A Quick Chat with AYDAN
What inspired WHATS YOUR TYPE?, and what made you want to explore this idea through a song?
It's actually a funny story. I was driving through Melbourne CBD and saw this university ad at a red light showing four completely different people, with a tagline along the lines of "What kind of person do you want to be?" I remember thinking, "What if that was a song about what kind of guy someone wants you to be?" I started recording voice memos on the drive, and before I'd even written the song, I could already picture the artwork and music video, with me playing all these different college stereotypes. I got into the studio shortly after and we wrote the whole song in a day. So it all started with a random billboard
The track has that early-2000s R&B and pop feel, with influences from artists like Justin Timberlake and Usher. What is it about that era of music that you love, and how have you made that sound your own?
I think what I love about that era is what everybody loves about it. The music was just fun! It made you feel good, it was romantic, it was cheeky, made you want to get up and dance, and I think we've lost a little bit of that. I've always loved music that makes people want to move, so I wanted to bring that energy into this track. We leaned into those classic 2000s sounds with acoustic guitars and those really cool keyboard one-shots, but I brought a more modern pop approach to the melodies and lyrics. For me, it was about finding that sweet spot between the nostalgia of the music I grew up loving and the kind of pop artist I am, and want to be today.
There’s a playful confidence to WHATS YOUR TYPE? and the idea of being whatever someone wants you to be. How did you approach bringing that attitude and personality into the track?
I really just put myself back in the mindset of my late teens, and trying to convince a girl to go on a date with me. That playful, charming, slightly cheeky confidence was something I could definitely relate to growing up. I wanted that personality to come through in everything, from the lyrics and melodies to the way I delivered the vocals. I actually went through a few different drafts and got feedback from people around me, because I wanted you to really feel that confidence and attitude in my voice, rather than just hear it in the lyrics. I think that made a huge difference to the final track.
You've explored different sides of yourself through music and acting. How do those creative experiences influence each other, and do you approach them differently?
I've always been drawn to every side of the arts, whether that's singing, dancing or acting. I just love finding new ways to be creative and express myself. I actually think acting and music are really similar. They're both about storytelling and finding a way to connect with an emotion. The biggest difference is that with acting, I'm usually finding myself within a character, whereas with songwriting, I'm finding myself within a story I'm creating myself. Even with What’s Your Type, I was putting myself back in the shoes of my teenage self to capture that feeling of young love and confidence. So for me, they really go hand in hand. It's all just different ways of expressing myself.
Every release is another step in shaping your identity as an artist. What do you think WHATS YOUR TYPE? brings to the table, and what are you excited for people to see / hear from you next?
I think that's the most exciting part about being an artist. Every release is another step towards figuring out who you want to be, and What’s Your Type feels like a big step in the direction I'm heading. I've spent a lot of time exploring heartbreak and more acoustic-driven pop, which I still love, but right now I'm having so much fun making music that makes people want to smile! I'm really excited to bring that energy back into my live shows too, with more dancing, bigger performances and a lot more showmanship. And that's exactly what people can expect from me in 2027. More energy, more music, bigger shows and a really exciting project that we've been working on. I feel like we're only just getting started!
AYDAN - WHATS YOUR TYPE out now