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On Saturday, I went to the Mojave tent and I got to see an amazing performance, beautiful and tasteful and deep and very dedicated.
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I was already a fan of the recordings and now I understand it in a three-dimensional way.
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I understand it in its entirety and that's why I'm really thrilled to welcome the artist who put on that live show to Apple Music Radio.
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Please put your hands together.
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Cazzu, it's great to see you. How are you?
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>> [cheering and laughter] >> What's happening?
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What an amazing introduction. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you for having me. Of course. Of course.
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Welcome back to California. How are you? How is your spirit?
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>> Uh, [sighs] butterfly in my stomach right now. >> Same. >> Oh, no way. >> Yeah, all the time. I love it.
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It's a good feeling, you know, it's the anticipation of getting to know somebody and understanding what inspires you, what makes you work, what makes you think.
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You know, how did you feel when you woke up this morning in the interests of staying present?
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>> Oh, I was so sleepy this morning. >> Yeah.
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>> It's It's early in the morning, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
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It is very early in the morning. Yeah.
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I'm putting you on the spot right here with big questions at 9:42 California time. >> Yeah.
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>> Uh, how was your um, how was your festival last weekend?
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How was your Coachella experience in your words?
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>> Yeah, I'm I'm so grateful for everything.
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Yeah, I'm so grateful for people showing up and all the people who working with me.
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Uh, yeah, I had amazing amazing band. >> Yeah, you really do. >> Yeah, it's crazy. >> Very tasteful. >> Thank you.
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>> talking to uh, an amazing Brazilian artist called Luisa Sonza uh, on Tuesday.
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Uh, and she's she's gigantic in Brazil and other parts of the world. Very successful.
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And she said she loved playing Coachella because she felt like to some degree she was um she was kind of starting again in a good way.
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She was going out and having a chance to kind of show herself to people for the first time and not for the third, fourth, fifth time to an existing audience.
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Do you love that as well, the idea of traveling and and meeting people, meeting audiences on stage for the first time? >> Absolutely.
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For the first time, yeah. I don't know.
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>> [snorts] >> Yeah, absolutely, yeah.
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>> Let's talk a little bit about this album, about um uh Prima which you put out, uh and the inspiration behind it.
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If you could take us back to what ultimately you were searching for in yourself when you began making this album. >> In myself? Um I don't know.
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Musically, I just wanted to do something I've never done before.
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Yeah, 80s, big production, big energy, and summer summer summer feelings, all the nostalgic vibes.
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I was too afraid of like doing that straight forward and like yeah, because I wanted I felt like I should sound modern and fit into this 2020 world or something like that, but >> [gasps] >> I I stopped giving giving a damn about it and yeah, and want to follow my in ins intuition and yeah, create what I wanted to hear from me as a producer or some kind of thing.
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Yeah, very I was being kind of objective and I tried to be as objective and I tried to be as like an instrument. Some kind of way.
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>> I think that's always one of the bravest decisions any artist can make >> Mhm.
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>> when they achieve a a level of success. >> Yeah.
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I It was nerve-wracking to go like a fully in English album. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
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>> It was had a challenge.
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But I really glad I did that because it's It's always been my dream to create an album in English. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. That was great. Dream come true.
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I'm so thankful it happens.
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>> I love some of the reference points that I hear, you know, um classic, very groundbreaking R&B sounds and feelings in there. >> Mhm.
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>> I hear like Jam and Jam and Lewis at times in there. >> Absolutely. >> Oh, man.
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Can we just like geek out about Jam and Lewis for a [laughter] sec?
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>> [gasps] >> Let's do that.
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>> I mean, we're talking about two producers and a writers who will make you dance and cry at the same >> Oh, yeah. >> Mhm. time.
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Is that a part of what inspires you to get cuz you have a lot of movement in your music? >> Yeah. >> emotional music. >> Yeah. I would say so. Yeah.
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And the production they the album that they produced has a story and a very versatile but at the same time very cohesive and and good energy and good So it's soulful. >> Soulful music. >> Yeah.
