Packed with fragility and poignancy, ‘Self Defense’ is impressively cathartic for such a young artist. Only 20, Kayla Oh showcases a big songwriting maturity, together with her ability to create soothing, evocative melodies that perfectly match her luscious vocal tone. Built on alt-folk and gentle pop stylings, the track flourishes from a rich, orchestral arrangement and delicate acoustic guitars.
The result is a meaningful anthem, growing in intensity and emotional energy as it goes on. Delving into self-reflection and personal experience, ‘Self Defense’ sees Kayla Oh exploring past relationships through a more mature, sapient lens.
Keen to find out more about the project, we caught up with the New York-based songstress for an honest chat about her artistry and future goals… Interview below!
Hey Kayla, how is it going? I am listening to ‘Self Defense’ while writing this, and I have to say, the track is pretty hypnotising and charismatic. Does it represent you and your sound well?
Hi, thanks so much for interviewing me! I would say that ‘Self Defense’ is definitely representative of my sound. The lyrics are obviously very metaphorical, a little bit dark, and stark, all things that I really love to do. I think this song sounds particularly cinematic, and I love the arc I was able to create with my producer because it really adds to the storytelling that’s so central to my writing.
At only 20 years old, you clearly seem very talented. Can you shed some light on your musical journey so far, including any important influences that pushed you to pursue art and music?
I’ve been writing music for a few years now, but I had a pretty long history with musical theatre and opera before that. I think those experiences of singing music meant to be acted on a stage really influenced the way I write, a bit dramatic and centered on driving the story. I can’t really pinpoint a time that I wasn’t pursuing art or music, it was something I was pulled to even as a very little kid. It was always my favorite thing to make and perform music, and I’m happy to report that nothing’s really changed.
Often, it can be scary to share original material with the world, especially when that material comes from a place of honesty and fragility. Is it challenging to open yourself up to a wide audience?
I think I definitely struggled with being vulnerable in this way at the start. It took me over 2 years to even share a song I had written with another person, and a long while after that to convince myself to release it. But I have a lot of amazing and supportive people in my life who have reaffirmed me and my art, and I’ve gotten to a place where I truly believe in the work that I do and it’s no longer scary for me.
As mentioned above, ‘Self Defence’ is your latest single, a soothing yet anthemic pop gem with a certain elegance to it. How did the song come about, and what does it mean to you?
It’s kind of a funny and random story of how I began writing this song. I wrote “Self Defense” after a college writing course I took, where we analyzed different art installations or pieces and we discussed in particular the painting of Washington crossing the Delaware. And it kind of unlocked a core memory of mine, learning about this turning point battle of the Revolutionary War when I was in elementary school at whatever age. So I was thinking a lot about that surprise attack they executed, crossing the river in the middle of the night, and the idea of being really caught off guard. And I drew a lot of parallels to a relationship I was in at a very young age, and the way I had to end it somewhat abruptly for my own protection.
Do you feel more confident writing music alone, or within a team?
I usually gravitate towards writing alone, since so much of what I write about is super personal and, at times, uncomfortable to unpack initially. But I’ve done more co-writing recently for school and I’ve really enjoyed it, so it might be something I pursue more in the future!
Production-wise, do you have any constant collaborators or do you thrive in doing multiple sessions with different personnel?
I love to collaborate with my producer Arthur Pingrey for most projects. He’s obviously very skilled at what he does, but I also love working with him because he creates a really safe space during our sessions, something that matters a lot to me when dealing with such personal songs.
Artistically speaking, what challenges have the last two years presented you with?
I think the biggest challenge has been transitioning to life as a music major, and dealing with the imposter syndrome that comes with that. This is not to say that I don’t love being a music major, because I really do and the community of artists and creatives it’s brought me is invaluable. But from time to time the temptation to compare and pick my work apart is really strong.
What are the next steps for your project? Anything exciting on the horizon?
I’m planning on gigging around NYC this summer so keep an eye out on my socials for that! Further in the future, I have plans for an EP so look out for that too 🙂 Thank you again!
