Between intuition, the street and constant evolution.
The reference of urban music in Spanish talks about his creative process, his connection with Mexico and the importance of staying true to oneself.
With a career that has known how to move between genres, scenes and generations, Kaydy Cain continues to establish itself as one of the key figures of the urban movement in Spanish. Since its beginnings with Pxxr Gvng Until his present as a soloist, his proposal has evolved without losing its essence. As part of his next presentation in Mexico City, the Spanish artist reflects on his show, his creative process and what it means to make music today.
Indie Rocks!: You have a show here in Mexico City. I feel that it is a very good date in your career, especially because of the relationship you have with the country, which has embraced you in a very special way. Do you prepare something different for each presentation in Mexico or how do you approach it?
Kaydy Cain: For this one yes. For this one I have prepared something special. I have taken one more step and I want it to be an evolution in my show. Before it wasn't like that, before we went more with what came up, but this time I have prepared it a lot and I want people to leave happy. I can't say what yet, but yes, there is something.
GO!: I also want to go a little further back and look at your career in general, from the beginning to your most recent single. Between your time as a collective and as a soloist, where does your inspiration come from? Are you starting from an idea or is it rather life that guides you?
KC: I have two very clear ways of composing. One is from music. I go to the studio, I put down bases or instrumentals and whatever that base transmits to me. Because music, even if it doesn't have lyrics, transmits: it can make you happy, sad, it brings out different emotions in you.
The other way is that, although I don't sit down to write as such, I do write down things from day to day. Ideas, phrases, things that happen to me. For example, the “AI”. Or things that happen to me with a partner, or situations that I experience, and I say: I'm going to make a song out of this.
GO!: Right there the roles are reversed, because you can talk about parties, relationships or lower moments. How do you decide what emotion to bring to a song when the beat can it go the other way?
KC: You have to adapt. If I go without a concrete idea, I put on music and let the vibe take me. But if I'm in a sad moment and I want to talk about something sad, then I look for music that has that feeling. If they play something happy for me, that song can't go there.
GO!: In “IA” you work with a featuring. What is it like to share that creative process with someone else?
KC: It's easy when you share tastes. With Doony Graff It was like that. We have similar references, even similar ways of seeing life. When I proposed the idea to him, he liked it and everything flowed very naturally.
GO!: It is also a collaboration that goes beyond the musical, because it connects scenes. How do you see the current state of urban music between Spain and Latin America?
KC: He's at his best, brother. Even though I say it every year, every year it gets better. In Mexico and Spain there are a lot of exponents, some already sounding worldwide. It is the best time for what we do.
GO!: You have been present on different platforms, from social networks to video games. How do you see this evolution of the genre in that sense?
KC: It is part of the same. It is natural evolution.
GO!: Now with a consolidated career, how do you maintain your essence?
KC: I think it's natural. Those of us who started in my time had a lot of essence. Maybe we lacked technique, but we were very original because we had fewer references. Now there is more of everything, everything is better, but it is more difficult to have an identity.
GO!: There is also the issue of the speed with which music is consumed today.
KC: Clear. Since everything is consumed so quickly, people look for similar artists when they don't have new music from the one they like. It's normal.
GO!: And with platforms like TikTok, where everything is so immediate, what do you think about making songs designed for that?
KC: It has its good part and its bad part. You can make long or short songs, but what you shouldn't do is create with TikTok. If it sticks there, great, but it shouldn't be the goal. If not, it feels forced.
In the end you have to adapt. Before it was TV and radio, now it is TikTok and the reels.
GO!: After all these stages, what is the secret to continuing making music without falling into monotony?
KC: Do what you like. Be original. Don't be guided by what you think will work. That may give you momentary success, but it doesn't create anything lasting. For that you have to give it a spin.
GO!: What difference do you find between the public in Spain and Mexico in live shows?
KC: The public. In Mexico fanaticism is very strong. People live the concert as if it were their last. That is very appreciated because it motivates you.
GO!: With so much repertoire, how do you put together your setlist?
KC: There are about six or seven songs that can never be missed. They are the ones that people ask for the most. But then it depends on the place, the audience, the collaborations. I change with each show.
GO!: How do you experience the difference between the studio and the stage?
KC: Studying is my hobby, my therapy. I'm never going to leave it. I like concerts, but they are also work. The studio doesn't feel that way, even though it makes a living from it.
GO!: How do you prevent this process from becoming routine?
KC: I go to the studio when I want. I enjoy it. I try to make music every day, even if it's searching beats or artists. I feel privileged to make a living from this, so I have to take advantage of it.
GO!: For someone who hasn't heard you, what song would you recommend?
KC: It depends on your tastes, because I have done everything. But one I would choose would be “The hell of your glory”. It is one of the oldest and represents a lot to me.
GO!: Are we going to hear it in this show?
KC: Maybe, if people ask for it.
GO!: In closing, describe yourself in three words.
KC: Enjoyable, affectionate and direct. Sometimes too direct.
