Interview with Kaosu

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

I honestly don’t know. When I was a kid I didn’t really study but listened to music. Then when I did have to go to college, I studied audio engineering. Then I got into music videos. It seems no matter what I would have found a way to get involved in music.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I watch a lot of sports. It's funny but I think I’m like a lot of musicians that watch sports in the studio during breaks etc. They both require discipline so maybe that’s why they are similar but not really.  It's a social thing and a good release.

How long has your project been around?

Good question and actually the title of the EP is Shinjuku Void. I’ve been traveling to Japan a lot and while it always seems futuristic, because I’ve done it so much, it does feel like I’m caught in a time loop. So a few years feels like a lifetime because the cycle of friends around you constantly changes. 

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

Cliche as it is, I live in LA. I went to SAE Institute here but ironically I’m not influenced by LA musically. I’m influenced and feel creative in Japan. 

How did you come up with the name of your project and what does it mean to you?

I think I answered this above. lol

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

We’ve played at a legendary club called Hokage in Osaka which is like the CBGB’s of Japan. No stage and tiny, but for this kind of music it felt like we were home.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

Haha I guess I just answered this too! I’d like to play at an underground rave. I go to a lot of those.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Right now Halsey or someone who makes good use of visuals. Maybe Poppy will be a better fit for us because we might be too heavy for Halsey. 

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing music and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Don’t listen to anyone else. Go with what makes you happy. 

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

They all mean something to me because they are timestamps of where I was at that particular point in life and if I made a song about it, it must have been pretty damn important! 

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

We have not tested a single song on the EP. I’m an anonymous artist and haven’t even played my music to my friends!

What is the creative process for the project, and what inspires you to write your music?

Probably the emotion I felt at that particular time that influenced the lyrics of the song. The other aspect is if I hear a drum loop I like or a particular sound, I’ll mess with it a little and start adding layers. For example I found an 808 sample in a weird key for the song ‘Truth’ and thought that was interesting and started to build around it. 

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

Honestly I don’t think about it. I just write and if people like it, great. I’m pretty sure what I write about are experiences other people have had. That’s why I prefer to be anonymous. I can write as a regular person and not be consumed or influenced by my surroundings. 

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

Just working on the EP and coming up with concept visuals. I’m a visual guy, perhaps even more than music, so that’s going to be a lot of fun because I usually work with other artists on their videos. Now I get to work on my own. 

Listen to Kaosu ‘Somehow’