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But it's very catchy and innovative at the same time. I love them. >> Same. I love them very much.
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I also love the fact that they'll have you in a groove and you think you then you think you're somewhere and then they'll make a chord change and you're like, "Oh my god, it's a ballad." >> Yeah. Yeah.
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[laughter] >> You know, like it's not it's not just a fast song anymore. Now it's a ballad. >> Yeah.
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>> They switch, switch, switch all the time. They're amazing. Incredible.
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Um how did you approach working with others on this record because you are a producer?
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You know, you have come up with your own vision of what you want to sound like. You can do it all.
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So, you know, how do you feel about collaborating with other people?
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Um and what do you look for in a collaborator that works for you? What's important to you?
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>> Oh man, I the all all the thing that I can do is just playing the piano and you're creating the melody and the little bit of words.
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So, I always uh trying to communicate with the sound producer to discuss about my sound direction. And all the references.
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And yeah, it's it's important to yeah, it's essential for me to collaborate with people. I need some fresh ideas.
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I need they're always new a lot more about I don't know.
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Yeah, I need I need the knowledge and the power from from the other people.
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>> Do you How do you communicate your ideas to people?
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Because you obviously feel them very deeply. >> Yeah.
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>> And then you've got to somehow bring them to life. >> Mhm.
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>> Which is the challenge of recording music, you know?
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So, how do you like to communicate to others how it is that you're feeling so that it can become a tangible experience?
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>> Yeah, it's very important to be very honest and you don't have to say something concrete all the time.
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You just you you can just tell the vibes and the very spiritual things or yeah.
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Yeah, I want to work with people who truly understands me without saying much or something.
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I'm I'm I'm so bad at talking and explaining, so >> No, not at all.
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I'm having a wonderful conversation right now. >> Thank you.
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>> [laughter] >> But, yeah.
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I just wanted to feel what I wanted to say. Yeah.
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>> Have you always been that way, even as a young person?
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Did you find that it was better for you to express yourself through other things that weren't necessarily language? >> Yeah.
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No, not even in Japanese or any languages.
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I can't speak any language properly right now.
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>> You were Were you a quiet child? >> Yeah.
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Yeah, rather quiet, but I sometimes went crazy.
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Yeah, like [snorts] it's like 180 kind of thing, yeah. >> Yeah.
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Cuz I I've interviewed and talked to and met and become friends with so many artists who are introverted by nature. >> Yeah.
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>> And yet, they find themselves in the performance arts. >> Yeah.
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>> In front of like 80,000 people.
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And I'm always It It fascinates me how somebody who in their own personal life is quiet >> Yeah.
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>> and shy will somehow have this desire to go on stage at Nissan Stadium.
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What's wrong with you, bro? >> [laughter] >> Hey.
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I don't have the desire necessarily, but yeah.
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I don't know what I why I'm doing this right now. I don't know.
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Like just Let God take me wherever >> You feel that way?
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You feel your success and and what's come to you has been an existential guidance rather than a a desire? >> Absolutely, yeah. Yeah, yeah.
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I just wanted to create a record in a recording booth.
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That's totally That's what Yeah, fine with me and uh Yeah, that's always what I wanted to do, but performing in front of the people, that's crazy.
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Yeah, I I still don't understand how they how they do that.
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>> What was the first stadium show that you did like?
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Having that attitude and having to trust the process. >> Yeah.
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>> And almost being the person who'd least expected it.
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[laughter] And then them getting smiles from all of your crew right now behind me.
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Uh they're all just like dialed into this, I guess.
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What was that first stadium show like for you?
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Do you have memories of it?
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>> Yeah, but but it it was kind of personal experience cuz I I don't see people as a crowd or a bunch of people or audience.
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But I on what I can see is one person, right?
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Yeah, like just playing conversation and it's it's always been a intimate, almost like spiritual communication. >> Mhm.
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>> Yeah, I don't know how I didn't even have to open my eyes.
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I just communicate with people spiritually and telepathic I don't know what the words, but yeah.
