this podcast completely gets. Kai finds herself today, confident,
(02:40):
strong and humble, ready to share her mantra of embracing
openness and finding joy in it with the world. Welcome
to his lad podcast, Kai, I'm so excitedly here and
to talk to you guys. A bio that sounds so cool, cool.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Cool, honestly, like we'll get into all that, but yeah,
I would be so grateful that you could be here
and after such an amazing bio. How would you describe
yourself Kai, Like, like, in a few words and a
sentence and a paragraph, how would you know someone said,
who's kind?
Speaker 6 (03:18):
Yeah, I would probably say Kai is like a multi genre.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Artist based in Nam Zimbabwe born. Yeah. I don't know.
It's so hard to you know when someone says, you know,
tell me about yourself and you go.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Exactly window.
Speaker 6 (03:39):
Yeah, but yeah, definitely a multi genre artist. Yeah, sort
of making pop, R and B dance music with just
a focus on fun and joy and enjoyment.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
I love that.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
We've spoken a lot about being a third culture kid,
you know, balancing all the cultures we come from. How
do you think being born in Zimbabwe, raised in the UK,
and now based in malvin has shaped your musical journey.
Speaker 6 (04:06):
I think all of the different cultures and you know,
different versions of my upbringing is kind of the reason
why I'm such a multi genre artist. I think, you know,
when you've lived in all these different places and you've
had to adapt a whole bunch of times, and you know,
meet new people and be in different environments, you know,
it makes you such I guess, like a hybrid person,
and I think that makes my music sound like that
(04:28):
because that's what my personality is like I'm just you know,
a combination of all the places I've been and all
the things that I've learned and the people I've met.
So yeah, I think it heavily informs my music because
I don't really make one sound that can be put into.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
You know, one box. Yes, and that's just how I
am as a personality.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
So yeah, absolutely, and I love that multifacetedness. I think
so often we are denied of that. You're allowed to
be all these things, right, It's like, oh, if you're
gonna identify as this, you're only this, or if you're
can to identify as that, you're only that. And you know,
it's beautiful when we can embrace all of that.
Speaker 6 (05:07):
So yeah, when it took me, even like a while
in my musical journey to you know, even identify as
Zimbabwean born, I think that was such a big turning
point for me because I was like, actually, that does
inform my music. And maybe it means that I don't
make afrobeats and I don't make zimbabwe music, but I
can still identify with saying, oh, this is my culture,
(05:29):
this is where I was born, and these are the
ways that it influences my music. Without having to make
a specific type of music. I think, especially in Western media,
there is such a you know, a preconception about the
music that Africans make and the art that Africans make,
so immediately when you say, oh, I'm from Zimbabwe, they're like, okay,
give us the Zimbabwe music. Yeah. I think there was
(05:51):
even a push and pull there of being like, actually, no,
let me introduce my culture into this. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Yeah, speaking of culture, how did your close family and
friends support you in becoming a musician.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
What was that journey like for you when you decided.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
I think there was a lot of fear at the beginning.
Speaker 6 (06:11):
I think you know, you probably would understand, you know,
coming from Zim and like my parents having moved us
from Zim and we've moved to different places around the world.
For them, you know, everything was very much about how
do we, you know, keep our family sustained, how do
we go and find a job that's going to keep
us pushing through? And for them it was all about
like how do we survive and take care of these kids?
(06:33):
And then I think for us kids, we've gone okay, well,
now I've got this whole world full of opportunities, and
I want to do something a bit weird and your parents.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Wait, what, you're a doctor or a lawyer about it?
Speaker 6 (06:46):
So yeah, I think, you know, they get you through school,
they get you educated, and I went off to UNI
and I was pre met for a couple of years,
and then I decided I didn't want to do it.
Speaker 5 (06:56):
So now.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Exactly that was.
Speaker 6 (07:04):
An uphill battle for a while, and you know, mom
and dad didn't really get it, you know, until the
music started coming out and you know, things started happening.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
But they've always been supportive.
Speaker 6 (07:13):
They've always you know, they've always known that I loved
music and I love singing, and they always wanted me
to do it. But it was just that thing of like,
we don't know anything about the music industry or how
people release songs or how people get a record deal,
and you know, how are you going to make money?
How are you going to survive? So I think, yeah,
it was it was a big conversation. But they are
the most supportive parents in the world now, Like they
(07:34):
just they back everything I do. They support me, They
come to every show like they're the best.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
We love it.
Speaker 5 (07:41):
Yeah, we heard you on your bossing song when you
speak a few bars or like yeah, you know, they
sound lovely to be seen, And I think you're so right.
It's our parents always operate from a place of fear
because for them, they were probably the first generation to
really experience quote unquote material success. So to them, they're like,
it can be taken away. You have to have security, security, security,
(08:03):
And then with the generation after that, like we're secure
now now.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
What you know? Now we dream?
Speaker 5 (08:09):
Yeah, now we dream right now, we can do those
other things that you wanted us to do. Deep down,
this is what you were doing it for. But I
think this is so hard for them to fathom. How
do you yourself keep yourself motivated as a young black
woman experiencing life through a predominantly white lens.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
As you said in your bio.
Speaker 6 (08:30):
I think like, as much as it is difficult, it's
also really exciting. I think, you know, there's a there's
that feeling of pushing the envelope and pushing that glass
ceiling further and further up, and knowing that the more
that I push in, the harder I work, the easier
it's going to be for you know, the next young
black girls who are making music, you know in white Australia,
(08:51):
I think by the time I've gone and done it,
you know, the next batch that's coming up, it's just
going to be you know, a much easier, a much
easier journey for them. So there's always that in the
back of my mind. But I think it's also just
exciting feeling like, oh, you know, we're actually going to
push some barriers here, and we're going to see what
it looks like to see change actively happen. Then it's
(09:13):
frustrating some days, and it's hard some days, but other
days you get those big wins and you actually really
get to go, yes, I did that, and I get
to claim that, and I get to say, you know,
I get to put my heritage and my culture at
the forefront, and.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
You know, let the white people watch me do it.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
And enjoy you while you do that as well. Enjoy
it while you do that.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
Because I think that there's something really special. As much
as there's pushback sometimes on culture or difference, I think
there's something that draws people to you know, be like wow,
like that's something that's different to me, and so on
and so forth. So I think it's really inspiring what
you're doing. And we wanted to know who inspires you
(09:59):
music like your your your journey, your sound and all that,
if he could.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Share with us.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
Yeah, it's always so hard to pinpoint musical influences because
I think it just expands and changes every day. But
my parents brought me up on a lot of like
Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston and Shaka Khan and you know,
all of those great great artists from that time. So
R and B and soul music and like great pop
music has always been something I had around me, So
(10:29):
I think, yeah, my early songwriting was definitely like, oh,
you know, I know this Michael Jackson song because I
know it's got this hook. So I've got to write
songs that have got hooks. So I think, yeah, the
early influences is that. And then yeah, just as I've
gotten older, just discovering more and more artists that I love.
I'm a big Beyonce fan. It's embarrassing, you tell us twice.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Yeah, No, I have.
Speaker 6 (10:55):
An embarrassing love for Beyonce and just her work and
her career been really inspiring to watch. And then you know,
just some of the newer R and B stuff that's
coming out Scissor and you know, all this kind of
artists Kailani who sort of make that alternative R and
B and I think it was really cool listening to
that music when people weren't really across it yet. And
(11:16):
now if you say Scissor, everyone knows who Scissor is.
But if you said Sissa five six years ago, people
will be like, I don't know, I've not heard of
that artist before.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Yeah, I think not so much.
