Finding His Way Back to Music: Calvin Kai Opens Up on Debut EP ‘BACK TO YOU,’ Creative Independence, and Story-Driven Sound
- K Fuse
- 1 day ago
- 11 min read
There are artists who arrive on a debut with a fully formed spotlight moment, and then there are artists like Calvin Kai, whose introduction feels more like opening a personal journal set to music. With his upcoming debut EP BACK TO YOU, Calvin steps into the spotlight not just as a new voice in music, but as a storyteller shaped by lived experience, emotional reflection, and a deep connection to narrative-driven sound.
In this conversation with K Fuse, Calvin Kai opens up about his earliest memories with music, the creative influences that shaped his sound, and the deeply independent process behind his debut project. From songwriting and production to visual storytelling in his music video, Calvin’s approach is rooted in honesty, emotion, and a desire to create music that resonates beyond surface level listening.
As he prepares to officially debut on June 30th, Calvin reflects on the journey that led him here, and the personal meaning behind BACK TO YOU.
K Fuse: Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us here at K Fuse and for sharing your story with us and our readers. We first want to congratulate you on your upcoming debut! We’re excited to introduce you to our readers and learn more about your journey, creativity, and passion that have shaped you as an artist. We hope this conversation gives fans an opportunity to discover not only your music, but also the person behind it. Before we begin, could you please take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a little about who Calvin Kai is?
Calvin Kai: “Well, I think primarily I am a lover of people. I enjoy making other people happy and inspiring those around me. That’s been huge since I was young. I’ve always wanted to make a difference, but never known how I could do that. I am fascinated by telling human stories, writing has always been a talent of mine, so it was only natural that I would also dabble in songs and songwriting.”
K Fuse: When did music first become a part of your life, and what inspired you to pursue it as a career?
Calvin Kai: “Music has always been a huge part of my life from the time I was a little kid. I have always enjoyed singing, I was in the school choir as a kid, and the band as a teenager. I have never been too adept at playing instruments so you won’t really see me with any, though. I have always enjoyed listening to music as a way to calm myself down and escape daily stressors. But over the last decade or so, I’ve noticed that the kinds of music that I like, ballads, soul speaking pop and rock, etc., don’t really exist anymore. At least, not the way they did when I was young, and a teenager, growing up. I actually didn’t intend to release this EP. Originally, I was creating music for myself that I wanted to listen to, but I ended up getting all of the songs stuck in my head and I knew I had to find a way to release them.”
K Fuse: Looking back on your journey, what experiences have shaped you the most as both an artist and a person?
Calvin Kai: “I think most of my life has been a struggle in one sense or another. I’ve had quite a few traumas occur over the years, and whenever I take one step forward it can often feel like one step back, so, I’m not sure exactly what has made me who I am. I am just lucky to be here, if I’m being honest.”
K Fuse: Who are some of your biggest musical or creative influences, and how have they helped shape your own artistic style?
Calvin Kai: “Well, my biggest influences would likely be artists such as Ryan Star, Sleeping at Last, Amy Lee, Taylor Swift, and Christina Perri. Those who have created epic songs that still resonate with listeners today. They helped me shape my own style because those kinds of songs, songs like ‘A thousand years,' 'Saturn,' 'We might fall,' 'Losing your memory,' 'My Immortal,' 'Chasing Cars,' and 'All too well,' have always been my absolute favorites. Songs that make you feel the pain and the longing to the depths of your bones, in ways only music can. Those kinds of songs don’t really exist anymore, so, it sort of forced me to think outside the box and craft my own. As the old saying goes, if you want something done, it's best to do it yourself, or something of the kind.”
K Fuse: Inspiration can come from anywhere. What places, or experiences, or places tend to spark new ideas for you?
Calvin Kai: “Well, my inspiration is typically sparked from feelings I get when I have harrowing experiences, read stories or watch television shows. This album is heavily coded with fun easter eggs from the Thai show 'Until we Meet Again." I watched that show a little over a year ago and haven’t been able to come back out of it since. The first three songs on my EP are in the POVs of the main characters, those who have watched the show can likely guess which ones.”
