A Quick Chat with Kaiwyn

Sonically, ‘Good Boy’ blends nostalgic pop-rock with a modern alt-pop edge. What drew you to this particular sound, and how does it reflect the emotional journey behind the lyrics?
I've always been drawn to my first entry into the warmth and honesty of 2000s pop-rock — those big choruses that feel both intimate and graphic. With Good Boy, I wanted to capture that nostalgia but modernise it with sharper alt-pop textures. The sound mirrors the story where it starts grounded in vulnerability, questioning self of previous actions, catastrophically thinking about what others may say, and gradually builds into something explosive and liberating. That shift from controlled to chaotic felt like the perfect sonic reflection of breaking free from the conditioned mind we set ourselves into.

The track moves from vulnerability to defiance — almost like an emotional crescendo. How did you approach structuring the song to mirror that transformation?
I've worked on multiple projects with Lakehouse Audio's Simon since my debut single and he understands my artistic approach well now — I hope! The structure almost wrote itself once I leaned into the emotion. I started with restraint, softer verses, introspective lyrics which reflected my inner monologues, and let the energy swell as the song progressed. By the final chorus after the bridge, it's unapologetic. That build mirrors how real transformation feels — you start by inner reflection, and by the end, you're owning it, shouting your truth without fear. I wanted listeners to feel that same emotional release I felt when writing it.

There’s a real sense of catharsis in the chorus — it feels both rebellious and freeing. What do you think makes a song truly liberating to perform and to hear?
For me, it's when a song allows you to say the thing you've been too timid to voice out. A liberating song doesn't necessarily have to be sonically loud — it just needs to be coming straight from the bottom of honesty. When I recorded Good Boy, there's a moment where I stopped thinking about how it sounds and just embodied the energy. I think that's what connects most, when both the artist and listener can release something they've been holding onto — kinda how therapy works!

As someone who straddles the scientific world of medicine and the expressive world of music, do you find that one influences how you approach the other — especially in a song like ‘Good Boy’?
Everything's so permeable where medicine teaches you to analyse, to care deeply about little details, and to stay composed, but music reminds me to take in the experience and let go. They balance each other symbiotically, in a sense of mutual benefit. In Good Boy, that duality is echoed throughout: structure versus spontaneity, control versus chaos. Writing it was almost therapeutic, because it allowed me to process those inner conflicts between being responsible and being real.

The song’s message of unlearning the need to please everyone feels especially relevant today. What advice would you give to someone struggling to stop living for others’ approval?
Always start with insight and awareness then baby steps. Notice the moment when you say "yes" out of insecurity instead of compassion. It's okay to disappoint people and that does not make you unkind — it makes you human. Once you start honouring your own needs, you attract people who respect your authenticity. That's something I had to learn the hard way, but it's been the most freeing lesson of my life.

Looking ahead, how does ‘Good Boy’ fit into the bigger story you’re telling as an artist? Does it mark a new chapter in how you express yourself through your music?
Definitely. Good Boy feels like a turning point — not just musically, but personally. My earlier songs explored love, connection, and vulnerability — mostly songs that I've written in my teenage years. But this one was written a bit later in my adulthood which is about identity and self-ownership. It's me stepping out of the frame and saying, "This is who I am, no filter." It's absolutely one of the more outlandish songs on my planned LP coming soon (which includes some of the already released songs) which I know I have teased for some time! This song serves me as a reminder to create from a place of freedom rather than expectation.