Speaker 6 (11:27):
Sonically, I think, you know, I don't really make super
R and B music anymore, but I think yeah, definitely
career wise, and watching you know, other black young artists
sort of come up from the underground and really place
themselves in the mainstream.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Yeah, has definitely been a big influence. I mean speaking
on that.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
You know, we always talk about things we want to
see or places you want to be And for you musically,
who do you think you would love to collaborate with?
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Oh, I mean number one Beyonce.
Speaker 6 (11:58):
I say it for every every interview if I asked
the question, I always say it because I know that
if I say it enough times, it'll happen.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
So yeah, watching this beyond is internet that absolutely, there's
there's so many Honestly, if there wasn't Beyonce.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Gosh, I mean Ed Sheeran.
Speaker 6 (12:23):
Honestly, I think Ed Sheeran is one of the greatest
pop songwriters, like in the world right now, Ed Sheeran,
Max Martin. Yeah, a lot of amazing pop songwriters out there,
So yeah, but number one Beyonce.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Queen?
Speaker 1 (12:38):
You heard that, Queen?
Speaker 4 (12:43):
Which would you say? I think people often say it's
hard to choose. It's like choosing which is your favorite child.
But what do you enjoy more? The songwriting aspect or
being a vocalist because your vocals are quite like, you know,
like really impressive, just the way able to scale and
you know, listening to some of your covers like it's
(13:07):
just really really inspiring. So which which side of it
do you enjoy more? The songwriting or the vocals performing?
Speaker 3 (13:18):
I don't know anyone.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
It is hard. It is like being your favorite child.
Speaker 6 (13:22):
I think lately it's been like vocals the actual I
think like artistry behind vocals has been a big thing
for me. I think in my previous records, I think
a lot of people who know me or have heard
me sing have been like, oh, you don't really sing
on your records, which is really interesting because they're right
I don't really have to work hard vocally on some
(13:45):
of the records I've put out. A lot of the
new music is like vocal, like vocally heavy, like really
I've had to get really into the nitty gritty of
like my singing and really use my vocals for the
stuff that's coming out later. So I've been really in
that space at the moment, just really working on vocal
arranging and I mean getting better.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
As a vocalist to I teach vocals.
Speaker 6 (14:07):
I have about fifty students, yeah, so that's been like
a big part of the process. I've been teaching for
about a year and a half. Yeah, so it's been
really really interesting to get into the mechanics of my voice.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
So that's been really fun.
Speaker 6 (14:23):
But it's amazing gear up, Yeah, as we gear up
to go back on tour. I'm so excited to get
back on stage because I think that is my my
happy place being.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
On That's amazing. That's amazing.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
And would there be anyone that you would love to
songwrite with for collaborate with on a songwriting scale, because
we talk about the honest song overall, but like anyone
you'd love to write with. I know you mentioned ed Sharan,
Is there anyone else there?
Speaker 6 (14:52):
Yeah, honestly, I would love I would love for Edge
Shearing to write me a song. But yeah, at the moment,
I think my my focus has been collaborating with people
who are really different to me and make really different
music to me. Like I just did a couple of
sessions with an Australian artist named Jeef Flip and their
music couldn't be any more different to what I make,
(15:13):
And the music that we made was really really cool
and really opened up a new space for me. So
I think, yeah, without sort of pinpointing any names, I
think there's so many artists that I would love to
work with who are just in a completely different genre
to me.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
So I think that's yeah, that's.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
The beautiful you know, it's so interesting to talk about
how your voice. I think we forget their voices are instruments.
I remember when we were like in music school in
high school and they'll be like, oh, you can do music,
and then people will be expecting you to play an instrument,
and some people would just sing a compeller and it's like, well, yeah,
that is an instrument. So it's beautiful that you're even
teaching music and using our voices. It's such a I
(15:51):
don't know, it's such a I guess, underrated part of music.
It's funny we know you're a singer, but then we
always the production and we forget that you're vocalist first. Right.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Yeah, No, it's really true. It's really true.
Speaker 6 (16:05):
I think even as I've gotten back to being more
of an instrumentalist because I do play, I think even
getting back to that and being like, oh, I have
to give as much practice and time to singing as
I have to give to guitar or piano or so yeah,
how technical it all is. So yeah, the voice is
such an interesting instrument because it's so personal. You know,
(16:26):
if you play the wrong note on the piano or
you hit the wrong drum, it's like oops. But if
you see a wrong note, it's so deeply, like personally reflective.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
I think that.
Speaker 6 (16:38):
Very exposing. So yeah, no, it's been it's been fun
to dig into.
Speaker 5 (16:43):
It's so funny you say that because we grew up
in the era of like Christina Anguilera, and I remember
on one of her studio sessions she had like the
lights dimmed and everything was just because she's like, I
just want people to focus on my voice and not
like what I look like. And it's just so interesting
because just one for you. Well, I mean we've just
been the same studio, so we feel like we've really.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Hang out with you. We recorded our.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
Special at the Base Studios as well in South Melbourne.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
What do you think you enjoy most about being in
the studio?
Speaker 6 (17:14):
Oh gosh, so you would have seen the bass, which
is great for context because it's such like a It
depends on how you light it, I think, but it's
such like a movie and it's just like the atmosphere
of it is just very intimate, I think. So I
really like to get into intimate space when I'm recording
because it really does affect it. It affects the way
(17:34):
that you're seeing and perform. I can't do it with
bright lights on. My voice sounds completely different under bright
lights than it does, you know, in a dark space,
which is so funny.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
It's so weird.
Speaker 6 (17:44):
But yeah, however it affects your brain is just how
the sound comes out, which is yeah, really funny.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
But I love recording at the Base.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
It's been my home now for a while and my
first sort of music that came out as Kai was
all recorded at the base that I haven't recorded anywhere
else since. So, yeah, it's just my little musical home.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Yeah, we had We had a great time recording there
and just as you said, the energy is just really
really great. You shared a little so you like the
more sort of dimmed side of things when it comes
to recording. Can you share a bit about your creative process,
because you know what I always wonder about the songwriters
(18:27):
or the singers, you know, especially if you have a
hands on approach to make creating your music and seeing
it through from the start to the finish.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
What does that look like?
Speaker 4 (18:38):
Because I think sometimes as regular humans we can't fathom, like, so,
where does the song come from?
Speaker 3 (18:44):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (18:45):
Like, yeahs, what does that create a process look like
for you?
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Or does it differ change? Like do you have like a.
Speaker 6 (18:54):
Systems chop and change around? But I think that question
you asked before, where does the song come from? Is
is a really interesting question and something that I've been
I think grappling with probably for the last few years,
because I think my best songs that I've ever written
feel like they fall out of the sky, Like it
doesn't feel like I write them. It feels like they
(19:14):
just happened to me and then I happen to just
be there at the right time and place. So yeah,
I think my favorite songs I've written them driving and
they just happen all like linearly or in the shower,
and the whole song happens. And the last song that
I wrote that I really loved, I felt like was
the best song I've ever written. I had heard two
(19:34):
chords on her guitar and it just happened. People in
the room are like, what just happened there? Like you
just heard the sound and then you know, the.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Christians and Zimbabwe be like, it's like exactly, yeah, and.
Speaker 6 (19:52):
You know they said, oh, it's like you just reached
up in the air and just grabbed it. And so
I think that's something I've been just trying to I
think I'll never understand that's actual.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
There's something, there's something really when they I've been reading
different things and.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Oh, specifically Power of Now.
Speaker 4 (20:14):
I've been reading Guys and things like that and talks
about flow and when you're in flow and it's almost
like an element. That's why consciousness is so important, because
you're not in your head, you're just in flow. With
whatever you believe, whatever the universe whoever is talking to you,
and then that's where it just comes to you. And
(20:34):
it really shows that you really are in contact with
your flow and and and kind of moving in that.
So that's really beautiful. So guys, there's no like secrets.
I'm sure there are recipes.
