Q&A: Kadyn Webster

Auckland-based house & techno producer/DJ Kadyn Webster is one to watch! He’s just been added to the Bay Dreams 2021 lineup and has released a new track “Computerised Sedative” with more bangers dropping very soon!

He chats to us about his monthly series on George FM “Understanding Emotions” with a focus on mental health, his upcoming music, his endless list of favourite NZ artists, producers and DJ’s and more.

We’d love to know a little bit about your musical journey from when you first started!

I was always heavily into music from a young age, not in terms of writing music but just constantly listening to it and finding new music. I self taught the guitar for a few years but then sort of lost interest in it. I started getting into electronic music around the age of 15 listening to artists like deadmau5, Mr Oizo, The Chemical Brothers etc but it wasn’t until I was 18 and moved to England for two years which eventually sparked my love of techno and underground music. As soon as I arrived back to NZ I bought my first set of decks, then at 24 years old I started writing music.

Is the majority of your writing & production knowledge self-taught?

My music and production is pretty much all self-taught, I had a bunch of good artists and friends who helped me get on my way. Most influential would have to be my good friend Jono Parker, he really pushed me to start writing and write more and more. Once I caught the bug I knew I could self teach for the most part of it.

What would you say are the main influences on your writing & production style?

The biggest influences on my productions and style would have to be Layton Giordani, Pleasurekraft, ANNA, deadmau5, Eric Prydz, Dense & Pika, William Kiss, and Maceo Plex. But I draw inspiration from everywhere and every genre. Its always good to explore all sounds and all genres. 

We’re vibing your latest single “Computerised Sedative”! What inspired the name of this track?

Thank you so much! Yeah a lot of people really love the name haha. In all honesty I just listen to the tracks and the sounds and names seem to come to me. I’ve always said that music speaks to us and this track somehow sung this name to me. 

What can you tell us about your upcoming music?

I have a new one on the way that will be out on the 2 November which is titled “Mighty Mouse” that will be released on Berlin based Black Square Recordings. That one is a bit of a monster! Haha. I also have a remix for my good friend and great producer Bomb Dylan which will be out sometime soon. Right now I am working on a 3 track EP which will potentially be out late this year or early next year depending on labels.

There’s no doubt you will have helped so many people with your monthly series "Understanding Emotions" on George FM. The set infuses music & inspirational speakers, and is designed to not make you feel any specific emotion, but just make you feel. What inspired you to create the series, and what’s one of the main things you’d like listeners to take away from it?

Yeah so I’ve struggled with mental health in the past due to best friends and others taking their own lives. It’s absolutely devastating and undeniably heartbreaking to see this happening. I got through my depression and sort of became a person who people could come to and feel comfortable talking with me about their feelings. I’ve always tried to help as many people as possible. Like anything it takes a lot of time and capacity to reach everybody. So I created Understanding Emotions as a way of reaching more people through music and a different way of listening and understanding mental health. I just want it to reach as many people as possible because music is so powerful, more than what we think. I feel that if people can take an hour out of their lives, chuck some headphones on and just listen to the music and the words, it can really help.   

What have been some of your highlights and most memorable moments in your music making career so far?

Biggest one would be meeting and supporting my hero and legend Carl Cox - I was lucky enough to be on support for him twice in Auckland and he is just the most genuine down to earth person you’ll ever meet. We all ended up having a bit of a party in my green room and just talked for hours. 

Secondly, closing out the cellar stage at Rhythm & Vines was pretty special - large crowd and being able to smash some underground music for them was pretty amazing. 

If there’s anything you could change about the current music industry, what would it be and why?

In terms of the current NZ music industry I think we’re doing good! I think we are very drum and bass orientated and that’s cool, it is what it is you know? I think it would be good to push more diversity in ALL electronic genres as NZ has so much talent across the board. I think that starts with us though (the artist). The one thing that you have to remember is art is all subjective, you can’t force somebody to like techno or like trap or indie or whatever. If it resonates with them they’ll want more. I think it is tricky because a lot of younger kids seem to think that you can only like one genre and maybe get stuck in the genre battles online. I’ve seen people get publicly shamed for liking a genre. Then it becomes toxic. I can guarantee your favourite artist loves some house tracks and loves some rock music and loves dnb. Just because I produce and play techno doesn’t mean that’s all I listen to. I think the more we can open younger minds up to ALL genres, the stronger the whole scene will become. 

Who are some of your favourite NZ artists right now and are there any songs in particular that you love or connect with?

In terms of artists I will just list producers but we have so many amazing DJ’s as well and I still see them as artists but in terms of music only I have so many! Haha but this is how strong we are!! I’ll start with house and techno in no order - Bomb Dylan, Sanoi, Jono Parker, Ray Parker, Mood Control, Out of Sorts, Jesper Tjarnfors, Teek, Paige Julia, Sammie, TETO, Jake Rattler, Cameron Harris, Nila, Liam Todd, Seb Jensen, Dick Johnson, K2K, Keducarlo, 2XM - honestly the list goes on and on. I’ve probably missed so many as well! 

In terms of other genres you can’t go past what the Lee Mvtthews boys are doing, they’re on fire! 

Then you’ve got all these amazing DJ’s, especially some of the females that are just killing it - Heylady, Sin, Poris, Wattson, Aunty El, Bontempo, just to list a few. Honestly there is no shortage! 

What do you love most about living in New Zealand? Do you have any favourite places to travel to or local spots to visit?

I’m originally from Hawke’s Bay so it’s always nice going home. Other favourite places to visit are Mahia, Gisborne, my dad lives in Waihi Beach, my older brother lives in the Mount and my oldest brother in Wellington. I surf so anywhere there is a beach I'm happy. I love NZ.  

What advice do you have for new producers and artists out there?

Everyone sucked at one point. Have patience and be resilient. 

Lastly, if you could say one thing to every person in the world, what would it be?

“Have you heard my new track”? Hahahah nah I would just say, love, that's the most important thing we have. As long as we are loving, we are living.  

Make sure you keep up with Kadyn on Instagram (@kadynwebsternz), Facebook, Spotify & Apple Music!