INTERVIEW: Kayex drops new banger, 'I'LL DO WHAT U WANT'
Electric-pop duo Kayex recently released their groovy new single ‘I’LL DO WHAT U WANT’ as a follow up to their 2019 debut EP Tempus in LA. The single will be accompanied by a music video that will be released next Tuesday on the 28th. We talked to Palassi and Tom about their funky new single, their upcoming plans, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected them.
‘I’LL DO WHAT U WANT’ is another groovy, upbeat track you both are always infamous for writing. Where did you guys find the inspiration for this latest hit?
We wrote this song straight after our time back home (Perth) after Christmas. First and foremost, we are best mates so we were pumped to see each other and we think this song mirrors that excitement. We wanted to write something that reflected our excitement to be back in the studio together. Palassi came back from Perth with this catchy and simple bass line which we knew had potential. We found this weird sample that then turned into the main chorus hook. Summer back home in WA, plus the excitement to see each other was definitely the inspiration.
‘I’LL DO WHAT U WANT’ seems to be influenced by artists such as Daft Punk, as it's full of emotion and energy. Do any of your musical influences play a part when you write music?
Big time. We both have different musical backgrounds and both listen to completely different music. We truly believe this is the reason why our music has a unique and weird sound. We reference Daft Punk all the time. Along with the likes of Justice and Digitalism. There’s no such thing as a ‘bad’ idea in the Kayex studio. If we have an idea we will flesh it out until it works or doesn't work. We take inspirational from every genre when writing. Tom loves prog and stadium rock and that shines through in some of our vocal melodies. Palassi loves hip hop and that’s often the starting point with most of our drums and tempo.
The hooks in ‘I’LL DO WHAT U WANT’ are simple, yet serve perfectly as a complement to the production of the song. How are you guys able to create such tasteful tracks that utilise almost little to no lyrics?
Thank you! it is a simple song and we toyed with the idea of adding another verse and extending the track, but it felt forced. We wanted to capture people and hold onto them for the whole 2.14 seconds. The guitars and synth give the song the feel we wanted and the vocal is just the icing on top!
The last time I interviewed you both it was for your debut EP Tempus in LA. Following that release, you guys have garnered a lot of attention and fans. What do you have to say about the reception from the EP?
We were super happy with the reception of our debut EP. A lot of the feedback was surprising and the best thing was that there was no clear favourite song off the EP. It’s nice to know that people listened to it and interpreted it in their own ways. We wrote it in LA and was essentially a musical story of our American experience. the EP reflected our love for LA and the creative people there so hopefully we gained some American fans haha!
What’s next on Kayex’s schedule? What upcoming plans do you guys have for your music?
We had a few things planned but with the impact that COVID-19 has had, we’ve had to adjust. Just like everyone else. In a nutshell, we want to keep releasing music until we can do shows again. We have a few more tracks on the boil. A lot of our new music is fun and uplifting so hopefully we can lift the spirits while everyone’s at home isolating.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you both in any way? What have you both been up to during these stressful times?
It has definitely affected our plans for 2020. We are just so grateful to be in a position where we can still write music. More importantly, we have each other which lowers the insanity levels a bit. A lot of coffee, wine and heaps of exercise to balance it all out. Like we said before, It’s a great opportunity to write new music and experiment with new sounds.