Q&A Scene: Kel

Tell us about your new single Paradise?

My new single Paradise is about a break up. More specifically how places and emotions change and mean something different after you move on from someone. I made the song with producer John Castle

What’s your favourite work at this point in time?

At the moment, Paradise has to be my favorite work that I’ve made. I have heaps of songs in the works but I’m most proud of Paradise.

How would you describe your sound in food form and why?

I’m not sure, If I had to pick one maybe sushi? Sushi has layers and depth to it, it can be really simple but also complex depending on what’s in it. So maybe I’d go with that haha.

Tell us a quick, on the road or studio, anecdote.

While recording over zoom sessions with John, it was actually the bridge that surprisingly took the longest time to make on the song. We were getting towards the end the recording for the song and I couldn’t decide between two versions of the bridge that were completely different, then we decided to kind of merge them eventually and then we had the bridge finalized!

What, or who, inspires you?

When I’m writing songs I’m mostly inspired by things happening in my life or relationships, that’s mainly what I end up writing about the most. Sometimes I get inspired by movies or books or even places – like with Paradise, so it can be anything.

Which song do you wish you wrote?

I know the end – Phoebe Bridgers. Great song.

What’s next for you?

I’m definitely focusing on the next singles and recording more music. I’ve got heaps of songs waiting to be recorded at the moment so that’s what next for me.

What’s your scene?

I would say my scene has always been me doing something creative – and so far it’s been making and performing music. I have so many ideas that my scene is usually me writing music or playing it with the band.

A lush and luminous journey draped in bittersweet warmth, the debut single Paradise from emerging Sydney singer-songwriter Kel is a feast for the senses and the soul. Accompanied by a self-directed music videoalso out today, Paradise marks a sublime introduction into Kel’s musical world, with the track set to launch tonight live in action at The Great Club (Marrickville) in Sydney.

An emotive, rock-inspired ballad, inspired equally by the soulful flavours of Finneas and Conan Gray and even Taylor Swift, Paradisewas written and arranged entirely by Kel, with production courtesy of the legendary John Castle, whose previous work includes Vance Joy’s Riptide as well as work with Megan Washington, Angus & Julia Stone, and Cub Sport. Swelling between a softly euphoric ballad and a driving, dreamy anthem, Paradise also tugs at the heartstrings via Kel’s emphatic narrative surrounding lost love, as he elaborates, “Paradise is a song about a break-up. It’s a metaphor about losing something special about a place you might’ve shared with someone else, and how places and feelings change sometimes. It was inspired by a trip with my friends to a beach on the South Coast NSW. I wanted to write a song that felt like that place”.

With Kel impressively conjuring his debut track with John Castle remotely via phone calls and Zoom sessions, Paradise was then mastered at Studios 301 in Sydney by Steve Smart. But the track’s accompanying music video was ultimately a DIY and family affair, with Kel making the poignant music video for his first sonic release during a family holiday. “The music video was made by myself and some family on a holiday,” shares Kel. “As a current film student, I was keen to direct and film my own video. When I was writing the song, the opening lyrics stuck out to me. Sunrise and long hikes. So, I knew I wanted the main visuals to be central around a beach. The song is about a favourite place that doesn’t belong to you anymore. I’ve found that often we connect certain places with people, and when that connection’s lost, the place is not the same”.

Hailing from a musical family, Kel began playing multiple instruments and singing while in high school, going on to pen his first original compositions in year 12. After producing some videos of himself, Kel’s search began for a producer in earnest, ultimately resulting in his discovery of John Castle and falling in love with the talented producer, engineer and multi-instrumentalist’s sound and catalogue. From sending his videos to John, the two immediately began working together. While Paradise may mark the first single unleashed into the wild for Kel, the future looks bright for this talented up-and-comer currently working towards his debut EP. And if you’re lucky enough to be in Sydney tonight, you may very well catch some of Kel’s unreleased material this evening alongside his brand new single at the Paradise single launch at The Great Club (Marrickville). “You can expect a large variety of different songs,” reveals Kel of the musical treasures lying in wait for his upcoming performance tonight. “A lot of the time when I’m writing, I pull inspiration from other genres, so my live shows are a mixture of exciting and vibrant songs with a huge band, as well as some slower songs where it’s just me playing and singing with a piano. It’s a mix of ballads, rock driven sounds, and acoustic storytelling”.