Q&A: KESMAR on New Singles, ’70s Vibes & Always Listening to His Fans
WITH AN EASYGOING SPIRIT AND BOLD MUSIC — multifaceted Sydney-based artist Nathan Hawes, better known as KESMAR, releases two singles that showcase who he is as an artist. “Day by Day” and “Out of Luck” hold similar feelings and aesthetics that KESMAR projects in all his work. His music and persona both portray and give homage to the ’70s, which in terms of music and expression was considered to be very revolutionary. KESMAR reveals it all in a subtle way that makes his music feel nostalgic and familiar, yet still fresh and new to the listener.
His involvement with his music goes beyond songwriting — he also produces his own work. As well as producing for other artists, KESMAR is the sole producer for his music, including his latest singles.
Listening to the tracks, you can tell his sound is like no other in the industry. With his lowkey, chill demeanor, KESMAR gives off a humble aura, even as it's utterly impressive just how much passion and work he puts into his music. Apart from his stamp on all his work, KESMAR also comes up with visual ideas, which flow perfectly with his songs. Both “Day by Day '' and “Out of Luck” transport listeners into a happy-go-lucky, lighthearted atmosphere that can be so difficult to achieve without sounding corny.
KESMAR is able to import detail into his production style and give his audience a dreamy, lush song with breezy lyrics to create an effortless feeling like you’re floating on a velvety cloud in the middle of an open field — in the ’70s, of course.
We teamed up with RETO to send KESMAR one of their disposable cameras for a glimpse into the artist’s creative process and life lately. Read below to find out more about KESMAR, his latest singles, and his favorite artists at the moment.
LUNA: Thank you so much for your time! First things first, how are you doing?
KESMAR: I'm doing well! Just enjoying my time at my studio and being at home with friends before a busy few weeks to close out the year.
LUNA: You go by KESMAR, and my million-dollar question is: How did the name come about?
KESMAR: Well, I would like to say there is a big story behind it but really I just had a deadline and needed a name. I liked the way it sounded and looked so, boom, I became KESMAR.
LUNA: You are a multifaceted artist based in Sydney, Australia. How has place influenced the music you create?
KESMAR: Well, I have actually relocated to the south of Sydney to a beautiful place on the water called Kiama. Still, I feel like I'm constantly inspired by so many amazing Sydney artists, and not just in Sydney but all over the world.
LUNA: You’ve had two brand new singles out, “Day by Day” and “Out of Luck” — huge congrats on that! I’ve heard both tracks, which are super impressive in terms of production. How does it feel to be a part of the process of your music from start to finish?
KESMAR: Thank you! The process is usually quite exciting hearing the songs come to life, but also extremely grueling having to keep an objective mindset. It becomes difficult after hearing a song so much, and it's all your own playing and writing. It's very confronting, but also I wouldn’t do it any other way.
LUNA: Are there any topics that you gravitate toward more when songwriting? Could be from what you’ve mostly experienced.
KESMAR: Um, not really. Songs can come in different ways. Most of the time I start at the piano, but some songs on this newer body of work came from lyrical phrases, so it's always changing really.
LUNA: In the music videos for “Out of Luck” and “Day by Day,” you're transported into a ’70s wonderland, and I absolutely loved it! What kind of creative direction do you aim for in your visuals, and what feelings do you hope to emit from them?
KESMAR: I don’t think I really sit down and aim in a certain direction — I just try to do what’s right for the song, what’s going to serve the song best. And nine out of 10 [times], that’s shooting on 16mm or 8[mm]. But really it just goes back to the music I make — it's just what I like and what makes me inspired, so as long as it keeps me inspired I'll keep following that creative direction.
LUNA: Can you give us some artists you’ve been loving recently that feed your inspiration to keep making music?
KESMAR: I’ll give you an old one and a new one. Old would be Marc Bolan and especially his engineer and producer Tony Visconti. I’ve been digging through interviews of Tony and Marc, and their approach in the early days to the T. Rex recordings is really inspiring — keep it to eight tracks and commit to every idea. A newer artist would be Surprise Chef out of Melbourne. They are producing some seriously great music, and now I feel like starting to see some of the recognition they deserve.
LUNA: You have a collab with Dayglow on a Christmas song called “No More Blue Holidays” — what was that like? Do you hope to collaborate with other artists? And if so, who would be your dream feature?
KESMAR: Yeah, so Sloan and I were just internet buddies. I had an instrumental that I sent to him. I said, “Wanna sing a verse?” He was down, and that was that. I love collaboration when it can just happen organically. I'm always down to write music with other artists, whether it's producers, songwriters, you name it. I like to be challenged and put out of my comfort zone. Dream feature… Hmm, I mean I don’t think it would be a feature but to be able to simply just watch people like Brian Wilson, Quincy Jones, etc. in their heyday work [on] a song would be something else.
LUNA: As an artist, your music gives off such high vibrations, like you’re floating in the middle of the ocean. How important is it for you to have the listener experience emotion while listening to your music?
KESMAR: I think hearing feedback from listeners is what it's all about. Hearing how a song changed someone's day is what I always try to reflect on. A lot of the time, making music by myself is quite lonely, so it's a beautiful reminder to hear my music has had an impact on someone in such a positive way.
LUNA: Last but not least, any new projects on the horizon?
KESMAR: Yes! There is a bigger body of work on the way out early next year. I’ve been working on it for about two years, so it's ready to be released into this crazy world. I never really like to stop, though, so there is something I'm always working on — whether it is another project or just helping someone else bring their project to life, I'm down for all of it! Peace!
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