By: Staff
Kaiwyn releases new track "Off and On," blending humor, emotion, and indie pop energy
We got a chance to check out the new release "Off and On" by Kaiwyn, and after finding the official music video, we decided to dive in fully. From the start, the visuals are captivating, showing multiple versions of the protagonist in a forest with hearts floating in front of the screen, symbolizing love in today’s world. With Kaiwyn’s soft and gentle vocals, you can feel the emotional struggle of navigating modern relationships. One of the more clever aspects is the use of sticks in the woods pointing in different directions, highlighting the confusion in today’s dating landscape.
The transition to a playground is an interesting choice, as it can be interpreted as a metaphor for how adults feel about the game of dating. The energy of the song picks up unexpectedly, becoming upbeat and exciting. This change allows Kaiwyn to showcase the power and exuberance in his vocals with a cadence and delivery that truly impresses.
The lyrics:
"You’re just so off and on, you said you like me, but you don’t and you ghosted me, oh no"
perfectly sums up the frustrations of modern dating, where mixed signals and ghosting are all too common.
The playground imagery is particularly effective. It’s a place where kids go to make friends and have fun, but being alone on a playground can be one of the loneliest feelings. This visual makes a powerful statement about how isolating the dating world can feel when things don’t work out. What a terrific choice of backdrops for this video from this very creative artist. The upbeat music contrasts with this loneliness, and as the song progresses, the beat intensifies, building to a moment of emotional release.
Kaiwyn belts out,
"So just kindly tell me what is on your mind, what is going on,"
showing impressive vocal control and power. This track mixes the highs and lows of dating, both musically and emotionally, and makes you want to root for the artist as the search for answers in this confusing modern world seems endless. By the end, the song and video are so full of energy and charm that it’s hard not to feel like anyone would be lucky to partner up with someone as fun and genuine as Kaiwyn.
If you’re looking for a track that combines catchy indie pop beats with a relatable message about love and dating, "Off and On" is definitely worth a listen!
You can find this release on any major platform, see below for links to take you straight to some of the profiles. Make sure to playlist, stream, and share "Off and On" by Kaiwyn!
Powerful Quote about this artist:
"Hot on the heels of his chart-topping collaboration with Celyn Chow, Kaiwyn’s ‘Off and On’ is a must-listen for navigating today’s dating world with humor and heart."
Wait… there's more!
We had the chance to catch up with this exciting artist for an exclusive interview in "The Cage" Music Blog.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview
Hello Kaiwyn, we’re thrilled to have you for this interview! We've thoroughly enjoyed diving into your music and exploring your work, and now we’re even more eager to discover more about you, both personally and professionally.
Is there a story behind how you chose your artist name, Kaiwyn?
Kaiwyn was picked as my name pronounced in Mandarin is “Kaiwen”, with exchange of the letter “e” to “y” to represent Generation Y! I was also busking with the name Kaiwyn previously, so it stayed on as it is quite unique and easy to find online! Another fun fact that I was also told by a patient whom I delivered her baby that Kaiwyn means “Blessed” that originated from Welsh region, she was close to name her baby that too!
What are the main challenges you face as a solo artist, and how do the benefits of working independently compare?
I have never work as a group or non-independently so it might be not a full reflection of my experience. But the challenges and benefits of working independently can be quite “off and on” chuckles. As a solo artist, you are responsible for every aspect of how you want to express your artistic vision which is a double-edged sword as it can be quite overwhelming due to the isolation and difficulty to time manage with multiple roles you must play. So far I am blessed to have the stability of my job as a medical doctor to recruit the people I’d like to collaborate with to bring my visions and sounds to life. I enjoy that autonomy but navigating around self-promotion and campaigns remains a bit tricky for me to juggle, however I can gradually adapt to it due to my continuous passion. Let’s just hope that I have an unlimited source of motivation to persevere!
How long have you been making music?
I’ve always been a creative being and melodically inclined growing up in the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I was active in school bands and joined local singing competitions back then too. Even when I got accepted into medical school in Australia when I was 18, I continued writing songs while going through the vigorous curriculum. But formally started to produce these songs since 2022 after realizing how fragile life can be whilst working amidst the pandemic. So, I met up with a local producer in the nearby hospital I work at and boom, he listened to my vault tracks, and we have been working on them since. Making music has been my go-to down time whenever I am not working in healthcare.
What emotion inspires your desire to start a project, such as sadness, worry, happiness, etc.?
During my teenage years, I started writing blogs and diary reflecting on the experiences and emotions I was going through, which eventually evolved into poetic and lyrical compilations. A lot of the time, it has been a way for me to make clear of what I am feeling and capturing the thoughts I have at that time. So, I have a variety of songs that explore different emotions at different stages of my life. Funny how that I did the same in medicine as now I am gravitating towards psychiatry as my preferred specialty in medicine. So, regulating feelings has become a lifelong occurrence to me, hence writing songs is a way of me to “put my heart on my sleeves” and a message to listeners to have their own way of healing through my songs with their own life experiences. When people feel less isolated and were able to relate with the emotions through music, it is so empowering, so it is crucial to come from your own emotions and I definitely dig deep into my sensitive soul when starting any projects.
Can you explain to us the theme for your visualizer video and what was the inspiration and intention for the observer to absorb from it?
For the “Off & On” video, the inspiration is literally from a parody video of mine I did ages ago, making multiple clones of myself to represent the different emotions you have when you are navigating through the unknown which is represented by the woods to replicate the current dating communication styles. Obviously, there is ups and downs in life and at times you can be static and sometimes dancing with joy which encapsulates the off and on persona well. I filmed this project entirely on my own and edited it myself too, so it is a trip down memory lane for me as I was also filming and editing my videos back then in medical school when YouTube first came out in 2006. Another “off and on” relationship in the books again! Hopefully I am not going to wring the pun dry at the end of the interview! laughs
How did collaborating with producer Simon Dobson shape the sound of “Off and On”?
