Grammy nominated, multi-ARIA & APRA Award Winning songwriter Georgi Kay has built a name for themselves writing enthralling musical releases in a variety of genres. Combining elements of ambient, pop, deep house and dark electronic, Georgi captivates listeners with every note.
Their latest single "Blood Sugar" is a dance pop banger featuring smooth and mood-rich vocals over hypnotic synths and a colorful beat palette. The song follows their releases of "Sugar on the Line" and "Goodbye Again" shared earlier this year.
Georgi Kay chats with Earmilk about their breakout hit, musical style, love of Sci-Fi and dystopian films as well as their latest musical releases and more.
Hi Georgi, can you tell us how and when you first began to make music?
Hi, thanks for having me.
I started making music when I was 15. It all started with guitar lessons, poetry writing, and then a slow and steady combo of the two. I didn’t think much about it, I just did it, because it felt good, and I could live in my own world. I would record my demos on Garageband and submit them into local songwriting competitions, and the more I won those comps and stacked up awards, the more I got to meet and work with likeminded people as well as progress my songwriting, singing, and music production skills.
I will note that I feel like a very different person than I did back then. On all levels, not just creatively. I think 15-year-old me would be very proud of how far I’ve come, what I’ve achieved, and the quality of person I have grown into.
Your song “In My Mind” with Axwell from Swedish House Mafia became a massive hit. How did this change your career?
It changed everything. Without that song (and all its successful remixes/versions) I wouldn’t be able to travel the world, make the music I want to make, fund all my projects, pay rent, and live the lifestyle that best suits me and my needs. I would be absolutely struggling without the success that ‘In My Mind’ created. I am incredibly proud, thankful and grateful of what that experience taught me, and all it has done to help springboard my own solo music career.
You love to combine various musical styles including ambient, pop, deep house and dark electronic. Can you tell us more about your musical influences? Is there a certain sound you are looking to achieve in your releases?
I like a lot of different music genres and artists, but I actually rarely listen to music.
I’m more of a visually inspired person, so for me it’s film and cinema that inspires me most when creating.
It’s more like muting a favourite film of mine and recreating the soundscape in the shape of what I personally feel in that scene type of process. Which I find brings out some really interesting and unusual sounds and melodies that you wouldn’t normally find in the pop and singer/songwriter genres.
Sci-fi and dystopian films and video games are mentioned as influences for your music. Is there a specific film and or game that has had a profound effect on your creativity?
Absolutely. Films I love and tend to revisit for visual/sonic inspiration include (but are not limited to) Blade Runner (OG and 2049 versions), The Fifth Element, Tron: Legacy, Ghost In The Shell (live-action and anime versions), Akira, Ex Machina, and It Follows.
For video games, I often replay these not just for the gameplay but for the intricate and beautiful storylines, as well as the visuals – God Of War (IV and Ragnarok), The Last Of Us saga, Destiny 2, The Outer Worlds, Assassin’s Creed saga, The Witcher III, Cyberpunk 2077, Bioshock saga, Dishonored saga and Skyrim.
You have toured with so many amazing artists/bands including Ed Sheeran, Tash Sultana, INXS, Tokio Hotel and LP among others. Can you share with our readers a fun/crazy tour story?
Oh, I don’t kiss and tell ;)
What I will say is that all of those moments have been incredible experiences, all of which I am honored to have been accepted to partake in and very grateful for.
Plus it’s just fucking cool to see other artists perform at their best. It’s special to get to witness that.
Tell us about your new single "Blood Sugar". What is it about thematically?
For me, ‘Blood Sugar’ tells a very honest and direct inner-dialogue, where I share my introspective and self-reflective thoughts and feelings with the listener, as if they’re in the room with me, witnessing this almost self-therapy session take place. On the surface it comes across like a love song, but most of my songs that come off as love songs actually tend to be more introspective and about personal self-love. But in my usual style, I like to keep things written in an ambiguous and symbolic format.
I’d say this almost casual conversational lyrical style of songwriting and vocal performance sets the tone for the whole record, that being of a far more intricate and multi-layered nature that explores my personal experiences with grief, loss, depression, body dysphoria, queerness, isolation, joy, inner peace, self-awareness, and awareness.
The single is the first off of your upcoming album. What can listeners expect from the full-length?
A lot of growth and sonic/lyrical evolution. More depth, intricate layers, various music genres being explored and played with, and some easter eggs for my die-hard fans. It’s a lot faster paced than my last record, but it’s also far more intricate and intentional in what music elements I chose to use as my “paint”. There’s more darkness too, not just in some of the song tones but in the lyrical content and ambiguity.
I didn’t hold back on this record, it is 100% me in all my rawness and transparency.
I’m sad to let it go, as it will no longer be just for me, but at the same time I am excited for others to have their time with it and take what they want from it, if they so wish.
Connect with Georgi Kay: Instagram
