A Quick Chat with Kurt Carrera

Your new single “VIBE!” drops on the 24th of April — what was the initial inspiration behind the track?
Honestly, I just wanted to make something that felt good straight away. No overthinking — just a track that makes you move within the first few seconds. I grew up on a lot of early 2000s R&B/Pop, and I feel like there’s something really timeless about that era, so this was me tapping back into that energy and bringing it into what I do now.

The song leans into that early 2000s Pop/R&B feel — what drew you to that sound for this release?
That sound has always been in my DNA. Artists like Justin Timberlake and Usher — their records felt built for live shows. I think a lot of music now can be a bit more programmed, so I wanted to bring that live band feel back, but still keep it sounding current.
To be honest, the only thing that was programmed on this track was the drum sample — everything else is live instrumentation, which was really important for capturing that energy.

Can you walk us through the creative process of making “VIBE!” from idea to final master?
It started pretty organically — just jamming ideas with Glenn Lumanta and Ruzell Curita and building the groove first. Once we had that pocket, everything else kind of fell into place. The writing came from that feeling, then we kept refining the production to make sure it hit in all the right spots. It was a lot of back and forth, making sure the energy stayed consistent all the way through.

You’re known for your live performances — how did you approach making this track hit just as hard on stage as it does on record?
That was actually a big focus from the start. I was thinking about how this would feel in a live set while we were making it — where the crowd would lock in, where the band could stretch, all of that. I didn’t want it to just sound good in headphones, I wanted it to translate straight to the stage.

What do you want listeners to feel the first time they hear “VIBE!”?
I just want them to feel good, honestly. Whether that’s wanting to move, drive around with it on repeat, or just catch a vibe with it — that’s the whole point of the song. No heavy message, just energy.

What’s next for you?
I’ve got a lot more music lined up this year — planning to drop a few more singles with visuals to match, and really build out the world around the sound. I’m also working towards putting together a proper live showcase, so just continuing to grow both the music and the live side of things.

Who are 3 Australian artists you’re listening to right now?
Squid The Kid, Mikayla Boonstra, Grent Perez