Get To Know: Downtown Kayoto

Freshly finished University for the year and eager to dive into a long awaited summer, Downtown Kayato has anticipated the release of his single ‘Lite’ for the past two years. The latest release of the Hull-born artist’s EP has been in the archive for a minute but his laid back energy tells me this is what feels like a quick turn around for the song. His sweet spirit was felt over our zoom call, as he invited me into his personal journey of building a trustworthy team, keeping creative control and getting a step closer to discovering Downtown Kayoto’s sound.

With co-signs from Pharrell Williams and Zane Lowe, Downtown Kayoto has been experimenting since his first release in 2019. He has steered away from categorising himself into genres by trying different producers, stepping out of his comfort zone and using his songs like ‘Karma Called’ to identify where his vocal register lies and figuring out “how mad he wants his production to be”. Downtown Kayoto says, ‘Lite’ felt like another step closer to telling his stories and allowing listeners the accessibility to “sing my songs and have the luxury of knowing them word for word” so he can “hit the next level”. I could feel his passion for this project despite our physical distance from London to Swansea, as he grinned from ear to ear describing the first time he heard the beat from his producer Jack Laboz.

Knowing many people in his position, attending 9-5’s or education with their passions and dreams, it was admirable how he has managed to balance a biomedical science degree with elevating his ideas in music. It doesn’t take him more than a few seconds to recognise what enables him to do it is “going to the route cause, ‘why?’, you have to have that fire that keeps you burning”. Secondly, building a team of people that he trusts, “I have a team that I can communicate my vision to and can execute my ideas”. DK has chosen routes that allow him to keep creative control over his projects, one of the reasons he takes time with the strategy for his brand.

The musician formerly described his sound as Indie/Hip Hop but don’t let that fool you into thinking he isn’t an artist with undoubtedly his own unique rhythms and melodies unleashing segments of UK rap throughout the upcoming EP. Releasing ‘Lite’ not long after the Kaytraminé album dropped, was a ‘crazy alignment’ as the artist pulls inspiration from Kaytranada, Amine, Arca and “upbeat artists” that steered a path for DK and his producer to create that “infectious beat drop”. Downtown Kayoto’s visuals have always left a lasting impression on me as it is clear to see conceptual and creative ideation behind each video. It’s visible that his control has been sustained in the production of ‘Lite’, he reiterates the importance of having captivating visuals in the age of TikTok, for his music it’s considered a ‘key tool’. In one frame, he positions himself blinded by paparazzi and press leading to the assumption that he has felt pressure as a musician early in his career. Alterations in tempo match the quick-changing location shots in the video when DK repeats his bars “I been moving faster from the light, I been losing anger for the fight’, capturing the frustration he felt from doubting his capabilities before. Explaining this shot, DK says it reflects “feeling exposed as I’m getting to a point where things are starting to snowball. The luxury of making mistakes without anyone watching is going to go quickly.”

Self aware of the effects of fame and public exposure, the Zimbabwean musician is not oblivious to how the internet is quick to tarnish industry names. “My job is not to ponder what other artists are doing but to execute to the best of my ability”, he reminds me of a clip I had seen of Tyler the Creator where he emphasises this statement to a crowd full of young fans, “I don’t want you to worry about what the numbers are, that sh*t will block the next thing you make or what that’s going to do to the landscape of music…”. DK’s confidence and maturity in his position is plausible as we discuss what he believes to be important and authentic goals for his career, “I’m at that point now where I need to go hard, because I love doing this and it brings me joy, not because people are watching”. No doubt music and fashion industries have a crossover more than ever, call them brother and sister, but not often do rising artists brand themselves in such a way that makes this much sense so early on. Downtown Kayoto expresses himself through vulnerable lyrics in ‘Lite’ and the video echoes this expression with loud styling including a Stüssy striped fleece vest, a knitted balaclava and a pink furr jacket, of course not to forget the title ‘Lite’ sprayed onto his bleached head… But just like the single, the styles are chaotic and fun, keeping the listener engaged in every clip.

Coming from a fashion background, I had to ask which brand Downtown Kayoto would love to work with. “I mean RIP Virgil, he would have been my dream. His parents being Ghanaian immigrants, his approach to design, you know he simplified fashion in a way that meant there were no rules. I was obsessed”, mentions of Alexander McQueen and Kidsuper came after. DK’s references were all pioneers in breaking boundaries, “people who look at the establishment and break rules” and he made it clear that is what he sees for his future, to “step into another discipline and make that bang outside of Downtown Kayoto” as a musician. So what’s next for the artist taking over the scene, unafraid of judgment and fired up to make Downtown Kayoto a household name while carrying the flag of Zimbabwe and Hull? Performing at Reading Festival last year was a highlight but that’s just the beginning, goals include venturing to the United States for sold out tours and exploring his ability to pioneer in the fashion world. And who’s stopping him?

Watch the visuals for 'Lite' here.

Follow Downtown Kayoto on Instagram, YouTube and Spotify