Speaker 7 (20:47):
Just like I just like, but it just it just
comes as well.
Speaker 6 (20:53):
I think like flow is really important. But I think
even like flow within yourself, I can't write as I
don't feel good like if I don't take care of myself,
if I'm not like on my absolute one hundred percent
in terms of like am I being healthy? Am I exercising?
Am I reading? Am I surrounding myself with people who
make me happy? Am I having a good time? In general?
Speaker 1 (21:15):
In life?
Speaker 6 (21:16):
I can't be creative because I think, you know, being
creative out of negativity is just not it's not me,
Like I just feel like, I, yeah, I just can't
go into that space. I can't get into that place
where I guess I can receive. But yeah, I think
being on that wave for a while now of just
being like how do I actually make myself feel better?
(21:38):
Has been Yeah, has been just an unlocking point for
songwriting and being creative and yeah, just opening up my
artistry in general.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Yeah, we love that for you, We love that beautiful.
Speaker 5 (21:49):
Yeah. I think self care is such a thing that
people it's almost got to the point where it's become luxury, right,
People always think self care, Oh, you have to go
to SPA, you have to those things.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Definitely got a space you all love a bad day.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
But like, I think what you're saying, like, even on
the day to day, checking in with yourself is so important.
And I think that's the lovely thing about your music.
It's just so fun, Like it's too joyful. Yeah, you
cannot listen to it and not be in a good
mood at the end of it. And I think it's
such a special talent that you have that you bring
(22:25):
that out, you know, even if you don't know the lyrics, you're.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Like, like, you know, it's just like step So I'm
not love it.
Speaker 5 (22:35):
When I saw your shows, you know, I was like,
oh my gosh. People are really responding to that energy.
And I think, especially in this world there's so much
going on, it's nice to have to spark on those
moments of just pure joy and fun but how does
it feel for you performing your songs live?
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Oh? So fun, so much fun.
Speaker 6 (22:55):
I think even before writing the Ribena EP, a big
thing was how do I make it so that when
I'm performing, the whole thing is fun, you know? And
I think there is a place for sad songs. There's
definitely a place for more serious topic songs, and a
lot of other artists do that and they you know,
they fill that space, and I'll eventually do that as
I'm moving to my album. But I think if there
(23:17):
is an underlying feeling of actually, even if it is
a sad song, I still want you to be able
to find your joy in there, because you know, sadness
doesn't negate joy. So I think just finding that feeling of.
Speaker 5 (23:31):
Right there that's not can make us take a lot.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
R carry on.
Speaker 6 (23:41):
Yeah, but I think, you know, wanting to engage with
that part of your audience and being like I want
you to feel joy is Yeah, it just makes performing
incredible because it's no longer about you. It's not you know, Oh,
I'm on this stage and I want you to look
at me and look at all the things I do
and listen to my voice. It's like, oh, let's let's
have an experience to get that.
Speaker 4 (24:00):
Yeah, beautiful and speaking of sadness, does not have, does
not negate joy.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Now this is gonna be a Quotable's gonna be out here,
okay in the streets.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
But you know, your your song Tuesday, I think speaks
that because.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
It's not really a happy song. Am that right?
Speaker 4 (24:22):
And then the way I understood it because sometimes you
must understand the song. But I guess not really a
happy song, but you made it joyful. I watched the
music when I was like, oh my gosh, it's and
then I was like, but the if you listen.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
Clearly it's not.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
So I think that epitomizes so perfectly what you just said.
It's like you can you can cry in you know,
in a on a bed of flowers and you know,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
So I think that.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Juxtaposition was so beautifully done.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
So I yes, so creative.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
Any advice that you have for upcoming artists or those
who want to work in the music industry, because as
you said, I think historically, especially in Zimbabwe. Fun fact,
I wrote a song at sixteen, I even recorded it.
Speaker 3 (25:07):
I wanted to be an artist.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Then my parents were like not going to happen and
I listened and you know, Cela VI. But any advice
for as you said, you're trying to carve a way
for the younger generation, so.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
It's a little easier.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
It feels a bit more normalized for them to see
themselves doing the things that were not.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
Easy to do.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
You know why we had to push against the grain
as you did. Any advice or thoughts for them, just.
Speaker 6 (25:35):
That authenticity is everything. I think if you do everything
from an authentic place, then you know, whether it's in
the business side of music or whether it's in the
creative process, you'll always have the outcome that you're proud of.
I think it's really easy to lose yourself in, you know,
an industry that's like this, so that's all about entertainment
(25:55):
and it's all about being in front of people. It's
really really easy to just become a version of yourself
and not just truly yourself. So I think really sticking
to being your authentic self is what's going to make
you happy at the end of the day and what's
actually going to bring you success because nobody can be
as you as you, and that's what's going to be
different on the market too, So I think just yeah,
(26:17):
being absolutely you to a fault is the way to go.
And I think just injecting your personality into everything that
you do as well, making music that actually connects to
you and not just you know, singing songs on a
piece of paper, actually having a personal and real connection
to your art. Yeah, I think just being real, if
I had to sum that up, is just being real.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
Absolutely, no one can be you, nobody can be more
than you. Bars another one.
Speaker 5 (26:45):
Another, one another, one another, one another one. You know.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
What I love about gen Z? I feel like you guys.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
Just do it like yeah, And there's a lot of
conversation around gen Z and obviously we're not gen Z else,
But what do you think with the dialogue around millennials
and gen Z? Do you think millillions can take anything
from gen Z? And is there anything you would take
from millennials or.
Speaker 6 (27:12):
Is it just like I think it's so it's so
funny because like I know, I'm technically what they call
a cuspa because I'm not quite gen Z, but I'm
not quite a millennial either, And I grew up with
all the stuff that like, you know, millennials grew up
with but I'm too young to be like a millennial millennials.
I'm a cusper, so I've got a bit of book.
(27:32):
So I think there's things to learn from both. I
think gen Z has really gotten I think like emotional
openness and vulnerability. Having that included in like the mainstream
conversation is something that I've noticed from gen Z that
is massive, Like people are really talking about their feelings,
which when I was in high school, that was not
a thing. We didn't do that. So I think that's
(27:54):
been really cool and really important. And I think gen
Z does have that whole thing where you can be,
you know, an individual and you can be really authentic.
But I think that millennials also have this like realism
that's like, yeah, we can be all of these, but
we need a functional way to do it because we've
seen what happens when the big dreaming boomers dream away
(28:16):
and dream the future away, so.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
We suffer thanks to them.
Speaker 6 (28:20):
Yeah, I think you got that realness. I think if
you brought that all in together, then yeah, you get
a really wonderful mix for a society.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
But we'll see how we go. Gen Z is getting.
Speaker 5 (28:36):
I think for me, it's just a it's a social
media stuff for me, Yeah, I cannot and I commend
you like your reels are so fun Yeah, like you
get to know.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
I feel like I know you, like I feel like,
oh yeah doing a thing you know.
Speaker 5 (28:51):
Yeah right.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
I think for our generation, when I cannot be doing that, you.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
Know, no one should see me like it's so funny,
like the difference.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
Yeah, it's it's great.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
I love the call out to all everyone saying when
are you getting back to your what real song writing?
Or seriously, yeah, that was too funny.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
I was like, oh my god.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
And even when you're looking for the clip from Wendy
Wendy and you're like, there's a thing called legal, I
was like, yeah, it was too funny the whole song,
and then forget about the legal part of it, Like
it's just and everyone just giving you recommendations.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
That's the beautiful aspect.
