This time, we get to know Kaiwyn, originally from Malaysia and currently based in Australia with a catchy indie-rock sound reminiscent of Blink 182, and our dear friends and radio hosts, Vix20, be sure to check him out!
Influences include Michelle Branch, Simple Plan, Dido, and Travis to name a few.
The track "You're My Kind" is featured in the New Artist Spotlight Family of Playlists.
Link To New Artist Spotlight Playlists:
1. Tell us a little about where you are from and what you are currently doing.
I am currently in Australia but I grew up in Malaysia, in a household of wide musical influences from different cultures and regions across the world. I have recently decided to work on my own songs that I have written from my teenage years after hauling them up in my personal vault while I was going through my medical career!
2. What inspired you to start playing and making music?
I’ve always been a creative being and melodically inclined. I started writing blogs and diaries reflecting on the experiences and emotions I was going through, which eventually evolved into poetic and lyrical compilations. I was listening to a lot of singer-songwriter music back then, so decided to give it a try and never stopped since! I feel privileged actually to start out later after completing medical school when I have finally come to terms with my strengths and vulnerabilities (still actively doing a lot of self-improvement strategies to the best I can). I am still learning and enjoying the process of music-making as we speak now!
𝟯. Who are your biggest influences?
It’s hard to pinpoint a specific genre as I was exposed to music I hear my parents put up from the soft 60s to late the 80s along with other classical Chinese folk songs. I started to tune into music more attentively around the early 2000s which was lined with alternative pop, rock, and folk artists such as Michelle Branch, Simple Plan, Dido, and Travis. Given also I could speak several other languages, I also tuned into Mandopop, J-Pop, K-Pop, and other World music at that time.
4. What are your goals in the music industry?
As I am only starting with musical work, I have yet to experience what it has to offer but looking forward to enjoying the journey furthermore without clouding myself with the typical glamour of a successful musical career. I genuinely just want to immerse myself in the creative process and absorb as much hands-on knowledge as I can, going into the recording studio. So far, it has been exhilarating to be able to take in these experiences which fuel my motivation to continue to achieve a stable balance between medicine and music.
5. Tell us about your creative process when you make new music.
Now, this is the fun part! I usually have a melody starting in my mind and I hum it casually to form a song. I have a tape recorder in the past to record these voice memos but now I just use the phone. These melodies sometimes come to me in my dreams, or when I am in the shower, basically when times I am not occupied with certain tasks that need concentration. The most ironic thing is when I am under a big amount of stress, I tend to write more songs during that period of time. You have no idea how much time I’ve used to procrastinate my studies before an exam to then be able to complete a song! After completing the tune, I tend to incorporate my emotions at that time into lyrics which is a similar pattern to my teenage blog postings in the past. I always seem to come up with the hook first then build on other structures as I go. The quickest I’ve completed a song this way was about 15-20 minutes! There are a lot of voice memos that I have still yet to go through but definitely by listening to them will invoke the emotions that I was going thru at that exact time of recording!
6. What is your all-time favorite song?
It is so hard to pick one but if I reflect on my playlist over the years, I see "Michelle Branch - Goodbye To You" remains to be there since 2001. It is just a song that continues to develop a different message in every stage of my life, giving me a sense of growth and I love reflective music like that.
7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?
I always advocate that “anything is possible” if you take action along with the right support system in place. Another one would be trusting your judgment and try not to fall into the typical "framing" of music production. Always have fun and be yourself when immersing yourself in music creation!
8. Proudest accomplishment?
Acquiring a medical degree, sustaining stable employment with secure financial standing while also being able to work on my music is all in all what I feel blessed and proud of. And so far, the response from my listeners has been great which fuels me to continue on. Also getting a few weeks of Listeners' Vote No.1 on a community radio show has been unreal!
9. Just for fun! What's been your most embarrassing moment so far?
This happened recently at a diner when my friends told the manager that I had songs on streaming platforms and immediately I was pulled out to perform live! I think I am not used to being put on the spot and I forgot the lyrics to my own song! It was such a mess but I was able to finish the song when the crowd cheered on!
𝟭0. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.
I remember I was given piano lessons when I was 10 but I was just not into the graded examinations at the end of each year so I decided to quit after a few months. I then reflected years after, feeling regretful that I did not master any instruments. But as I mature, I felt that being restricted to theories and other frameworks limits my creativity so I decided to develop my own way in songwriting, and the highest point would be presenting the song to a producer and they were just amazed on the acapella version of a fully developed song! And without mastering any musical instruments! But I might pick up some instruments again as I continue on the song production journey! Thank you NAS team for giving me a chance to answer these insightful questions!
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