In this insightful interview, Chaidura delves into the inspiration, themes, and creative process behind the emotionally charged track "The Light" and offers a glimpse into the upcoming EP, "Temple Paradise."
1.
Congratulations on the release of "The Light"! Can you share the
inspiration behind this soulful and emotionally charged track?
Thank you so much! And thank you for this interview! This song is gonna be on
my upcoming Temple Paradise EP and it’s gonna be part of a musical journey
rather than a stand-alone song. I wanted to make sure that the entire EP has
diversity and brings the audience on a journey. Hence, I knew that this song
needed to be different. I went for a more poppy/dancey feel for this song to
further distinguish it from “Basilisk”. But like all my other songs, the song
was still fundamentally emotional and full of heart.
2. "The Light" is described as a heartfelt confession and a plea
for assistance on the journey to completeness. How personal is the song to you,
and what message do you hope listeners take away from it?
There is so much that we can control in life. Bad shit happens to us all the
time. But the one thing we are in control of is how we react or deal with the
challenges that we face. I do think there are two steps here: acknowledging the
emotions and seeking help. I’ve always been someone who struggles with
expressing myself and I tend to bear the weight of everything. It took me some
time to get into the habit of acknowledging my emotions. And I do think I’ve
become more stable ever since I did that. Then comes seeking help. I don’t mean
this in a strictly “going for therapy” way. But it’s more of letting others
know about how you are feeling. Especially the people around you. Once again,
I’ve always had trouble reaching out for help, even to the people close to me.
But I’ve learned that it’s okay to ask for help. You need help and you need the
support of people to advance in life. You can’t fight your battles alone.
Conceptually, I’m aligned with this thinking. However, I still need more
practice before I fully embody this process of dealing with hardships. So, this
song is a reminder to me as much as it’s a message for listeners and fans.
3. You mentioned adopting the persona of a Pierrot in the visuals for
"The Light." How does this symbolism connect with the themes of the
song, and what led you to choose this particular character?
Pierrot portrays a sad clown. A clown by nature is to entertain which is
normally characterized by happiness and glee. So, showing sadness is one layer
of divergence. Then we observe the purpose of the Pierrot which is to showcase
loneliness, sadness, and someone who is alienated in life. I do think that this
relates very well to the message of the song. You are alienating yourself from
your emotions and you are finding it very hard to acknowledge it. This link
struck a chord with me and I wanted to portray that visually. Not gonna lie,
this is only 30% of the reason why. 70% is that I just thought it looked cool.
4. Sonically, "The Light" transcends genres, incorporating
electronic dance, pop, metal, and gospel elements. How do you approach blending
these diverse sounds, and what drew you to experiment with such a wide range of
musical styles?
Hmmm. I try to listen to all types of music. Now that I think about it, I
rarely listen to metal/rock tracks (I’m currently on a Laufey binge). I save
sounds/tracks that sound super cool to me and when I’m writing a song, I refer
to these references and add them to my production. I would say that The Light
is an EDM/Rave track accompanied by rock production. I’ve been listening to a
lot of Toriena songs which I think inspired the foundation of this song. Bring
Me The Horizon’s Lost was a key inspiration for the rock production of the
track.
5. As a London-based alternative artist, how has the city influenced your music and artistic expression? Are there specific aspects of London's cultural scene that inspire you?
Honestly, witnessing the alternative scene firsthand has been so pivotal in influencing my music. It’s usually the smaller gigs that I attend where I get to witness all these amazing acts, full of emotions and raw energy that give me ideas and inspiration. Bex’s headline show that happened a while back was one very clear example that inspired me. The set was stunning, dolls were hanging everywhere in the venue. Bex’s theatrical performance and energy were also something that has been stuck in my mind for the longest time. Moments like this are immensely important to me.
6. "Basilisk" and "The Light" showcase different sides of your musical versatility. How would you describe the overall sound and theme of your upcoming EP, "Temple Paradise," and what can fans expect from the complete experience?
I do think that all the songs that I’ve released before Basilisk were experiments for me to find my sound. I don’t think I’m fully there but I’m more confident in my sound compared to a year back. Temple Paradise is the accumulation of that journey. It’s gonna be a manifestation of my musical experiences so it’s the best of Chaidura. It’s heading towards the heavier side of things but there will also be surprises along the way. So, I would say it’s foundationally metal but with the genre-bending element dialled up to 11
7. The Temple Paradise EP is said to envelop a narrative guiding inhabitants from trauma to enlightenment. How did you conceptualize this fantastical realm, and how does "The Light" contribute to the overarching story within the EP?