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>> How do you block out I mean, we know that right now in Japan and all over the world there's a lot of people listening to this radio show who don't normally listen to this radio show. So, thank you for that.
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>> [laughter] >> A lot of your fans have come in to hear you speak and can't wait to hear perform.
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So, you know, there is a there is a lot of love that they have for you and for your music.
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Um do you allow yourselves to to allow yourself to absorb that energy or do you prefer to try to just separate it in into something else?
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>> I always want them to keep and keep the love for themselves, kind of like that.
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You know how to wait for me 4 hours or something.
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I I always the of I don't I don't understand how how they do that, but yeah, I I always try not to tell people how important it is to love yourself first over anything else. So, yeah.
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Yeah, I Yeah, I I want them to see themselves through me or something like that. >> I love that. >> Yeah.
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>> Must have been interesting putting out Pre-Prima after Prima because it shows so much growth creatively from where you started even in the last few years.
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Why did you decide to reflect your past recordings after you put out your most present recordings?
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>> Yeah, I I felt it was a right time to do something different.
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Like I want Yeah, I felt like there's nothing to hide anymore.
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There's nothing to be afraid of anymore.
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Yeah, I felt I've done every I think I thought I have done everything that I could at the time. So, yeah.
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Let me Yeah, I don't know. Yeah.
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That was the only thing that I wanted to do, like making an English album in a way that I in a way that I prefer and in a way that I like. Yeah.
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>> When did you let go of the fear? >> I don't know.
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Very gradually and slowly.
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I Yeah, I was learning to let go and I'm still trying to >> It's a lifelong process. >> Absolutely. Yeah.
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I'm still trying to find my lifestyle, not only my performing style because it's connected to my life lifestyle as well.
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So, yeah, I'm trying to I should I'm still trying to find how I want to live before how I want to perform or anything.
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I want Yeah, I want to live. Yeah.
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>> And where are you in the process of doing that right now?
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What What is a part of your life that you know you're going to keep for the rest of your life?
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Like, how are you living right now? In a good way.
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>> I I feel so grounded and composed.
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Yeah, my life has been very chill, thankfully.
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Yeah, I'm trying to meditate and >> Can we talk about meditation? >> Yeah. >> What's the trick?
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Because Because that yoga, I got it, right? Therapy, I'm all in. >> Okay.
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>> Exercise, disciplined. Food, not bad.
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>> [laughter] >> But meditation, I just I I Every time I try to do it, I find it very challenging for me >> Yeah.
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>> to get over the threshold into a place of um relinquishing my thoughts. >> Yeah.
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>> How How long have you been practicing and and >> Yeah, that's why the meditation exists.
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It's It's kind of like a practice. Yeah.
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Kind of like a practice to focus on one thing or almost like nothing.
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Focus on nothing and try and try not to think anything else. Some some kind of thing.
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But No, no, I I No, my meditation is my life almost.
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Every little action in life can be a meditation for you.
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Like sipping a tea, eating, pooping, I don't know.
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Every Every little action can be a meditation, man. Yeah.
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>> Pooping may be one of the great meditations. >> Letting go, man.
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>> The great letting go of life. >> Absolutely.
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>> Relinquish Relinquish [laughter] the the matter. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> and create space.
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This is a pooping metaphor.
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I don't know why you're laughing in the back. This is serious.
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If you think about it from a process point of view, we must release in order to make space in order to absorb good. >> Absolutely.
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>> That in itself >> Mhm. >> is what, Kazey? That is pooping.
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>> Pooping can be a meditation. Absolutely.
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>> Um >> Make every action a meditation, prayer. Yeah. That's my motto.
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>> It's about purpose, isn't it? It's about intention. >> Yeah.
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You have to be aware of that. Like Yeah.
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I I I don't do this for for myself or for my self for satisfying my ego. No.
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I only do this cuz God let me do this or something like that.
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>> What's your relationship like if you if you could put into words with the ego?
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Because it is a an essential part of of a performer's chemistry. >> Yeah.
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>> You know, so as as as much as one wants to be able to control it or have a healthy relationship with the ego. >> Oh, yeah.
