Getting To The Top Of the Game with All-Star KITTENS

KITTENS is a major player in the leagues of LA. Signed to the HW&W family (also home to Kaytranada and Ta-ku) her heavy hitting hip hop, R&B and electronic originals have been igniting parties and climbing charts around the world. High profile fans like A-Trak, Chief Keef and Usher have reached out to collaborate, and KITTENS is also a founding member of Athletixx Club, a DJ and production crew that includes Hoodboi, Falcons and Promnite. Then there's the fact that KITTENS has played Mortal Kombat with Erykah Badu and Just Blaze on Flying Lotus' couch. We don't have the results of that match-up, but it's clear we're talking about a winner in music and life. KITTENS is bringing her A-Game to Australia, and ahead of the tour kindly sat down with us for some creative coaching and life advice.

THUMP: In any creative pursuit, one of the hardest aspects can be finding your voice. What's been your experience of this?
KITTENS: This has probably been one of the easier things for me in this whole game. I really figured out who I was and what is important to me a long time ago, and I'm pretty stubborn about it LOL. So there hasn't had to be too much searching for what my message is or who I am and definitely no changing it. If anything my challenge has been with being more open so people don't have a place to assume and just see clearly what I'm all about. Like I'm super super shy and awkward and way too aware of myself most of the time, so that can make performing or meeting new people harder for me at times. So I really try to be more open and vocal and let my guard down so people don't get the wrong idea.

Can you talk us through some specifics of the creative process for you? What's been your path of developing a sound that uniquely reflects you and your interests?
I think developing a unique and personal delivery of anything artistically related can be one of the hardest tasks for anyone in a creative field of you over think it, which at first I definitely did. I'm heavily influenced by so many different types of music and sounds and just an indecisive person in general which makes things hard for me at times. So instead of fighting those parts of myself to stick to a specific genre or sound, I found a way to incorporate everything in a balanced way. I love hip hop just as much as I love dance music for example, so why pigeon hole myself and get stuck to one sound or in one world? As far as production goes I'm still on a constant journey to find that right balance between all the elements of different sounds that inspire me. I don't think that ever really stops for any artist though since we're all constantly evolving (or should be).

Talking about production, are there any self-imposed limits that you've found helpful in the creative process?
Time limits and deadlines definitely are necessary for me. I over analyze everything always and have very high goals for things so I could sit and edit the same drum sounds for months if I don't have someone yelling at me to finish up lol. It helps to have a manager or someone to collaborate with who will be on your ass about turning things in. Other than deadlines I like to hide my phone in the other room and turn my wifi off so Im not distracted by anything. Nothing worse than being in the zone and having someone blow your phone up about some celebrity gossip they just heard lol

What have been some breakthrough moments for you as a producer?
Actually until very recently I would get so frustrated when working on something if I couldn't find that right sound or whatever that I would just over think it super hard and give up. Ive been around so many talented producers for so long and comparing myself to them really psyched me out a lot. It sounds corny but meditating before I sit down to work is so so helpful. Forcing myself to let go of any anxiety or expectations so I can just have a more organic flow is making a big difference. Literally I just started doing this like a week ago lol.

You're a founding member of the all-star Athletixx collective, can you share how this collaboration works, and the story of how you met and joined forces?
We are honestly like a little family. There's only four of us and we spend so much time together and basically talk all day on group chat if we're not together. The whole reason Athletixx works is because we just naturally have similar taste and our sounds/aesthetics/personalities all make sense together. Collaborating can sometimes be a difficult task but since we all communicate well, have respect for each other, and are just genuinely down for each others creative input the whole project has gone really smoothly. The whole thing really just started because we were friends and thought it would be fun and make sense to build together as a unit. And we all dressed the same so theres the whole aesthetic foundation.

You're heavily involved in so many aspects of electronic and dance music, and are a strong ambassador for the scene. What is it that you're most inspired by, or passionate about sharing with audiences?
Thank you for thinking that. I am really passionate about and inspired by women in so many ways. I think we bring something different to the table when it comes to perspective in any art form so having the opportunity to be a voice within this community and potentially be a role model for other girls is really important to me. It has always really meant a lot when I was able to find something I loved and then actually relate to the person bringing me the information. In the dance/electronic community we just don't have as many strongly visible females as we could. It's getting better but still not quite there. I just want all the dope young kids out there to be able to say without question "I can do that one day" and I believe the more people you see at the top of the game who you relate to, the easier that is. So diversity is really key here.