K Fuse: Can you walk us through your creative process? From the first idea to the finished song, what does that journey usually look like?
Calvin Kai: “Well, I tend to get an idea first and go from there. I went into this deciding I wanted to write a song for my favorite characters and with the help of Suno was able to figure out an instrumental track for it. From there I wrote the lyrics and recorded the song.”
K Fuse: When you’re writing or recording music, what comes first for you: the lyrics, the melody, the production, or the emotion that you want listeners to feel?
Calvin Kai: “First comes the idea, sometimes the melody. But most commonly the lyrics come first. From there I craft the song around them. I can hear what I long for in my head, it's creating it that proves a challenge.”
K Fuse: As a new artist, how would you describe your musical identity to someone hearing your music for the very first time?
Calvin Kai: “Hm, If I had to describe my music I would describe it as music that has deep feeling ingrained within that can both heal and break you in a second flat. If I had to give it a genre perhaps cinematic pop? Or orchestral pop, as that is what I was going for. But there are also bits of country and alternative hardcoded into some of them.”
K Fuse: Your debut is an introduction to your world. What story or message did you want to share through BACK TO YOU?
Calvin Kai: “Hm, Well, actually my biggest hope was to introduce a brand new audience to my favorite tv show, Until we Meet Again. That was my original goal of releasing it to the world. I also wanted to inspire others who heard them, bring a bit of hope and joy into a world that feels so lonely and sad. I was in a very dark headspace and needed an escape when I started crafting these songs and they brought me back out of that dark place, so, I'm hoping they can do the same for other people as well. There is so little hope to be found today and I wanted to do something about it, even if just on a small scale.”
K Fuse: What was the most rewarding part of creating your debut project, and what challenged you the most?
Calvin Kai: “Hmmmm the rewarding part was getting to listen to the kind of music I have missed terribly all these years of seeking fresh versions of it, only to come up short. And the hardest part was definitely the production! I had to be a producer, a writer, a creator, all the things. I worked completely alone on everything. The designs, the pictures and the music video. It was a lot of work and I’m still not finished.”
K Fuse: Can you tell us about the story behind BACK TO YOU? What inspired the lyrics, and what part of the message feels most personal to you?
Calvin Kai: “Well, I answered this question above, but the message that feels most personal is the song Losing you Twice, as that one connects deeply to loss. It’s about slowly forgetting who someone was while they were here. And though it can be interpreted as a break up song it can also be looked at from a perspective of losing a loved one. A mom, dad, friend, son, brother, sister, ect. And how it feels to slowly lose the memories of them once they’re gone. It could also be looked at as a song about someone with dementia or Alzheimer's, which my grandmother passed away from.”
K Fuse: Was there a particular lyric that took the longest or was the most difficult to write? Why did you pick that one?
Calvin Kai: “Honestly, I can’t think of any that were hard or difficult/painful to write. I am the type of person who does best in angst and pain when writing, reading, or enjoying shows. I think it is probably telling that my comfort shows are Until We meet again and 13 Reasons Why. I dwell best in darkness.”
K Fuse: Your music video is many fans’ first visual introduction to Calvin Kai. What conversations took place while developing this concept, and how did you make sure it reflected who you are as an artist?
Calvin Kai: “I crafted it myself, I really wanted to tell the story of two lovers who were ripped apart in one life only to be brought back together in another. It sort of worked out that I finished this album in time for Pride Month, also, which wasn't intentional but somehow just aligned that way. I also wasn't trying to bring politics or anything like that into my musical creation. I am a firm believer that media, movies, tv, ect. should be for entertainment purposes only like it was when I was younger. I wanted to tell a human story, and I hope I was able to do that. I loved music videos that were around when I was a kid. Concrete Angel, You Belong with me, Lucky, The Call. The music videos used to not only fit the vibe of the song but speak to the watcher of the story behind it. They were the kind that told a story. It wasn’t just a person singing the song at you, but visually showing you a story while they did. I was sad when musicians veered away from storytelling music videos in order to go with more abstract or sing at you in unusual costumes styles. It's funny because a lot of my listeners have been echoing these same thoughts in my comment sections on insta and tiktok. Mentioning how the music of today no longer makes you feel anything and I find that sad, but generally true and I think a big reason for it is a lack of visual storytelling in the music videos that come with the songs we're hearing. If you can't make them feel the story behind the song, without asking you what it is, then how will their soul connect to your music? So, I was determined to give my listeners a visual story that wasn't abstract or difficult to decipher but straightforward and soul-touching. One worthy of the song I had created.”