I came out with the idea of Temple Paradise this summer. I enjoy storytelling and want to tell a larger story as compared with singles which is usually a short story. I reflected on all my inspirations (e.g., religious motifs, gothic elements) and thought that this story would be an interesting one to tell. The Light is one of the emotional high points of the EP where we see the protagonist dealing with her emotions. The EP will explore her journey to reach this point and what happens after.
8. Your music often explores themes of self-expression, self-acceptance, and understanding. Why are these themes important to you, and how do they resonate with your personal journey as an artist?
I feel that self-awareness as a whole is very important for the human condition. Self-awareness allows us to acknowledge our ego, and pride (insert all the negative emotions) and enables us to become better humans. I do want to become the best person I can be and I feel that these ideas allow me to do that. I do want to share these ideas with people through my songs in hopes that they can become better humans at the end of the day.
9. In "The Light," you encourage empathy and urge fans to be mindful of their mental well-being. How do you navigate the balance between creating emotionally charged music and promoting mental health awareness in your work?
Lyrically, I am trying to send a message for folks to take care of their mental well-being, but I do want my music to be the one that allows them to do so. You know how sometimes people let out a cathartic scream and they somehow feel better. I want Chaidura’s music to be like a cathartic scream. After they feel all their emotions being released through the song, they feel better. To answer the question, I feel that it’s not a balance but a process. Emotionally charged music allows mental well-being.
10. The release of Temple Paradise is highly anticipated. Can you give us a glimpse into the creative process behind the EP and what listeners can expect from the overall narrative?
The EP is a concept EP. It will tell a story in chronological order. We will go through the journey via the eyes of the protagonist (Ellie) as we see how she navigates through the Temple Paradise. In a way, I would want listeners to put themselves in Ellie’s shoes and be able to experience the Temple Paradise themselves. I would say that the EP will be a roller coaster ride and hopefully, when the ride finishes, they will discover something about themselves.
11. Your visuals expertly juxtapose beauty with horror. How do you approach visual storytelling, and how does it complement the sonic elements of your music?
Ultimately, I’d like to think that what I’m doing is essentially storytelling. Therefore, to tell the best story I need to activate all the senses and that’s where the visual element becomes very, very important. In my opinion, it brings context and definition to the song that I’m writing. It brings the song to life. Whenever I come out with a song, I set aside time to imagine how the song will look. Only when the visuals are out is the song complete.
12. You've been praised for the distinctiveness of your sound by BBC Radio 1's Alyx Holcombe. How do you maintain originality in a music landscape that often trends toward familiarity?
I would say that getting influences from other genres/ other art forms is key. This helps so much with creativity and coming out with new sounds/genres. Gaming music and movie soundtracks for example are a key influence for my art.
13. As you look forward to the transformative live shows accompanying your debut EP, what kind of experience do you hope to create for your audience during these performances?
I hope to be able to bring the Temple Paradise journey to life via the live shows. Think of it as going to the theatre to experience a story. As much as I like moshing and dancing, I would hope that the audience would be able to have a sensory experience and take in every ounce of energy I’m giving them.
14. Are there any specific artists or genres that have had a significant influence on your musical journey, and how have they shaped your unique sound?
My foundation is still firmly rooted in visual kei. The Gazette and Dir En Grey are the biggest influences for me. My vocal and performance style for example is heavily inspired by Ruki and Kyo (vocalists from the respective bands). Bring Me the Horizon has been a big influence in terms of music production. Kendrick Lamar is a big influence in terms of storytelling. I’ve also recently been very into La Femme as they provide a very eerie and ethereal vibe.
15. What's next for Chaidura after the release of Temple Paradise, both in terms of your music and your overall artistic vision?
To be honest, I’m not fully sure haha. I’m not a planner but I do know that I have so many ideas to try out outside of Temple Paradise. I would say that the only constant for Chaidura is that things will always change (e.g. genre, visuals, style). Hopefully, the listeners will be able to stick with me as I go through these changes haha.
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