Having already established himself with a breadth of innovative releases these last few years, Ghanian-Australian artist Kwasi is back once again to deliver his lively new single 'LIT!'.
Adopting a bold and energetic punk-meets-rap aesthetic for his latest outing, 'LIT!' makes for a broad and dynamic return for the artist at the helm. With its inventive production perfectly heightening his driven flow from start to finish, he is returning to the fold with one of his more engaging efforts to date here.
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 over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Drums – When I was younger, my uncle had a wardrobe in his bedroom that he converted into a drum room. I remember I would watch him play drums in there at an early age and he would teach me basic drum patterns.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I have distinct memories of hearing the droning basslines of alternative metal/rock and grunge that my mum would play around the house, bands like Soundgarden, Nirvana, The Cranberries, Live and Tool. When I got to an age when I was buying my own music, it was a lot of Hip Hop/Rap, Pop Punk, Nu Metal. The first band I saw live was ‘Queens of the Stone Age’. The theatrics and intensity of that show has never left my mind.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album I bought was Blink 182’s ‘The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back!)’.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Either Outkast’s ‘Hey Ya’ or Kid Cudi’s ‘Pursuit Of Happiness’
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
My creative process is pretty chaotic. I don’t usually write lyrics on paper as it feels limiting. I like to try lyric ideas and melodies out loud. I also find being able to express a lyric or record it right away gives you better feedback if something works well.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Bakar and mgk. I’ve also been going back over Lil Wayne’s catalogue a lot lately. Dude’s wordplay is unmatched.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Kid Cudi
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Freedom to explore the irrational.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Crossing back into the real world when I’m deep in the creative zone.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Taking things into my own hands has been a key part in my continual progression. This comes from various aspects, and I have had key moments when this advice has been shared with me. When I was growing up, my uncle always had a very creative ‘I can just do it myself’ attitude. This naturally was passed over to me. My dad came to Australia from Ghana and had to build his own life. When it came to learning the business and the fundamental aspects of audio engineering, my dad pushed me to take responsibility for all aspects of my life, helping me to consistently build towards my overall vision. A specific moment of advice that comes to mind was during my earlier days of performing. I met a guy by the name of Daniel Merriweather. At the time I was performing as a part of a rap collective. As a part of this collective, there were numerous times I was made to feel that my style and approach was too much or too unorthodox. In Australia at the time, Artists doing Alternative HipHop were few and far between, so I was hesitant to ruffle feathers as I had finally found a community. Daniel Merriweather was recording at the studio I was interning at, and he decided to come along to one of our shows after a session. I distinctly remember him telling me that “I stood out from the group and needed to go off and do my own thing to go to the next level”. The thought had been in the back of my mind, but this gave me the fuel to go through with it and fully embrace myself as an outstanding misfit.
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Kwasi's new single 'LIT!' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.