Ahead of his only if it matters EP release, Sweety High had the pleasure of chatting with one of pop’s most exciting rising stars, Kevian Kraemer. The seven-track project is out now and is an example of pop perfection. No skips, just bangers.
We’re excited to see him perform these new songs on tour, but until then, read on to learn more about the new EP, his musical approach and creative goals in the interview below.
Sweety High: Your music has this really nostalgic, endless-summer feeling to it. What do you think naturally draws you toward that kind of atmosphere sonically?
Kevian Kraemer: I think nostalgia is one of the most constant feelings I have in my daily life. I constantly find myself romanticizing and missing a moment even when I’m right in it. That definitely reflects in my music, but not intentionally.
(Photo credit: Claudia Chiossone)
SH: You’ve built a fanbase that seems really emotionally attached to your music. What’s been the most meaningful fan interaction you’ve had recently?
KK: Honestly, just seeing the crowd sing every lyric at these shows is the most impactful to me. Being able to provide a space and community is the greatest honor in creating art.
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SH: Your sound blends indie, alternative and pop sounds in a way that feels very natural. Were there specific artists or albums growing up that helped shape that style?
KK: I listened to a ton of different genres and artists growing up, so being informed by many worlds has allowed me to create my own sound. Some of my favorites are The Strokes, Frank Ocean, Radiohead and The Beach Boys.
SH: Touring for the first time as a headliner is a huge milestone. What surprised you most once you actually got on the road?
KK: The amount of people who showed up and how far the music reached. It genuinely blew my mind going to so many cities I’d never been to and selling out venues. The energy at every show is insane and has left me extremely addicted to performing and creating the best atmosphere possible.
SH: You’ve gone from making bedroom recordings to playing sold-out shows. What’s one thing about performing live that you think fans would never expect?
KK: I think they don’t expect it to be a rock show. I only have a few records out where a live setting can be easily imagined. Even the early stuff, which is way more on the pop side, gets rockified when we hit the stage.
SH: What’s something you still really want to push yourself to do this year?
KK: I want to stage dive, haha. The rest of everything that’s going on behind the scenes, I’m super stoked about.
SH: If someone had never heard your music before, what’s the first song you’d want them to hear, and why?
KK: Definitely anything from only if it matters. Besides that, probably “Growing Pains” or “June Is Getting Old.”
SH: What does the next few years look like for you? Where do you want to be in your career five years from now?
KK: The next five years question is always a tough one to answer. All I know for certain is that I hope I’m doing what I’m doing right now, continuing to grow in my artistry and seeing the world.
SH: What can you hint at for your new EP?
KK: It’s completely me. I’m so, so proud of it, and it was made by some really wonderful people—my writers and producers. Shoutout to the squad.
(Photo credit: Claudia Chiossone)
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SH: What was your process like developing tracks for the EP?
KK: We wrote these songs over the span of six months after headline touring last summer. I knew I wanted to make a project that was built for a live show, and I knew I wanted to head in a more experimental rock direction. Besides that, only if it matters is basically a snapshot of a few different experiences I’ve had over these past six months.
SH: How would you say the EP differs from Jersey or Mars creatively or personally?
KK: It’s much more experimental and built for live performance. I also think the creative direction is much more personally satisfying, and the vision has been way more dialed in. With Claudia Chiossone and Sean Schmitt behind the creative, I feel like we absolutely captured something significant and new.
SH: Anything else you’d like to add?
KK: Come to this headline tour. It’s going to be electric, I promise. You can even mosh if you’d like 🙂
We second this! And you can listen to the EP in full here:
For even more on the star, click HERE to discover everything we learned about Kevian Kraemer as our Man Crush Monday.
