Kae Sun is an artist at heart. You can tell
by his thoughtful gaze and deep introspective pauses that he has a lot to share.
I sat down with him to discuss his recent music video, his upcoming album, and
his work as a musician.
Sharon: What is the main artistic theme
behind the Ship and the Globe music video? I noticed the themes of a journey in
the music video. Is that what the song is about?
Kae Sun: Yes, it’s about journey and
space in terms of distance. I write a lot of poetry and sometimes a poem turns
into a song. My lyrics often come from poems.
Photo Credit: Yaa Annobil
& Joshua Kissi
S: That’s incredible! Who is your favourite
poet?
K: My favourite poets are actually
musicians who are great songwriters. I like Bob Dylan. His lyrics are very
literate. Leonard Cohen is a Canadian favourite of mine. I also read African
poetry.
S: So would you consider releasing poetry
in the future?
K: Maybe, we’ll see. I write all the
time so it’s a possibility.
S: How did your recent visit to Ghana affect
your inspiration for your album?
K: I was in Ghana very briefly in May.
My visit in Ghana has definitely helped in terms of inspiration. But the first
time I returned to Ghana after living in Canada was the most eye opening. I
noticed everything I had missed as a child. Ghana was a lot more interesting
for me.
S: I have to agree. When I was in Ghana
this summer, I found that there were so many intricacies I had missed as a
child. For example, Ghanaians are so much more communal than Canadians.
K: Yes, they are very communal. That’s
true. Every older relative is your aunty or uncle, and so anyone can feel the
liberty to discipline you or keep you in check. There are benefits and problems
with this, but it’s definitely something you have to get used to again.
S: In a short documentary entitled, “In
Between Stories, “ you describe your experiences as a Ghanaian- Canadian. How
has your time in Canada contributed to your evolving musical style?
K: It has allowed me to meet many
people. I met my former band mates and other artists in Canada. It has also
widened my perspective and opened up possibilities for me. I didn’t want to be
stuck in one style of music, and so I took interest in various types of music
during my formative days in high school.
S: How did you start with music?
K: I started playing music in church.
My mom sang when she was pregnant with me so maybe that’s when I was first
exposed to music. I really started to get serious about it when I was 17. I had
a band of about 4 or 5 friends and we played together.
Photo
Credit: Armand Kajangwe
S: I love the musical style elements of
folk that you incorporate into your music. Have you always been fascinated with
folk music?
K: Yes, I enjoy folk music. A lot of
people tend to label folk music incorrectly, but I know the kind you are
talking about. Feist, for example, could be considered folk music. For me, incorporating
musical elements of authentic folk music has not been so much of a conscious
thing. Because I play the guitar, I have gained an appreciation for refined
lyrics so I generally listen to more old soul and folk music as a result. I
enjoy lyrics that feel like poems.
S: So then, who would you name as some of
your favourite musicians?
K: It’s funny you ask because I listen
to a wide variety of music. I appreciate Neil young, Marvin Gaye, A tribe
Called Quest, and Feist to name just a few.
S: How do you react to people trying to
classify you or your work? Do you classify yourself at all?
K: I dislike labels. I think they never
describe music adequately. Music is too human to be labeled. I try not to
classify my music. But sometimes you have to put a description so that
listeners know what to expect, but at the purest moment when you’re making
music, you don’t think of that. When you label music, you don’t allow all
messages to be understood.
S: What can we expect
on the upcoming album?
K: You can expect
more of what we discussed earlier in terms of songwriting. It will be like
singing poems. I will at least be trying to get some depth in the lyrics.
S: Will you be
touring soon?
K: Yes, over the New Year. I’ll be in Southern
Ontario - Toronto, Hamilton, London, and Montreal. I’ll also be on the West Coast.
S: Any other exciting projects coming up?
K: I want to explore music some more
and travel. I’m re-evaluating the platform I’m using to reach my audience.
That’s what I’ll be working to achieve.
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Watch Kae Sun’s music
video, find more about his upcoming album and tour all at www.kaesunmusic.com.
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