Speaker 5 (29:34):
I guess that we it's a community and you're definitely
in touch with your community, which is a beautiful thing
to see. I think sometimes, especially being from Zimbabwe, we
use social media to perform, to show off too, and
we forget that there's people receiving and those people need
that interaction and yeah, of course it gets overwhelming, but
(29:56):
there's definitely space where it's like you're not just coming
on here to show off, you here to really connect.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
There's intent behind it.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (30:04):
Yeah, I think working with like artists that are bigger
than me, like when I first started in music and
was doing like a lot of backing vocal stuff, seeing
their fan bases, because some of them are crazy, Like
working with Rule, like his fan base is one of
the most insane fan bases I've ever encountered. Like they
are just so loyal and like attached, but like attached
(30:26):
to each other as well, Like they've really become this
really like glued community. So you'd end up on your
Instagram and you go into your request folder and you
see that it's like groups of girls who have met
each other at concerts or met each other online and
then added you into the group to be like we
need to get information from her about this, we need
to get her to talk to us. But there were
(30:48):
girls who were from totally different parts of the world
and they were best friends in this chat and they
would come in and they would tell each other about
their day and like their struggles and like I've stayed
in the requests, like they've stayed in the request folder.
But I've read those groups for years, like they are
still friends, like they've been since they were like twelve,
and now they're nineteen and they're still on there talking
(31:09):
to each other and it's like, wow, you know, there's
one thing community together. So I think community is like invaluable.
It's amazing.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
That's beautiful. Your sound on you know, your hit songs
like Barson and Rubena, Rabina Rabina. Guys, I'm not Australian,
I don't know what Boson and Rabina definitely gave me
emptv select vibes like re rewind by Artful Dodger and
(31:36):
also a bit of like Craig David filled me in you.
Speaker 5 (31:38):
Know that very she's a casta in the music.
Speaker 4 (31:43):
Yeah, when you're talking about being a Casper, I was like, ah,
that makes sense.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
What drew you to that?
Speaker 4 (31:50):
Because it felt so nostalgic for me listening to it
as I'm a full on Millennire.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
I can't even deny it.
Speaker 4 (31:55):
Yeah, that really gave me like that vibe, but like
obviously you really you breathed a new life into it.
It was so it's so great to see just how
you did that, Yeah, so tell me about that. I can,
you know, go on, but tell me about your thoughts.
Speaker 6 (32:14):
So that's like, that's that's what's really nostalgic for me,
that sound, because that would have been around like two thousand,
two thousand and one, and that's when I moved to
the UK as a kid, so like those were the
first sort of songs that I was listening to in
the car with my parents, like driving around.
Speaker 5 (32:30):
So what was that on top of the pop of
the yeah one like.
Speaker 6 (32:38):
Radio, yeah, like all of those radio stations. And it
actually like I had a full circle moment last year
because I got to go and talk about bossing on
Kiss and I was like, oh, I would have heard
you know, Daniel Beddingfield and Craig Davis kiss when I
was a kid, So then to have my own, you know,
two step song that's being played on Kiss, I was
(33:00):
like just mind blowing. But yeah, that's a really nostalgic
like era for me, and a really nostalgic sound and
a lot of that like Ripop is a big influence
on me as well, like Sugar Babes and.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
I'm going to be doing the rest of the day.
Speaker 7 (33:19):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, because I had a recent like rewind
of like even Spice Girls and like, I don't know
all these girls.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Were in their.
Speaker 6 (33:33):
Song you know, the Superstar by Jamilla. Yeah, yeah, that
sound is really like my childhood. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (33:45):
I think that's what I love about TikTok as well,
because all those sounds come back like, yeah, someone to
do it, real about it, remember that song and then
the researcher and I think even some songs are coming
back on the chats that are like yeah, yeah it's crazy,
Yeah it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
So thank you for that.
Speaker 4 (34:04):
It was It was really really lovely to hear that
in juxtaposition with like our saying Tuesday and sometimes, which
I love how you did that, especially the end of
that video, just like the kind of sadness means like
hysteria like you, because you're like combined hysterically laughing with
like this pain you're going through.
Speaker 3 (34:23):
I just love.
Speaker 4 (34:24):
How your your interpretation of all these emotions and songs
is so uniquely yours. And then the fashions, I mean
a man can talk a bit more about the fashions
in your music videos and you know, so just really
love as you're saying, how you're multi hyphened and you're multifaceted,
(34:45):
and how it all comes together, it's it's done really well.
Speaker 6 (34:49):
So thank you, thank you, thanks for noticing the fashion
I'm a fashion girl, the right place.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
You came to the right.
Speaker 5 (35:01):
Any upcoming projects we should start looking out for. I
know you've been teasing us on the socials. Yeah, I have.
Speaker 6 (35:09):
I do have a song coming out. It's coming out
on feb twenty first, so yeah, I haven't actually announced
the date yet, but we're getting really close. We're less
than three weeks out. So we've got a song coming out.
It's called now Come on Now. I've been teasing it
on my socials and the sound is actually available to
use on socials now. And then we have another song
(35:30):
that I won't announce the name of yet coming out
straight after that, and it's almost I guess it's kind
of my little send off to the Rabina era, just
putting the lid back on and putting it back in
the fridge for a little bit. Yeah, I started writing
an album which has been big and scary and wonderful
and exciting, but again just like another iteration of myself
(35:54):
and just another evolution.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
So yeah, just.
Speaker 6 (35:57):
Kind of putting this party era to rest for a
sus second and just like getting those last couple of
tracks out so they'll be out.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
Yeah, and this month, which is crazy. They can't wait.
Speaker 5 (36:08):
You can't wait to hear them, and obviously hear the
song on full. We've been loving the snippet the sound,
so yeah, we can't wait to hear it.
Speaker 4 (36:16):
And happy birthday for Tuesday to you. Honestly, keep shining,
you know, you epitomize joy. I think that's a really
if I were to bottle you up, it would be
like you are like spring in a bottle or joy
in a bottle and just ye, So keep that everything going.
Speaker 1 (36:37):
We love to see it.
Speaker 5 (36:38):
Yeah, we definitely do love to see it, and also
loving to see that even though you like this person
who has all these cultures within you, it's just a
positive space.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
It's not like a negative thing. You know. Sometimes we're like, oh,
I don't feel like I belong anywhere.
Speaker 5 (36:52):
But it's like you found your space and you found
your sound and you found your music. And I think
music is something that your knights people whole no matter
where they're from, and you're definitely proof of that.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
So keep going. We'll watch it, Yeah for sure.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
Thank you so much, and thank you to our listeners
for joining us for yet another episode of its LB podcast.
We appreciate you. If you haven't already, please check out
Kai Kai. What are your social media handles? Where can
people find you?
Speaker 6 (37:22):
You can find me on all platforms and it's at
get it Kai.
Speaker 4 (37:25):
G E t I t K y e exactly and
she's so much fun to like. Yes, yourself the favor,
Do yourself the favor. Thank you so much for being here, Amanda.
As always, thank you for doing this with me, and
we'll see you on the next episode.
Speaker 3 (37:41):
Goodbye.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Ye use your hand will tell you lack a purpo.
I'm always always said be careful.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Love those umboo.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Let it well, use your head.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
They will tear you lack a purple talk.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Oh no no, no, yeah.
Speaker 5 (00:33):
Yeah yeah yeah, oh no no no.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Hi.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
I'm Amanda and I'm Romby.
Speaker 5 (00:42):
Welcome to It's Laying.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
We're in a long distance friendship that started over twenty
years ago when we were in high school.
Speaker 5 (00:49):
We'll be talking about all things life, love, family, anything
and everything else under the sun.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
Delve deeper with us because in life, you know, Jine Layers.
Speaker 6 (01:01):
No no, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah no no.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of its Laired
Special Edition. And today we're so so excited.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
We have a special guest in the building. We have
Kai here with us.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Welcome Kai, thanks for having me.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Yes, okay, we're so excited. But before we get into
all things dell all the way deeper with you, we
just wanted to let the people know a little bit
about Kai. Who is Kai and what's she all about.