K Fuse: How involved were you in the creative direction of the music video, from the storyline and styling to the overall visual atmosphere?
Calvin Kai: “I created all of it myself. I am very independent and have found in life that if I want something done, I have to do it myself.”
K Fuse: What spoilers can you give us about BACK TO YOU?
Calvin Kai: “Oooo well I think I already gave some spoilers, but there is one thing I wanted to put out there. My favorite songs off the album are Back to you and Back to you part 2. I think part 2 is my favorite, however, because (and you will hear this when you listen to it) part 2 has a heavier orchestral vibe. It has more instruments and a fuller sound which was done absolutely intentionally. Part 2 is told from the point of view of Dean who I always interpreted as a more mature and intricate character. Whereas Pharm was more immature and simpler in nature. So their songs' instrumentals needed to reflect their personalities, also.”
K Fuse: Which track are you most excited for listeners to hear and why?
Calvin Kai: “Losing you Twice! The reception from the snippets I’ve shared has been very positive to say the least! I’m very excited for my listeners to hear the full song! I think it may be a sleeper hit. Ironically it wasn't a song I had originally intended to release. I needed one more to make an EP and I decided to add it in last minute. And it just may be the one that surprises me most.”
K Fuse: If you could describe yourself in three words, what three would you choose, and why?
Calvin Kai: “Insane. Hyperfixative. Awkward.
I have high functioning autism so, the way I see the world has always been different than how everyone else sees it. And yeah, I can end up hyperfixating, putting people off, and being off the wall, all at once. I have zero chill.”
K Fuse: If you could visit one place in the world, where would it be and why?
Calvin Kai: “England. I’ve always been fascinated by the beautiful places that reside there, that differ greatly from American cities/countrysides.”
K Fuse: What one thing in life makes your heart the happiest?
Calvin Kai: “Probably knowing that I can help other people. I’ve always been someone who loves to help others. Whether it’s helping those less fortunate than myself, or just putting out music that will make them smile or make their day better, I feel like that’s what will make me happiest.”
K Fuse: If you could collab with any artist, who would it be, and why?
Calvin Kai: “Taylor swift. Hands down. Lifelong OG swiftie here. Lol.”
K Fuse: As you have put in all this time, effort, and practice into your preparations for your debut, how did you balance creating music that felt true to yourself while also introducing Calvin Kai to the world?
Calvin Kai: “Hm, I honestly never went into this trying to put out a specific vibe to others. I wrote it for me and me alone. And then releasing it felt like something I had to do, so, Calvin Kai became that.”
K Fuse: After your debut EP is released, what conversation are you most excited to have with fans?
Calvin Kai: “Wow, I haven’t thought about that. I’m not sure.”
K Fuse: When fans press play on your debut EP for the first time, what do you hope they learn about Calvin Kai before the first song ends?
Calvin Kai: “That I put my heart and soul into everything that I create. I hope they realize that every song is created with love and care and a genuine lifelong love of music and everything that goes with it.”
K Fuse: Support from fans can come in many different forms. What does their encouragement mean to you, especially as you’re beginning your career?
Calvin Kai: “It means everything to me. Seeing so much enthusiasm and enjoyment coming from real people just floors me to be honest. I really love seeing that beautiful energy.”
K Fuse: Looking ahead, what goals have you set for yourself?
Calvin Kai: “Get to the EP release. That’s as far as I’ve looked.”
As Calvin Kai prepares for his debut on June 30th with BACK TO YOU, his story stands as a deeply personal introduction to an artist who builds music from emotion, memory, and storytelling. From writing and production to visual direction, every part of his debut reflects a fully self-shaped creative world.
Thank you again to Calvin Kai for sharing his story with us here at K Fuse, and to our readers for joining us in discovering his debut journey. We look forward to seeing what comes next.
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