Kaeto is an emerging Scottish-born, London-based artist, making her mark on the music industry with her unique blend of trip-hop, dance music, punk and alt-pop. It is a sound that is free-spirited and genre-busting in its approach, yet also very personal and introspective in the subjects the artist focuses on. Kaeto first entered the recording studio in 2019 but has already managed to squeeze a lot of experience into a few short years. It is a journey that has included enrolling in clown school and opening for Haim, Lauren Mayberry and Eliza. Kaeto’s debut ‘Good Morning’ was released in 2022 and she signed for Polydor in summer 2023. On 20 September 2024, the singer released her eight-track debut mixtape INTRO.
Interview
The Indiependent caught up with Kaeto while she was on tour as the opener for The Last Dinner Party (TLDP) and saw her performance at UEA, Norwich on 27 September 2024.
Read More: Live Review: The Last Dinner Party
The Indiependent: Please Introduce yourself. How would you describe your musical style for those new to your music?
Kaeto: I’ve really enjoyed making INTRO and the visual project that goes alongside it. I definitely communicate my art by making things and so the project is it’s own introduction.
The Indiependent: Your style has been compared to such diverse artists such as Portishead and The Clash. Who would you cite as your influences?
Kaeto: That’s very kind. I think I am unavoidably influenced by everything. I have started making playlists on Spotify that contains all the music that inspires me: one is a current playlist with things I’m listening to right now; one is a longer list that is mostly made up of the women who have inspired me; and I am working on one that has all of the things I feel have shaped me musically. I listen to albums mainly. I used to go to sleep to Moon Safari by Air when I was three to four and the first album I bought with my own money for my CD player was B’day by Beyonce.
The Indiependent: Your music has a surrealistic lyrical quality and a hypnotising, sometimes ethereal soundscape. What comes first, the music or the lyrics?
Kaeto: Thank you – they often happen at the same time.
The Indiependent: Which lyrics are you most proud of?
Kaeto: Maybe those on ‘DISTANCE’ because I handwrite my lyrics and those pages looked pretty. I uploaded scans of all my lyric pages to my YouTube for ‘lyric’ videos so you can see them there!
The Indiependent: Who do you write your music for? Is it for yourself or do you write to make your listeners feel or understand something?
Kaeto: I write because I really enjoy writing. I love making things!
The Indiependent: You have just released INTRO. Is there a theme connecting the tracks or a message you are trying to convey?
Kaeto: The project is an introduction to a musical and visual world and it’s essentially a fun and fairly DIY project I’ve made with the help of lots of my friends.
The Indiependent: And, which track gives the best indication as to your future musical direction?
Kaeto: I’m excited to get back into the studio and make more music – I’m doing that in November.
The Indiependent: You’ve supported Haim, Lauren Mayberry and now The Last Dinner Party. What are your key takeaways from these artists?
Kaeto: All such great experiences! I have loved developing the live show to what it is today and I can’t wait to keep working on it. This tour with TLDP has been so empowering and so fun.
The Indiependent: Is there an artist from the past with who you wish you could collaborate?
Kaeto: Yes there is a very long list of artists I would love to collaborate with, for example, Trish Keenan.
The Indiependent: Do you have any solo live dates planned?
Kaeto: Yes late November.
The Indiependent: What influence does your clown school training have on your live performance? What life skills did it give you?
Kaeto: I think it’s definitely one of the things that has given me tools for live performance and it makes me seem quirky. I love performing and I definitely developed a lot of skills from advocacy training during my law degree as well.
Live: Nick Rayn’s LCR, UEA, Norwich 27.09.2024
Sometimes it’s the smallest of things that gives you a sense of who an artist is. Towards the end of Kaeto’s short UEA set she told the already packed venue that she had a small selection of hand-printed merch left and she would be over at the stall after her set. It highlighted Kaeto being a relatively new artist but had the vibe of someone with strong personal values who wanted to do things differently.
The singer’s six-song set gave us a brief glimpse of what different means. Kaeto takes a no-nonsense approach to performing, letting her performance speak for her. Walking onto the stage with her band she launched straight into the opening lines of ‘CARRY YOU’ from INTRO. Played live, the track has a heavy percussive jazz-funk ambience underpinning the singer’s soft dreamy vocals. Kaeto herself was all about sensual arm movements, hand gestures and little twists and turns. Although her stage presence was understated (particularly when compared to the theatrics of Lucia from Lucia and The Best Boys and Abigail Morris from The Last Dinner Party to follow), she gave a real sense of someone who loves performing.
As the set progressed, Kaeto grew into her performance. She led the audience‘s hand claps before the haunting melodic ‘DISTANCE’. And, she danced with her bass player on the rockier ‘PACIFIST’ and on the sparkly dance undertones of ‘U R MINE’. The latter is a perfect introduction to Kaeto as the twinkling percussive rhythm builds to a crescendo on a tender love letter to her own body and a nod to early body-image issues. It is also the song which allows us to get a better sense of Kaeto’s vocals, which often feel a little drowned out in the mix against the other instruments on most of the songs.
The highlight of the set was ‘ALMA’ where Kaeto started by kneeling on the stage, her hair blowing in the breeze from the large on-stage fan. This song sounds beautiful on record but played live it took on additional depth. With a real earworm of twangy guitar, over shimmering drum beats, and perfectly crafted bass notes, Kaeto’s vocals were ethereal. The angelic imagery was enhanced as Kaeto swayed and used her arms to emphasise the lyrics of this gentle love song.
And, as suddenly as she arrived, Kaeto is gone with a brief wave to the audience as she left stage right. Just like her debut album, this was a short INTRO to a singer who already seems comfortable with who she is and will deliver her message and sound on her terms.
Words by Andrew Butcher
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