In the short time since Kai formally introduced herself to
the world, she's already one over audiences with her celebratory,
(01:47):
absolutely celebratory, sun soaked sound that effortlessly bridges pop and
R and B, keeping joy and freedom at the forefront
with shining rhythmic deliveries championing her undeniable songwriter and vocal talent.
Zimbabweent born what Up London Raised now noms Slash, Melbourne
(02:07):
based Kai's relationship with music blossomed as a young child
growing up in the UK.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
In between vivid memories spent singing through sickness and health,
gospel songs which all Zimbabwians can relate to, talent shows,
girl bands and more, have voice flourished with each deep
embrace of her identity. Deeply informed by her experience as
a young black woman experiencing life through a predominantly white
societal lens, which this podcast completely gets. Kai finds herself today, confident,
(02:40):
strong and humble, ready to share her mantra of embracing
openness and finding joy in it with the world. Welcome
to his lad podcast, Kai, I'm so excitedly here and
to talk to you guys. A bio that sounds so cool, cool.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Cool, honestly, like we'll get into all that, but yeah,
I would be so grateful that you could be here
and after such an amazing bio. How would you describe
yourself Kai, Like, like, in a few words and a
sentence and a paragraph, how would you know someone said,
who's kind?
Speaker 6 (03:18):
Yeah, I would probably say Kai is like a multi genre.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Artist based in Nam Zimbabwe born. Yeah. I don't know.
It's so hard to you know when someone says, you know,
tell me about yourself and you go.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Exactly window.
Speaker 6 (03:39):
Yeah, but yeah, definitely a multi genre artist. Yeah, sort
of making pop, R and B dance music with just
a focus on fun and joy and enjoyment.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
I love that.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
We've spoken a lot about being a third culture kid,
you know, balancing all the cultures we come from. How
do you think being born in Zimbabwe, raised in the UK,
and now based in malvin has shaped your musical journey.
Speaker 6 (04:06):
I think all of the different cultures and you know,
different versions of my upbringing is kind of the reason
why I'm such a multi genre artist. I think, you know,
when you've lived in all these different places and you've
had to adapt a whole bunch of times, and you know,
meet new people and be in different environments, you know,
it makes you such I guess, like a hybrid person,
and I think that makes my music sound like that
(04:28):
because that's what my personality is like I'm just you know,
a combination of all the places I've been and all
the things that I've learned and the people I've met.
So yeah, I think it heavily informs my music because
I don't really make one sound that can be put into.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
You know, one box. Yes, and that's just how I
am as a personality.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
So yeah, absolutely, and I love that multifacetedness. I think
so often we are denied of that. You're allowed to
be all these things, right, It's like, oh, if you're
gonna identify as this, you're only this, or if you're
can to identify as that, you're only that. And you know,
it's beautiful when we can embrace all of that.
Speaker 6 (05:07):
So yeah, when it took me, even like a while
in my musical journey to you know, even identify as
Zimbabwean born, I think that was such a big turning
point for me because I was like, actually, that does
inform my music. And maybe it means that I don't
make afrobeats and I don't make zimbabwe music, but I
can still identify with saying, oh, this is my culture,
(05:29):
this is where I was born, and these are the
ways that it influences my music. Without having to make
a specific type of music. I think, especially in Western media,
there is such a you know, a preconception about the
music that Africans make and the art that Africans make,
so immediately when you say, oh, I'm from Zimbabwe, they're like, okay,
give us the Zimbabwe music. Yeah. I think there was
(05:51):
even a push and pull there of being like, actually, no,
let me introduce my culture into this. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Yeah, speaking of culture, how did your close family and
friends support you in becoming a musician.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
What was that journey like for you when you decided.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
I think there was a lot of fear at the beginning.
Speaker 6 (06:11):
I think you know, you probably would understand, you know,
coming from Zim and like my parents having moved us
from Zim and we've moved to different places around the world.
For them, you know, everything was very much about how
do we, you know, keep our family sustained, how do
we go and find a job that's going to keep
us pushing through? And for them it was all about
like how do we survive and take care of these kids?
(06:33):
And then I think for us kids, we've gone okay, well,
now I've got this whole world full of opportunities, and
I want to do something a bit weird and your parents.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Wait, what, you're a doctor or a lawyer about it?
Speaker 6 (06:46):
So yeah, I think, you know, they get you through school,
they get you educated, and I went off to UNI
and I was pre met for a couple of years,
and then I decided I didn't want to do it.
Speaker 5 (06:56):
So now.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Exactly that was.
Speaker 6 (07:04):
An uphill battle for a while, and you know, mom
and dad didn't really get it, you know, until the
music started coming out and you know, things started happening.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
But they've always been supportive.
Speaker 6 (07:13):
They've always you know, they've always known that I loved
music and I love singing, and they always wanted me
to do it. But it was just that thing of like,
we don't know anything about the music industry or how
people release songs or how people get a record deal,
and you know, how are you going to make money?
How are you going to survive? So I think, yeah,
it was it was a big conversation. But they are
the most supportive parents in the world now, Like they
(07:34):
just they back everything I do. They support me, They
come to every show like they're the best.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
We love it.
Speaker 5 (07:41):
Yeah, we heard you on your bossing song when you
speak a few bars or like yeah, you know, they
sound lovely to be seen, And I think you're so right.
It's our parents always operate from a place of fear
because for them, they were probably the first generation to
really experience quote unquote material success. So to them, they're like,
it can be taken away. You have to have security, security, security,
(08:03):
And then with the generation after that, like we're secure
now now.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
What you know? Now we dream?
Speaker 5 (08:09):
Yeah, now we dream right now, we can do those
other things that you wanted us to do. Deep down,
this is what you were doing it for. But I
think this is so hard for them to fathom. How
do you yourself keep yourself motivated as a young black
woman experiencing life through a predominantly white lens.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
As you said in your bio.
Speaker 6 (08:30):
I think like, as much as it is difficult, it's
also really exciting. I think, you know, there's a there's
that feeling of pushing the envelope and pushing that glass
ceiling further and further up, and knowing that the more
that I push in, the harder I work, the easier
it's going to be for you know, the next young
black girls who are making music, you know in white Australia,
(08:51):
I think by the time I've gone and done it,
you know, the next batch that's coming up, it's just
going to be you know, a much easier, a much
easier journey for them. So there's always that in the
back of my mind. But I think it's also just
exciting feeling like, oh, you know, we're actually going to
push some barriers here, and we're going to see what
it looks like to see change actively happen. Then it's
(09:13):
frustrating some days, and it's hard some days, but other
days you get those big wins and you actually really
get to go, yes, I did that, and I get
to claim that, and I get to say, you know,
I get to put my heritage and my culture at
the forefront, and.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
You know, let the white people watch me do it.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
And enjoy you while you do that as well. Enjoy
it while you do that.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
Because I think that there's something really special. As much
as there's pushback sometimes on culture or difference, I think
there's something that draws people to you know, be like wow,
like that's something that's different to me, and so on
and so forth. So I think it's really inspiring what
you're doing. And we wanted to know who inspires you
(09:59):
music like your your your journey, your sound and all that,
if he could.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Share with us.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
Yeah, it's always so hard to pinpoint musical influences because
I think it just expands and changes every day. But
my parents brought me up on a lot of like
Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston and Shaka Khan and you know,
all of those great great artists from that time. So
R and B and soul music and like great pop
music has always been something I had around me, So
(10:29):
I think, yeah, my early songwriting was definitely like, oh,
you know, I know this Michael Jackson song because I
know it's got this hook. So I've got to write
songs that have got hooks. So I think, yeah, the
early influences is that. And then yeah, just as I've
gotten older, just discovering more and more artists that I love.
