Project Description

Interview with

CHYMES

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LISTEN NOW

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Chymes is the musical pairing of  acoustic singer/songwriter Kiersten Nyman and electronic-based producer Cameron Taylor. Chymes create introverted, enigmatic electro-pop that mixes dark lyricism, playful soundscapes that makes you feel before you can think and have had over 1 million Spotify streams and previous release ‘Grow’ hit  #10 on Spotify Viral Charts.

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Praise for CHYMES

A hypnotic pop wonderland – Purple Sneakers

We cannot begin to describe to you all how beautiful and bone-chilling this is. – The Drunken Coconut

Chymes have become a consistent highlight from the Australian electronic scene – Pilerats

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How did it all begin? Where did you develop your interest in performing music to an audience?

Cam: My dad used to play piano a lot at family gatherings so I was exposed to a lot of different music at an early age. When I started playing guitar in my early teens and discovered John Mayer my whole world opened up to songwriting his ability to write music that connects with the masses. I was hooked from then onward.

Kiersten: My sister picked up music when she was a teen and, as the annoying youngest sibling I am, I wanted to copy her! She taught me how to play a few chords on guitar and off I went. I can’t read any music so I’m hopeless in the theory department, but instead I learn everything from hearing.

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How did you find each other? What was your first big break that told you “we are in the right place here”?

Kiersten: I was a singing teacher at a local studio and Cameron had occasional sound-engineering work from the owner of the business. We crossed paths at a student concert and decided to try write a song together.

Cam: After the first few writing sessions, we realised that our mix of different genres (folk and electronic) really worked together. And the rest is history! 

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What kind of music did you grow up on? Which artists inspired you?

Kiersten: My dad was into more rock / folk stuff and my mum was and still is a true 80s power ballad chick!

Cam: Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Darren Hayes… Definitely Stevie Wonder’s music inspires me to incorporate more interesting harmony within a pop song structure.

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We all live busy lives and seem time poor. How do you find the balance between your everyday life and your musical one?

Kiersten: It’s definitely a struggle, not going to lie. But working an everyday job to pay the bills is a bit of a reality check because it motivates us to work harder during the hours we have available.

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With your latest single and video ‘Wild’ can you describe its origins and evolution? I know how challenging the creative and producing process can be. Did it feel good to complete and are you happy with the finished product?

Cameron: We actually sat down and said “let’s write a pop song” and that’s how it turned out haha! We listen to a wide range of artists so our music has aspects of all sorts of music we love. We love the jungle atmosphere of Glass Animals, but the pop vocal-chop and kick, as well as moody electronic synths and dark lyrics. It is definitely the most happy we’ve been with a song and feels the most complete for what wanted it to be. 

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Is there an EP or Album on the drawing board?

Kiersten: We are currently in the writing process to hopefully get a 4 or 5 track EP for 2019!

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If someone had never listened to Chymes before, how would you describe your sound? What would you want them to know about it?

Cam: Dark, moody beats with airy vocals and meaningful lyrics… how does that sound? We would want them to know that we try to create a deep atmosphere that is inviting you to step into another world.

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Do you plan to tour anywhere soon? Any thoughts on going overseas and tapping in to the fan base you are building there?

Kiersten: We would absolutely love to tour. Especially in America because over 60% of our online listeners are all in the states!

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If you did tour overseas, and you could pick absolutely anyone to bring on tour with you, whom would you pick and why? (Dead or Alive)

Kiersten: Well… Michael Jackson. Not that our music is similar in any way, or that we could ever possibly deserve to be in his presence! Maybe Ariana Grande? She’s a fire bomb.

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