Well, this has been a long time coming hasn't it. If you haven't listened to Pressure yet, I strongly implore you to do so before reading this post (or while reading this post). Pressure is a track 4 years in the making, and it was sort of the spawn point for this entire album as a project, and the turning point for my artistic vision as Kindrid. It also could not have happened without the wonderful Viktoria Liv, who I was connected with through my good friend Makay, and thank god I was. She absolutely nailed every facet of this effort, but before I say more, I want you all to hear from her. After all, this was collaborative effort.
Viktoria Liv:
'I fondly remember the moment I first heard "Pressure" (the Complextro Version as it was called then) in early summer of 2021. I was about to wrap up a rough workout when the track came on as part of Kindrid's "we are friends" mau5trap mix. I was supposed to keep moving but just stared at the floor with my jaw lowering further and further. I felt engulfed, hugged and swept away by this harmonic wall of sound. all I could think of was "this is it. this is the best thing I've ever heard".
I wrote the lyrics shortly after and 'unfortunately' every word still holds true today. how long will I be young? how long will I be numb? how long will I be just enough? Ever since, the essence of the track has had me dancing on the line between giving up and fighting for my dreams. Whenever I've lost my way, "No Pressure" makes me get up and dust off my promising life plans.'
Seriously again gigantic shoutout to her. Such a talented vocalist, writer, and producer. She released Goin' Down in December, and I have listened to it probably 50 times. Go listen to her, a whole lot. You will not be disappointed. The funny part about the first version of Pressure is it used these Splice vocals from Linney that I thought worked pretty well, but ultimately didn't mean much in the context of the track. Which is ironic given the meaning this track holds to me now. The bookends of the album. That is, until, one fateful night on discord with some of the old mau5trap crew. We were works in progress with each other and I played the second version of "Pressure" and Morgin Madison was like "Dude, you can't use those I have a song coming out soon with those on it.. on mau5trap". Which he then proceeded to show me. That song is Feels Like. Which, I am really glad he said that, and in that moment was pretty hilarious I'm not gonna lie. That track is a banger, and Morgin Madison is a great dude, and I am glad to call him a friend. I was already skeptical to use Splice vocals anymore for... various reasons. Partially the risk of accidentally having the same vocal as someone else, which happens a lot. But mostly because it becomes near impossible to register that song with a PRO like BMI (which I use).
So then now what. My vocal is gone... my precious vocal. Well, I was talking to Makay and he had mentioned that Viktoria had heard the demo and was blown away. Which was great news, because she is an incredible vocalist as I mentioned. We connected, we talked about the premise of the track she sent a demo, I was completely floored. I was inspired. So, I made a second version, the "Dark Mix" as it was called. Originally it was more of a halftime-deep-dub feel but morphed into future garage. Theres one relic of the halftime version, which is that first reese bass at the beginning of the song. I just.. never replaced it. That, and it sounded cool, so no harm no foul, I guess. This was shortly after I released my Indignation EP with mau5trap, so I was privy to send them some demos. I showed them both versions, they were also blown away, but they didn't want to do a double version release on account of trying that with deadmau5's Bridged By A Lightwave and the Alt Mix which apparently confused Spotify's algo among a few other things. Communication surrounding that broke down, but they had mentioned they wanted me to flesh out the "Dark Mix" to make it a full track. And, voila, we did just that. And that's how Pressure came about. "But what about the other version?" you ask. It still exists. It's called No Pressure. It's the final track on the album. Which should be out soon™©®
Pressure, and its counterpart, are about the pressure I felt at the time surrounding trying to make it in the music industry. The weight of trying to perform in a sense of numbers and notoriety was absolutely amplifying my anxiety, and my depression. It's about all the outside influence I was having thrust upon me at the time, and how it was making the process of creating music an emotional nightmare for me. I had probably the worst writers block I have ever had in the first half of 2021, hence just sending mau5trap one demo that's two versions of the same song. I've always had this personal aphorism that I would not make music a stressful and miserable experience to make a living for myself, because then that would miss the point. And in the spaces and connections I was in, it felt like it was starting to get to that point; making things I didn't really like to appease collaborators and labels and remix artists. Both versions of pressure were my personal protest against that idea. It's what I wanted to make. I like future garage, I like dark brooding music, I like electro house with big chords. That's what I'm gonna make. And, that almost worked out for me, but it didn't that is a long story for another time. As the saying goes, don't air your dirty laundry.... maybe one day 🥴
The extremely ironic thing about all that is that this track took four years to come out.
Four. Years.
So, I sort of had to break that construct. I can't be weighed down by the pressure anymore. This is where "No Pressure" comes. I'll elaborate more when the album comes out, but Pressure and No Pressure are the beginning and end of a story. Two perspectives on the same idea. Two moments in time. "It's up to me" - It really, really is. Now more than ever. And I am ready for that challenge. I hope you enjoy this journey with me, and I hope you enjoy the track a little more after reading this. I will leave you with some of the inspiration for this track. Inspiration: Gemi & Kora - Vesta