I'm a big Beyonce fan. It's embarrassing, you tell us twice.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Yeah, No, I have.
Speaker 6 (10:55):
An embarrassing love for Beyonce and just her work and
her career been really inspiring to watch. And then you know,
just some of the newer R and B stuff that's
coming out Scissor and you know, all this kind of
artists Kailani who sort of make that alternative R and
B and I think it was really cool listening to
that music when people weren't really across it yet. And
(11:16):
now if you say Scissor, everyone knows who Scissor is.
But if you said Sissa five six years ago, people
will be like, I don't know, I've not heard of
that artist before.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Yeah, I think not so much.
Speaker 6 (11:27):
Sonically, I think, you know, I don't really make super
R and B music anymore, but I think yeah, definitely
career wise, and watching you know, other black young artists
sort of come up from the underground and really place
themselves in the mainstream.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Yeah, has definitely been a big influence. I mean speaking
on that.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
You know, we always talk about things we want to
see or places you want to be And for you musically,
who do you think you would love to collaborate with?
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Oh, I mean number one Beyonce.
Speaker 6 (11:58):
I say it for every every interview if I asked
the question, I always say it because I know that
if I say it enough times, it'll happen.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
So yeah, watching this beyond is internet that absolutely, there's
there's so many Honestly, if there wasn't Beyonce.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Gosh, I mean Ed Sheeran.
Speaker 6 (12:23):
Honestly, I think Ed Sheeran is one of the greatest
pop songwriters, like in the world right now, Ed Sheeran,
Max Martin. Yeah, a lot of amazing pop songwriters out there,
So yeah, but number one Beyonce.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Queen?
Speaker 1 (12:38):
You heard that, Queen?
Speaker 4 (12:43):
Which would you say? I think people often say it's
hard to choose. It's like choosing which is your favorite child.
But what do you enjoy more? The songwriting aspect or
being a vocalist because your vocals are quite like, you know,
like really impressive, just the way able to scale and
you know, listening to some of your covers like it's
(13:07):
just really really inspiring. So which which side of it
do you enjoy more? The songwriting or the vocals performing?
Speaker 3 (13:18):
I don't know anyone.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
It is hard. It is like being your favorite child.
Speaker 6 (13:22):
I think lately it's been like vocals the actual I
think like artistry behind vocals has been a big thing
for me. I think in my previous records, I think
a lot of people who know me or have heard
me sing have been like, oh, you don't really sing
on your records, which is really interesting because they're right
I don't really have to work hard vocally on some
(13:45):
of the records I've put out. A lot of the
new music is like vocal, like vocally heavy, like really
I've had to get really into the nitty gritty of
like my singing and really use my vocals for the
stuff that's coming out later. So I've been really in
that space at the moment, just really working on vocal
arranging and I mean getting better.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
As a vocalist to I teach vocals.
Speaker 6 (14:07):
I have about fifty students, yeah, so that's been like
a big part of the process. I've been teaching for
about a year and a half. Yeah, so it's been
really really interesting to get into the mechanics of my voice.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
So that's been really fun.
Speaker 6 (14:23):
But it's amazing gear up, Yeah, as we gear up
to go back on tour. I'm so excited to get
back on stage because I think that is my my
happy place being.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
On That's amazing. That's amazing.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
And would there be anyone that you would love to
songwrite with for collaborate with on a songwriting scale, because
we talk about the honest song overall, but like anyone
you'd love to write with. I know you mentioned ed Sharan,
Is there anyone else there?
Speaker 6 (14:52):
Yeah, honestly, I would love I would love for Edge
Shearing to write me a song. But yeah, at the moment,
I think my my focus has been collaborating with people
who are really different to me and make really different
music to me. Like I just did a couple of
sessions with an Australian artist named Jeef Flip and their
music couldn't be any more different to what I make,
(15:13):
And the music that we made was really really cool
and really opened up a new space for me. So
I think, yeah, without sort of pinpointing any names, I
think there's so many artists that I would love to
work with who are just in a completely different genre
to me.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
So I think that's yeah, that's.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
The beautiful you know, it's so interesting to talk about
how your voice. I think we forget their voices are instruments.
I remember when we were like in music school in
high school and they'll be like, oh, you can do music,
and then people will be expecting you to play an instrument,
and some people would just sing a compeller and it's like, well, yeah,
that is an instrument. So it's beautiful that you're even
teaching music and using our voices. It's such a I
(15:51):
don't know, it's such a I guess, underrated part of music.
It's funny we know you're a singer, but then we
always the production and we forget that you're vocalist first. Right.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Yeah, No, it's really true. It's really true.
Speaker 6 (16:05):
I think even as I've gotten back to being more
of an instrumentalist because I do play, I think even
getting back to that and being like, oh, I have
to give as much practice and time to singing as
I have to give to guitar or piano or so yeah,
how technical it all is. So yeah, the voice is
such an interesting instrument because it's so personal. You know,
(16:26):
if you play the wrong note on the piano or
you hit the wrong drum, it's like oops. But if
you see a wrong note, it's so deeply, like personally reflective.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
I think that.
Speaker 6 (16:38):
Very exposing. So yeah, no, it's been it's been fun
to dig into.
Speaker 5 (16:43):
It's so funny you say that because we grew up
in the era of like Christina Anguilera, and I remember
on one of her studio sessions she had like the
lights dimmed and everything was just because she's like, I
just want people to focus on my voice and not
like what I look like. And it's just so interesting
because just one for you. Well, I mean we've just
been the same studio, so we feel like we've really.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Hang out with you. We recorded our.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
Special at the Base Studios as well in South Melbourne.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
What do you think you enjoy most about being in
the studio?
Speaker 6 (17:14):
Oh gosh, so you would have seen the bass, which
is great for context because it's such like a It
depends on how you light it, I think, but it's
such like a movie and it's just like the atmosphere
of it is just very intimate, I think. So I
really like to get into intimate space when I'm recording
because it really does affect it. It affects the way
(17:34):
that you're seeing and perform. I can't do it with
bright lights on. My voice sounds completely different under bright
lights than it does, you know, in a dark space,
which is so funny.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
It's so weird.
Speaker 6 (17:44):
But yeah, however it affects your brain is just how
the sound comes out, which is yeah, really funny.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
But I love recording at the Base.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
It's been my home now for a while and my
first sort of music that came out as Kai was
all recorded at the base that I haven't recorded anywhere
else since. So, yeah, it's just my little musical home.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Yeah, we had We had a great time recording there
and just as you said, the energy is just really
really great. You shared a little so you like the
more sort of dimmed side of things when it comes
to recording. Can you share a bit about your creative process,
because you know what I always wonder about the songwriters
(18:27):
or the singers, you know, especially if you have a
hands on approach to make creating your music and seeing
it through from the start to the finish.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
What does that look like?
Speaker 4 (18:38):
Because I think sometimes as regular humans we can't fathom, like, so,
where does the song come from?
Speaker 3 (18:44):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (18:45):
Like, yeahs, what does that create a process look like
for you?
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Or does it differ change? Like do you have like a.
Speaker 6 (18:54):
Systems chop and change around? But I think that question
you asked before, where does the song come from? Is
is a really interesting question and something that I've been
I think grappling with probably for the last few years,
because I think my best songs that I've ever written
feel like they fall out of the sky, Like it
doesn't feel like I write them. It feels like they
(19:14):
just happened to me and then I happen to just
be there at the right time and place. So yeah,
I think my favorite songs I've written them driving and
they just happen all like linearly or in the shower,
and the whole song happens. And the last song that
I wrote that I really loved, I felt like was
the best song I've ever written. I had heard two
(19:34):
chords on her guitar and it just happened. People in
the room are like, what just happened there? Like you
just heard the sound and then you know, the.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Christians and Zimbabwe be like, it's like exactly, yeah, and.
