A quick chat with KAI CULT
Love the new track ‘Massive Checks’! Where did you draw inspiration from when writing this one?
Thank you! I drew inspiration from the social unrest caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which created an immense feeling of dystopia throughout the world. I was listening to a lot of Shoegaze and Stoner Metal, so I decided to combine the two, because why the hell not? I wrote the lyrics as a rap as I thought to myself:” Hey, rappers sing a lot about money, right? I should parody that over a Post- Punk drum beat, indeed no-one has done that before?”. In a way, I found it a dark reflection of the societal decay we were experiencing as I witnessed many selfish, greedy acts from people as they reacted to the changing events as the pandemic progressed.
Has music been something you have wanted to do since you were young?
Absolutely. It has always been an escape, growing up in a rather sterile, conservative town. When I first sat at the back of the class with a bunch of Metalheads and shared our first Slipknot songs over Bluetooth transfer, I was hooked by how many emotions, stories, and experiences I could experience just purely by keeping an open mind, and ears. I didn’t start playing an instrument until I was in my late teens! But I always knew that I wanted to write songs, that was paired with a strong visual medium!
What was it like moving from South East Asia to Australia at a young age?
Oh man, it was pretty wild! I went from waking up at 5 am to take a sweaty bus to secondary school, to going off-road in a 4wd at 5 am with some randos I met at the pub! I went from the town goth weirdo to just another creative wanderer in his 20’s on a journey to discover his purpose through creative expression.
Both cultures have its pros and cons, but South – East Asia taught me resilience and good work- ethic, and Australia taught me how to challenge myself and not give a fuck about other people think! Perfect combination if you ask me.
What has been the highlight of your music journey so far?
It would have been being played on RAGE. Fix My Head was my second ever single in Australia, and we got picked up by this legendary TV show because my mates and I made an absolutely cooked video one hot summers afternoon. We got drunk and just pointed the DSLR at anything we could act out. There was plentiful air- humping, which the ABC labelled “Suburban Loitering”, LOL! It was an excellent way to say hello to Australia if you asked me.
Can we expect some live shows from KAI CULT?
Absolutely! As the lockdown is lifting my live band members and I are looking forward to putting together some cool line-ups with some exciting bands. We’re looking to play across many genres and scenes as the beauty of Melbourne is just how big and diverse it is! We want to meet open-minded people who just love having a good time over a frothy one! Can’t wait!
