After the enormous response to his recently unveiled EP 'shades of you' last year, emerging artist Kayshawn returns for 2023 with the uplifting new single 'Josephine'.
Capturing more of that fresh and vibrant pop-rock direction he has built for himself, 'Josephine' makes for a brilliantly fun listen. Brimming with bright and upbeat textures, a soaring atmosphere, and his own heartfelt vocals at the helm, he is certainly one to keep an eye on for the future.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
I only ever learned to sing and write music. That part of it all comes intuitively, but I would love to learn to play the piano. I have played a few chords here and there to try to become acquainted with the keys.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
It was always Pop. I loved Taylor Swift throughout my childhood, which has led me to become the songwriter I am today. I still take my cues from her and the way she creates these beautiful stories that each era sounds sonically different. I think that has inspired me to become more dynamic in my sound.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album I ever bought was Hello My Name Is... by Bridgit Mendler. I remember that day in 8th grade when I bought the album and listened to all the way through. I felt like the album was mine to love, cry to, and learn from.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
I wish I had written "Tornado Warnings" by Sabrina Carpenter... or "decode" by her. I cannot tell you how much these songs mean to me and how on the initial listen, I felt so close to them.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I tend to take night walks. Walking around by the water or even walking to a park and sitting on the swings helps me to get melodramatic.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
My favourite artist is Taylor Swift hands down. My favourite album of hers is "folklore" for sure. These days, I listen to artists like Devon Again, brakence, Lexi Jayde, Gracie Abrams, and many other big and smaller artists.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
I think of course Taylor. This new tour is about to be her biggest yet... and I didn't get tickets, so I would be able to see her perform every night lol.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
It is creating music that the fans of the music can relate to. I think as well, I am becoming more and more private when it comes to my feelings and talking about them in regular conversation, so being able to create songs that evoke my feelings exactly is very cathartic.
And what is the most frustrating part?
I think that not being able to always create a good song in the studio is frustrating. It is a process. You have to have fun along the way and make a couple bad ones to get to the ones you love... It is easier said than done. I am a perfectionist and love creating a song that I want to play on a drive right after leaving the studio.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as an artist?
Continue to be me. Continue to trust my artistry and know that I can do this if I want it. I think that has meant the most to me. As well, just hearing that I am a good writer helped me to trust my stories and know that I have it in me to be a good Pop artist.
Tell us about your new release 'Josephine' and the production process behind it.
My new song is my favorite one yet. This song is about finding someone you really like and being honest with them to say that "I love you. Do you feel the same way?" I think a lot of us have had that moment intrinsically. We sometimes deal with having to wrestle with ourselves, whether to let the other person know or not. This song is about losing that fear and coming right out and saying it. I had this song for almost 2 years. Well, I had parts of it. I couldn't shake this song early December of 2022 and decided to rewrite parts of the verse and create the bridge. The production behind the song was very organic and dynamic. Initially, I saw "Josephine" as a folksy Pop song, but Ian Gwinnup, my producer, saw it as being more upbeat, indie-Pop with soft rock elements blended in there. That is what led me to rethink it altogether. That is how it usually goes between the two of us. Ian Gwinnup is a genius producer in my opinion. He brings the best out of me when it comes to my music.
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Kayshawn's new single 'Josephine' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.