Speaker 6 (19:52):
You know they said, oh, it's like you just reached
up in the air and just grabbed it. And so
I think that's something I've been just trying to I
think I'll never understand that's actual.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
There's something, there's something really when they I've been reading
different things and.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Oh, specifically Power of Now.
Speaker 4 (20:14):
I've been reading Guys and things like that and talks
about flow and when you're in flow and it's almost
like an element. That's why consciousness is so important, because
you're not in your head, you're just in flow. With
whatever you believe, whatever the universe whoever is talking to you,
and then that's where it just comes to you. And
(20:34):
it really shows that you really are in contact with
your flow and and and kind of moving in that.
So that's really beautiful. So guys, there's no like secrets.
I'm sure there are recipes.
Speaker 7 (20:47):
Just like I just like, but it just it just
comes as well.
Speaker 6 (20:53):
I think like flow is really important. But I think
even like flow within yourself, I can't write as I
don't feel good like if I don't take care of myself,
if I'm not like on my absolute one hundred percent
in terms of like am I being healthy? Am I exercising?
Am I reading? Am I surrounding myself with people who
make me happy? Am I having a good time? In general?
Speaker 1 (21:15):
In life?
Speaker 6 (21:16):
I can't be creative because I think, you know, being
creative out of negativity is just not it's not me,
Like I just feel like, I, yeah, I just can't
go into that space. I can't get into that place
where I guess I can receive. But yeah, I think
being on that wave for a while now of just
being like how do I actually make myself feel better?
(21:38):
Has been Yeah, has been just an unlocking point for
songwriting and being creative and yeah, just opening up my
artistry in general.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Yeah, we love that for you, We love that beautiful.
Speaker 5 (21:49):
Yeah. I think self care is such a thing that
people it's almost got to the point where it's become luxury, right,
People always think self care, Oh, you have to go
to SPA, you have to those things.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Definitely got a space you all love a bad day.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
But like, I think what you're saying, like, even on
the day to day, checking in with yourself is so important.
And I think that's the lovely thing about your music.
It's just so fun, Like it's too joyful. Yeah, you
cannot listen to it and not be in a good
mood at the end of it. And I think it's
such a special talent that you have that you bring
(22:25):
that out, you know, even if you don't know the lyrics, you're.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Like, like, you know, it's just like step So I'm
not love it.
Speaker 5 (22:35):
When I saw your shows, you know, I was like,
oh my gosh. People are really responding to that energy.
And I think, especially in this world there's so much
going on, it's nice to have to spark on those
moments of just pure joy and fun but how does
it feel for you performing your songs live?
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Oh? So fun, so much fun.
Speaker 6 (22:55):
I think even before writing the Ribena EP, a big
thing was how do I make it so that when
I'm performing, the whole thing is fun, you know? And
I think there is a place for sad songs. There's
definitely a place for more serious topic songs, and a
lot of other artists do that and they you know,
they fill that space, and I'll eventually do that as
I'm moving to my album. But I think if there
(23:17):
is an underlying feeling of actually, even if it is
a sad song, I still want you to be able
to find your joy in there, because you know, sadness
doesn't negate joy. So I think just finding that feeling of.
Speaker 5 (23:31):
Right there that's not can make us take a lot.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
R carry on.
Speaker 6 (23:41):
Yeah, but I think, you know, wanting to engage with
that part of your audience and being like I want
you to feel joy is Yeah, it just makes performing
incredible because it's no longer about you. It's not you know, Oh,
I'm on this stage and I want you to look
at me and look at all the things I do
and listen to my voice. It's like, oh, let's let's
have an experience to get that.
Speaker 4 (24:00):
Yeah, beautiful and speaking of sadness, does not have, does
not negate joy.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Now this is gonna be a Quotable's gonna be out here,
okay in the streets.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
But you know, your your song Tuesday, I think speaks
that because.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
It's not really a happy song. Am that right?
Speaker 4 (24:22):
And then the way I understood it because sometimes you
must understand the song. But I guess not really a
happy song, but you made it joyful. I watched the
music when I was like, oh my gosh, it's and
then I was like, but the if you listen.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
Clearly it's not.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
So I think that epitomizes so perfectly what you just said.
It's like you can you can cry in you know,
in a on a bed of flowers and you know,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
So I think that.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Juxtaposition was so beautifully done.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
So I yes, so creative.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
Any advice that you have for upcoming artists or those
who want to work in the music industry, because as
you said, I think historically, especially in Zimbabwe. Fun fact,
I wrote a song at sixteen, I even recorded it.
Speaker 3 (25:07):
I wanted to be an artist.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Then my parents were like not going to happen and
I listened and you know, Cela VI. But any advice
for as you said, you're trying to carve a way
for the younger generation, so.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
It's a little easier.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
It feels a bit more normalized for them to see
themselves doing the things that were not.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
Easy to do.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
You know why we had to push against the grain
as you did. Any advice or thoughts for them, just.
Speaker 6 (25:35):
That authenticity is everything. I think if you do everything
from an authentic place, then you know, whether it's in
the business side of music or whether it's in the
creative process, you'll always have the outcome that you're proud of.
I think it's really easy to lose yourself in, you know,
an industry that's like this, so that's all about entertainment
(25:55):
and it's all about being in front of people. It's
really really easy to just become a version of yourself
and not just truly yourself. So I think really sticking
to being your authentic self is what's going to make
you happy at the end of the day and what's
actually going to bring you success because nobody can be
as you as you, and that's what's going to be
different on the market too, So I think just yeah,
(26:17):
being absolutely you to a fault is the way to go.
And I think just injecting your personality into everything that
you do as well, making music that actually connects to
you and not just you know, singing songs on a
piece of paper, actually having a personal and real connection
to your art. Yeah, I think just being real, if
I had to sum that up, is just being real.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
Absolutely, no one can be you, nobody can be more
than you. Bars another one.
Speaker 5 (26:45):
Another, one another, one another, one another one. You know.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
What I love about gen Z? I feel like you guys.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
Just do it like yeah, And there's a lot of
conversation around gen Z and obviously we're not gen Z else,
But what do you think with the dialogue around millennials
and gen Z? Do you think millillions can take anything
from gen Z? And is there anything you would take
from millennials or.
Speaker 6 (27:12):
Is it just like I think it's so it's so
funny because like I know, I'm technically what they call
a cuspa because I'm not quite gen Z, but I'm
not quite a millennial either, And I grew up with
all the stuff that like, you know, millennials grew up
with but I'm too young to be like a millennial millennials.
I'm a cusper, so I've got a bit of book.
(27:32):
So I think there's things to learn from both. I
think gen Z has really gotten I think like emotional
openness and vulnerability. Having that included in like the mainstream
conversation is something that I've noticed from gen Z that
is massive, Like people are really talking about their feelings,
which when I was in high school, that was not
a thing. We didn't do that. So I think that's
(27:54):
been really cool and really important. And I think gen
Z does have that whole thing where you can be,
you know, an individual and you can be really authentic.
But I think that millennials also have this like realism
that's like, yeah, we can be all of these, but
we need a functional way to do it because we've
seen what happens when the big dreaming boomers dream away
(28:16):
and dream the future away, so.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
We suffer thanks to them.
Speaker 6 (28:20):
Yeah, I think you got that realness. I think if
you brought that all in together, then yeah, you get
a really wonderful mix for a society.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
But we'll see how we go. Gen Z is getting.
Speaker 5 (28:36):
I think for me, it's just a it's a social
media stuff for me, Yeah, I cannot and I commend
you like your reels are so fun Yeah, like you
get to know.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
I feel like I know you, like I feel like,
oh yeah doing a thing you know.
