Kaz – Drown

By starrymag | September 20, 2021

By: Malasha Parker

 

 

Q) You are a part of the J-Pop group INTERSECTION. How would you describe your style of music as a group?

 

A) Our group does primarily pop music mixed in with genres each of us members listen to personally.

 

Q) What is the difference between the music you make with your group INTERSECTION and your solo work?

 

A) The music I make for my solo work is much more guided by my personal taste and style and isn’t compromising in any way. I didn’t have to listen to anyone or please anyone, so it ended becoming a personal project I am very passionate about.

 

Q) What is the meaning that you would like to convey behind your new song “Drown?”

 

A) “Drown” takes on the feeling of being overwhelmed without assigning that feeling to be positive or negative. I decided to do that by having most of the lyrics be like talking to your lover but, ultimately, comparing the sense of being overwhelmed to drowning. However, the act of drowning in the song is caused by the partner’s “melody” flowing into them which is, in my mind, a metaphor for experiencing a huge swell of emotion. And so, depending on which emotion the listener assigns to that part, it could be a positive or negative thing. Is that too deep? It’s not meant to be analyzed that hard I would rather just have people enjoy how it sounds. [laughs]

 

Q) What was the collaboration process like with Hikari Mitsushima and how did you get to be involved in this song?

 

A) Working with Hikari was such a smooth and fun process. She would give me feedback on my Japanese lyrics and even suggested some changes that made it into the final version! I also really respected how seriously she took the music video filming process as well, giving her opinions on various shots and conversing with the director to make it the best thing possible. I originally wrote this song as an interlude to my EP, but when she heard it she wanted to sing on it, so I decided to flesh out the ideas that I had in it and make it a full-fledged song.

 

Q) “Treading through your ocean, I felt the waves close in. Floating to the ground, Don’t leave without me.” These lyrics sound like a battle between how one feels when going through their emotions. Sometimes you feel pressured by them, and sometimes you want to just let them take over. Is this something that you wanted listeners to understand?

 

A) Yeah, I wrote it with the intention of putting that image in the listeners’ mind. The struggles of treading through water and waves closing in and then a sense of release as you float even if it’s towards the ground sort of mirrors how someone might feel before a breakup and then when it actually happens.

 

Q) With “Drown” being a song about emotions and how we deal with them, what kind of pressures and challenges have you faced while being an artist?

 

A) I think I pressure myself to write things that aren’t too straight forward and are artistic to myself? I used to write a lot of straight forward love songs and, don’t get me wrong, I love to listen to them but when I sing them myself it doesn’t feel as good as when I write something nuanced and subtle. So, yeah, I’ve been trying to do that more with the music I write.

 

Q) Earlier this year you released your first solo single, “White Stallion.” The song is about love, but also pain from this love. What compelled you to write this song?

 

A) “White Stallion” is about love in a digital world and unrealistic images and expectations people sometimes have when engaging in it

 

Q) You have also just released another single, “Summer is Over feat. Mai Anna.” Please introduce this song for our readers.

 

A) This song is probably the most beautiful sounding song I’ve put out. I think Anna and I’s voices blend very well with the simple piano and then we build it up with interesting harmonies and added instruments and it picks up pace gradually until there’s an instrument break. The break is infused with elements of jazz and gospel and plays with meter and time, and I love it.

 

Q) Do you have plans to release a full mixtape or album for your solo works?

 

A) I’m released a six song EP on the 13th of September! Really excited for everyone to hear the whole thing.

 

Q) Are there any specific genres of music that you want to try either on your own or within the group?

 

A) My friends have been getting into electronic music and have been putting me on so would definitely be down to try that out.

 

Q) You were featured in Paris Fashion Week 2020. Is modeling something you hope to become more involved in?

 

A) Not necessarily. I really enjoy being able to participate in those kinds of cool events, but I don’t think modeling is something that I’m passionate about or something I would want to pursue full time. I love music way more.

 

Q) What would you like to say to fans, and those who will become fans of your music and modeling?

 

A) Thank you guys for listening to my stuff and supporting me. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without you. I appreciate and love you.

 

 

 

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Stream Album CODE LOVE

Watch The Video For “Drown”