Having featured him in the past, we are fairly familiar with Kristopher’s nuanced and eclectic artistry. Emerging from Orlando, Florida, the young talent has been championing a charming pop aesthetic, drawing inspiration from some of the biggest popstars out there (cue Ariana Grande).
Now, Kristopher seeks to shuffle the cards, showcasing a decisively more poignant and emotional side to his songwriting. ‘Swear to God’ is the strongest evidence of it, a slice of honesty and authenticity that wraps the listener into introspection and solace. With the song, Kristopher wants to highlight the inner workings of abusive relationships, highlighting the pain and confusion that stems from them.
Intrigued by this unexpected release, we caught up with Kristopher to find out more about his sensibility and personal experience… Interview below!
Hey Kristopher, how is it going? It’s been a while since we talked. At the time, you defined yourself as “I like to think I’m compassionate. Also, definitely an overthinker” – Would that still be true today?
Hey! It’s going great thank you! Yeah, not much has changed since then and honestly, I don’t see it changing anytime soon. ‘Overthinker’ should be my first tattoo.
The industry has evolved too, with short-form videos becoming the norm. How’s your TikTok game coming along?
It’s still awful. Over the past 6 months or so I’ve really tried to get more into TikTok but I find it to be inherently inauthentic to how I want to present myself. I love watching TikTok videos and probably spend more time than I should on the app, but making videos of my own has been a challenge because I’m not as spontaneously creative or funny as some people might think unless it comes to music. That being said I have a lot of respect for people with the confidence to showcase their art on the platform.
Is Ariana Grande still the North Star of your career?
For time and all eternity. The sky has many stars and there are so many artists that inspire me and the music I create. Even if my music is nothing like hers, Ariana’s creativity musicianship, and overall talent will always be a guide.
You recently released an introspective single, ‘Swear to God’. We are correct in thinking that the track is noticeably darker than your usual vibe? What was the inspiration behind it?
Even though most of my music tends to be pretty depressing or dark, I will say this is the darkest one yet. The song itself was inspired by several things. I’ve found myself in many situations where I was desperate for love or acceptance and proceeded to try to change myself to “earn” this. I’ve struggled to have healthy relationships with partners, or friendships, or even with faith in a higher power because of this inequality in expectation. It’s a lesson I’ve had to learn the hard way that if something is requiring you to change core aspects of your identity, then it probably isn’t worth it.
Will ‘Swear to God’ kickstart a change in your artistry – as in, do you feel like you are evolving as an artist?
Certainly! With every song I write I evolve as an artist. I’m a big believer in learning on the job and the more music I write and the more exposure I have, I cultivate an artistic identity that I can be confident in. I’m playing around a lot and ‘Swear to God’ is me experimenting with a slightly more energetic sound.
Do you feel more confident writing music alone, or within a team?
That’s a good question! It depends on the subject matter and the people. Generally, I work really well writing with other people but most of my music has been written solo purely because of the nature of the content. I prefer to write alone when it’s something I’ve personally experienced. If it’s something a bit more general or out of the scope of my perception then having the perspectives of others is incredibly important. For me, the general rule is I will write alone, and then bring others in when necessary or for collaborations.
Artistically speaking, what challenges have the last two years presented you with?
Most of the time I feel a crazy sense of imposter syndrome. I feel that I don’t really deserve to write music. I feel that it’s not good enough to share with the world. I understand I am an amateur, the hard part is accepting that. At the end of the day, I’m making music because I enjoy doing so and I know there are many people out there who enjoy what I create too. This mentality has caused some serious writer’s block at times because I’m so scared of creating something “bad.” It is definitely an unhealthy mindset I’ve fallen into the past couple of years that I’m working my way out of.
What are the next steps for your project? Anything exciting on the horizon?
The next song I will be releasing is going to be a pop song! So far it’s been mostly singer/songwriter, but playing around with what might be a bit more radio-friendly has been a lot of fun! I also filmed a super fun music video for this single. Pop music is so versatile so being able to play around like this is exactly what I wanted from music. I’ve got the final few songs of my current project to release over the next several months culminating in the final album release.
After that, I’ll be working on and releasing an EP of singer/songwriter tracks before diving into pop again for the second album. I wish I could tell you more but I have to keep some things a secret for now! I’m really excited to take what I’ve learned experimenting with my first project and apply it to everything I want to create in the next year.