Simon has been such a gem in my musical journey as he has given me so much credit and confidence as a songwriter and vocalist. It is very invigorating for me especially coming on board with limited formal experience in song production. “Off and On” is a drift into more experimental sounds from the previous tracks I’ve worked with him so far as it leans more towards the unconventional instruments like kazoo, horns and even vocoder for my vocals. I have always completed a song in an acapella format with some ideas of riffs to start a song and I was thinking more synths as well to start with a pulsating beat in the background. I also wanted it to be literally off and on with the delivery of verses, so it became more theatrical as we were finishing the song. Quite a fun experience to record this track for sure!
Can you talk more about how “Off and On” explores the complexities of modern dating, especially in a world dominated by virtual connections and dating apps?
"Off and On" highlights the back-and-forth nature of relationships, capturing the emotional rollercoaster many people face when trying to form meaningful connections whether it is online or offline. I think it applies to even face to face interaction, as communications seems to be the big downfall for people to resolve conflict these days. People tend to develop a “guard” for self-protection even when asked to have a simple conversation! It feels quite refreshing these days if people were able to just genuinely speak their minds. People even lie to their therapist or doctors sometimes!
And with development of dating apps, it has created a sense of impermanence and constant availability, leading to uncertainty about commitment or the sincerity of the other person’s intentions. This gets projected onto real life communication as well. People are just quick to react and assume the worst! This can cause a cycle of emotional highs and lows—people connect, disconnect, and reconnect, which often mirrors the "off and on" dynamic of many modern relationships.
The song also touches on the fleeting nature of virtual relationships, where people can easily ghost or disappear without warning, making the process of building trust even harder. But a lot of the time, I try to provide some relief in catching the reality behind these struggles and process them with mature defenses, so humor is how I processed these conflicts and let people know that it is not “the end of the world” if people responded in a way that you are not familiar with. Ultimately, we as individuals cannot control other people’s emotions so communication is key!
How does the narrative in “Off and On” reflect your own experiences with relationships in the digital age?
Through my experience working in mental health, it is so disheartening to see how people fall into clinical manifestations of poor mental health due to misunderstandings and unresolved conflicts. Obviously with my own experiences as well, I had my own struggles, and I have admitted having some highs and lows but eventually I have practiced the art of being able to live with myself and regulate my own expectations when it comes to communication, either from family, friends and or potential life partners. Reflecting that the digital vessels are a form of communication, and it does not have to be restricted to that.
The ability to disconnect and reconnect with reality is a skill that I continue to master while navigating through the acceleration of technology. But mainly not to judge and jump into conclusion is the main message I would like to send out there!
Can you share your thoughts on the growing trend of people moving away from virtual dating apps in favor of unconventional methods, and how that tie into the themes of “Off and On”?
The branching out of dating apps is inevitable and you can already see decline in download rates of these dating apps when people are more focused on what’s in front of them rather than what’s behind the screens. Hence why in terms of the construction of “Off and On” was also a bit unconventional for me, straying away from my usual pop-rock aesthetic and leaning towards more experimental sounds. But people will be installing and uninstalling these apps in an off and on manner anyway in the foreseeable future, so the duality remains which is the essence of this song.
We read that you have been hearing that people are going to such lengths as dropping into grocery stores with pineapples?? Or even using job search posters?? Can you tell us more about this?
Yeah, I think I saw this news coming from Spain and people are quick to jump onto trends on social media these days elsewhere. I mean humans are collectively a very creative species and will carve its own way to achieve their goals, so it is not surprising to see interesting practices in this vast world of colliding cultures and norms. But I always skim the social media trends with a pinch of salt when misleading information can be so easy to be taken on seriously, so I research the evidence behind it. But essentially it is just like a “morse code” that people use with the pineapple at grocery stores as a sign of “availability” which has exist since the beginning of human civilization.
What do you think makes “Off and On” stand out in the indie pop scene?
Standing out in the indie pop scene is a hard task but not impossible if you embrace the authenticity in your work, and I am confident to say that I always strive to find the elements of music that uniquely describe my intentions and expressions. What is awesome about indie pop is that it thrives on experimentation, so mixing elements from different genres that I grew up with like rock, folk, country, etc.) can provide a fresh sound that distinguish it from other typical indie pop formula. And I talked about how I try not to limit myself to a certain genre and try to incorporate as many variety I feel that fits into the storytelling of a song. “Off and On” certainly encapsulates this notion.
Which of your already released songs, including “Off and On,” is the most important to you or had the most impact on your life or career, and why?
So far I have released in total 7 songs and every song feels like a different experience to me. I would say that reflecting on my current standing in life, the song “Future Me” would be a reminder for myself to remain grounded and staying true to my artistry. This time capsule of a song will always be dear to me, and I have been able to process a lot of my insecurities back from my younger days but keep my inner child to continue my journey in life wherever I choose to go!
Where do you see your sound and artistry heading in the future? Are there any exciting new directions you're exploring?
I have completed all the tracks needed for my debut album and started on some songs for my follow up. I can feel that my songwriting has matured a lot throughout the years as I look back on my earlier compositions. The sound for the follow up project appears to be gravitating towards more heavy bass and drums so far, but I am still exploring this while balancing my medical career as well. So, continue to watch this space and watch me grow!
Kaiwyn, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
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We’re happy to have shared this artist’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!
Check out this latest release and listen to more of Kaiwyn on Spotify & YouTube.
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