Speaker 5 (28:51):
Yeah right.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
I think for our generation, when I cannot be doing that, you.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
Know, no one should see me like it's so funny,
like the difference.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
Yeah, it's it's great.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
I love the call out to all everyone saying when
are you getting back to your what real song writing?
Or seriously, yeah, that was too funny.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
I was like, oh my god.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
And even when you're looking for the clip from Wendy
Wendy and you're like, there's a thing called legal, I
was like, yeah, it was too funny the whole song,
and then forget about the legal part of it, Like
it's just and everyone just giving you recommendations.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
That's the beautiful aspect.
Speaker 5 (29:34):
I guess that we it's a community and you're definitely
in touch with your community, which is a beautiful thing
to see. I think sometimes, especially being from Zimbabwe, we
use social media to perform, to show off too, and
we forget that there's people receiving and those people need
that interaction and yeah, of course it gets overwhelming, but
(29:56):
there's definitely space where it's like you're not just coming
on here to show off, you here to really connect.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
There's intent behind it.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (30:04):
Yeah, I think working with like artists that are bigger
than me, like when I first started in music and
was doing like a lot of backing vocal stuff, seeing
their fan bases, because some of them are crazy, Like
working with Rule, like his fan base is one of
the most insane fan bases I've ever encountered. Like they
are just so loyal and like attached, but like attached
(30:26):
to each other as well, Like they've really become this
really like glued community. So you'd end up on your
Instagram and you go into your request folder and you
see that it's like groups of girls who have met
each other at concerts or met each other online and
then added you into the group to be like we
need to get information from her about this, we need
to get her to talk to us. But there were
(30:48):
girls who were from totally different parts of the world
and they were best friends in this chat and they
would come in and they would tell each other about
their day and like their struggles and like I've stayed
in the requests, like they've stayed in the request folder.
But I've read those groups for years, like they are
still friends, like they've been since they were like twelve,
and now they're nineteen and they're still on there talking
(31:09):
to each other and it's like, wow, you know, there's
one thing community together. So I think community is like invaluable.
It's amazing.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
That's beautiful. Your sound on you know, your hit songs
like Barson and Rubena, Rabina Rabina. Guys, I'm not Australian,
I don't know what Boson and Rabina definitely gave me
emptv select vibes like re rewind by Artful Dodger and
(31:36):
also a bit of like Craig David filled me in you.
Speaker 5 (31:38):
Know that very she's a casta in the music.
Speaker 4 (31:43):
Yeah, when you're talking about being a Casper, I was like, ah,
that makes sense.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
What drew you to that?
Speaker 4 (31:50):
Because it felt so nostalgic for me listening to it
as I'm a full on Millennire.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
I can't even deny it.
Speaker 4 (31:55):
Yeah, that really gave me like that vibe, but like
obviously you really you breathed a new life into it.
It was so it's so great to see just how
you did that, Yeah, so tell me about that. I can,
you know, go on, but tell me about your thoughts.
Speaker 6 (32:14):
So that's like, that's that's what's really nostalgic for me,
that sound, because that would have been around like two thousand,
two thousand and one, and that's when I moved to
the UK as a kid, so like those were the
first sort of songs that I was listening to in
the car with my parents, like driving around.
Speaker 5 (32:30):
So what was that on top of the pop of
the yeah one like.
Speaker 6 (32:38):
Radio, yeah, like all of those radio stations. And it
actually like I had a full circle moment last year
because I got to go and talk about bossing on
Kiss and I was like, oh, I would have heard
you know, Daniel Beddingfield and Craig Davis kiss when I
was a kid, So then to have my own, you know,
two step song that's being played on Kiss, I was
(33:00):
like just mind blowing. But yeah, that's a really nostalgic
like era for me, and a really nostalgic sound and
a lot of that like Ripop is a big influence
on me as well, like Sugar Babes and.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
I'm going to be doing the rest of the day.
Speaker 7 (33:19):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, because I had a recent like rewind
of like even Spice Girls and like, I don't know
all these girls.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Were in their.
Speaker 6 (33:33):
Song you know, the Superstar by Jamilla. Yeah, yeah, that
sound is really like my childhood. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (33:45):
I think that's what I love about TikTok as well,
because all those sounds come back like, yeah, someone to
do it, real about it, remember that song and then
the researcher and I think even some songs are coming
back on the chats that are like yeah, yeah it's crazy,
Yeah it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
So thank you for that.
Speaker 4 (34:04):
It was It was really really lovely to hear that
in juxtaposition with like our saying Tuesday and sometimes, which
I love how you did that, especially the end of
that video, just like the kind of sadness means like
hysteria like you, because you're like combined hysterically laughing with
like this pain you're going through.
Speaker 3 (34:23):
I just love.
Speaker 4 (34:24):
How your your interpretation of all these emotions and songs
is so uniquely yours. And then the fashions, I mean
a man can talk a bit more about the fashions
in your music videos and you know, so just really
love as you're saying, how you're multi hyphened and you're multifaceted,
(34:45):
and how it all comes together, it's it's done really well.
Speaker 6 (34:49):
So thank you, thank you, thanks for noticing the fashion
I'm a fashion girl, the right place.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
You came to the right.
Speaker 5 (35:01):
Any upcoming projects we should start looking out for. I
know you've been teasing us on the socials. Yeah, I have.
Speaker 6 (35:09):
I do have a song coming out. It's coming out
on feb twenty first, so yeah, I haven't actually announced
the date yet, but we're getting really close. We're less
than three weeks out. So we've got a song coming out.
It's called now Come on Now. I've been teasing it
on my socials and the sound is actually available to
use on socials now. And then we have another song
(35:30):
that I won't announce the name of yet coming out
straight after that, and it's almost I guess it's kind
of my little send off to the Rabina era, just
putting the lid back on and putting it back in
the fridge for a little bit. Yeah, I started writing
an album which has been big and scary and wonderful
and exciting, but again just like another iteration of myself
(35:54):
and just another evolution.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
So yeah, just.
Speaker 6 (35:57):
Kind of putting this party era to rest for a
sus second and just like getting those last couple of
tracks out so they'll be out.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
Yeah, and this month, which is crazy. They can't wait.
Speaker 5 (36:08):
You can't wait to hear them, and obviously hear the
song on full. We've been loving the snippet the sound,
so yeah, we can't wait to hear it.
Speaker 4 (36:16):
And happy birthday for Tuesday to you. Honestly, keep shining,
you know, you epitomize joy. I think that's a really
if I were to bottle you up, it would be
like you are like spring in a bottle or joy
in a bottle and just ye, So keep that everything going.
Speaker 1 (36:37):
We love to see it.
Speaker 5 (36:38):
Yeah, we definitely do love to see it, and also
loving to see that even though you like this person
who has all these cultures within you, it's just a
positive space.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
It's not like a negative thing. You know. Sometimes we're like, oh,
I don't feel like I belong anywhere.
Speaker 5 (36:52):
But it's like you found your space and you found
your sound and you found your music. And I think
music is something that your knights people whole no matter
where they're from, and you're definitely proof of that.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
So keep going. We'll watch it, Yeah for sure.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
Thank you so much, and thank you to our listeners
for joining us for yet another episode of its LB podcast.
We appreciate you. If you haven't already, please check out
Kai Kai. What are your social media handles? Where can
people find you?
Speaker 6 (37:22):
You can find me on all platforms and it's at
get it Kai.
Speaker 4 (37:25):
G E t I t K y e exactly and
she's so much fun to like. Yes, yourself the favor,
Do yourself the favor. Thank you so much for being here, Amanda.
As always, thank you for doing this with me, and
we'll see you on the next episode.
Speaker 3 (37:41):
Goodbye.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Ye use your hand will tell you lack a purpo.
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