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>> There still is something that that that prompts you to go and perform and want to do these things.
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So, how do you live a life of intention and in meditation space, but also honor the importance of the ego? >> I don't.
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Ultimately, I want to let go of my ego completely at the end at least.
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Because I I don't need that.
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I don't need I don't need ego to interfere my vessel or my instruments.
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Like hollow inside kind of instrument. I don't need that. I don't don't No. I get that. Get the F out. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. Mhm.
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So, I trying to be as selfless as egoless as possible when I perform when I perform and I want them to feel that. >> Mhm.
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>> Because they can feel they can see themselves in me. Something like that.
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>> No, it's a very inclusive performance that I witnessed last weekend. >> Thank you.
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>> It felt very generous and it felt like there was there was a lot of connectivity.
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>> I think you >> between you and the crowd.
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I felt the energy for sure.
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>> Yeah, well, there's got to there's got to be a way to communicate with them in a better way, but I'm still trying to find that. Yeah, I'm on the way. Yeah.
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>> We appreciate the work you're doing to do so.
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Can we talk about music aside from your music and how what kind of role it plays in your life?
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Do you listen to music a lot or do you prefer to only make music?
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It's not a right It's not a load of questions.
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Some artists don't listen to a lot of music.
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They just What's your relationship like with music as a fan?
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>> I always want to listen to music because I'm I'm a student. I'm a learner.
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I want to absorb as much as I can.
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>> Who are some of the most important musicians of your life today that you feel are undeniably a part of your creative chemistry?
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>> Uh I don't I don't know.
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Like Michael Jackson has always been my idol. >> Mhm.
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>> But, yeah, lately there so many spiritual kind of singers out there. I really admire them. Like, like Cleo Sol. >> Mhm. >> Yeah.
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I saw your your interview. Yeah, that's crazy.
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>> I've spent 3 years trying to get to Cleo Sol. Cuz she doesn't talk.
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Yeah, I've spent 3 years delicately trying to get to to sit down with her.
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>> Yeah, I never seen her talking. >> It was so cool. She's so cool.
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I find her music so nourishing.
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>> Yeah, so inspiring, so healing, so calming. Yeah. Yeah. >> For sure.
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>> You really want to make something like that.
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Simple, uplifting, inspiring, spiritual. Yeah. >> Delicious plate. >> Mhm.
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>> Freshly made pasta by hand. Truffle. >> Mhm. >> Evo. Serve. That's what Cleo Sol is.
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You know, that that is just essential ingredients.
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And it's You don't have to overcook it.
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You don't have to add anything else to it.
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It's just >> No artificial ingredients. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> No.
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>> What do you want to do next?
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Apart from today, go go go either go meditate, have an In-N-Out Burger, or go to sleep. I don't know.
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You That's your business, but but on a sort of like macro level, >> Yeah.
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>> in terms of like with the time that you have in the remainder of the year and beyond, do you think like that?
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Do you Are you goal-orientated is the question. >> I Yeah. Like, God only knows. I don't know.
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But I'm Yeah, I'm very thankful or grateful for every opportunity that I that I'm having right now.
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So, I just focus on one thing, like one by one, and do whatever I could.
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And I just want to grow, keep growing as a human being. Yeah. >> Mhm.
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I've really enjoyed meeting you. >> Oh. Thank you.
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>> [laughter] >> You embarrassed me. >> Brilliant.
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You're going to perform a couple of songs for us today, which we're really grateful for. So, thank you. >> favorite people.
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>> Yeah, with your favorite people.
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We appreciate you bringing them into the studio today to do so.
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We're going to play a song off one of your songs right now as you get ready.
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We'll play the title track of the album, we'll play Primer, if that's cool with you.
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And uh for all the fans who are listening all over the world right now and in Japan, we thank you for tuning in. You got to stick around.
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Kaz is going to perform live for us next.
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We really enjoyed getting to know you.
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Should we do it again sometime?
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I know you don't talk much, but we should do it again.
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>> [clears throat] >> Yeah, with you. >> I'll take it. >> [laughter and gasps]