After a two-year hiatus following the release of ‘DROWN’, Indian-born, London-based artist Kaxi returns with a striking new single that signals both sonic evolution and emotional depth. ‘Torture’, co-produced with Andy Strange (Robbie Williams, Paolo Nutini) and Inlovewtheart of the Jska collective, marks a powerful reintroduction, fusing alt-pop, indie, shoegaze, and a touch of R&B into a raw, cinematic experience. With reverb-soaked vocals and funk-laced guitars, the track explores the beauty in vulnerability and the grit of self-liberation.
“This track is about owning your pain and finding freedom,” Kaxi explains. “It’s ugly, it’s beautiful—just like growth.” Known for his boundary-pushing production and soul-baring lyricism, Kaxi has already amassed over 20 million streams and continues to defy convention with each release.
So we now speak to Kaxi about the journey behind ‘Torture’, his evolving sound, and how he’s gearing up to make 2025 a defining chapter in his artistic story.
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Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
Growing up, I spent part of my life in Nagaland, in the Northeast of India—a place deeply rooted in culture, tradition, and music. I was constantly surrounded by tribal songs, dances, incredible instrumentalists, and local bands I’d watch perform even as a baby. After my younger brother was born, my parents—worried I might feel left out—started sending me to a local band’s rehearsals every day. I quickly picked up the mic at just four years old and haven’t stopped singing since.
Even before I could fully understand emotions or express feelings, music felt like a calling. I still remember the first time I felt music resonate in my chest—I couldn’t explain it, but I knew it meant something. At 13, I started making my own music, stealing my dad’s laptop during the summer and experimenting with GarageBand. Since then, it’s grown into everything I want to offer to this world—my love and my craft.
Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?
As someone who’s neurodivergent, one of my biggest blessings is how naturally absorbent I am. I don’t actively seek out music or break it down consciously—instead, everything I hear gets absorbed and blends into me. It becomes part of my expression in a way that’s organic and uniquely mine.
I listen to all kinds of music—whatever I come across—and it all leaves its mark. Early in my journey, I was a big XXXTentacion fan, especially his album 17, which pushed me toward making lo-fi music for a while. That phase helped me explore vulnerability and rawness in sound. But over time, I realized that lo-fi wasn’t fully aligned with the artist I was growing into. I see music in every form as valid and beautiful. It’s our way of releasing energy into the universe—our emotions, our truths—through sound. That idea influences me more than any single genre or artist.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to pursue music seriously?
I’ve never been a great student. I was only recently diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, so growing up, I didn’t understand why I couldn’t keep up in school. I just thought I was being lazy or complacent, when in reality, I was genuinely struggling—and no one could see it.
What kept me going was knowing that I was really good at music. Even when I couldn’t make sense of the world or my place in it, music always felt like a calling. It felt like the one part of me that made sense—like the one thing I truly had to offer.
At some point, I realized that if I didn’t give this my all, I’d be betraying my own potential. And nothing haunts a person more than growing old and knowing they didn’t make the most of the time they had. That’s what pushed me to take music seriously. I owe it to myself to do this fully.
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
For me, songwriting feels less like a process and more like a channeling. It’s as if everything just comes to me. I could be listening to something completely random and suddenly hear phrases or melodies in my head. When I first started writing, my lyrics were pure, unfiltered emotion—so raw and personal that they might’ve felt almost too vulnerable to some listeners.
Over time, I’ve grown as a songwriter. I’ve learned how to take those raw ideas and shape them—like piecing together a puzzle in my mind that somehow always fits perfectly when I finally pull it all in.
Sometimes I’ll be out on the street, and I’ll hear the rhythm in something as mundane as a loud London bus. That rhythm sparks something—because I genuinely believe that everything and everyone is releasing energy into the universe through sound. When I feel that rhythm, it sticks with me until I turn it into something real. That’s when something is born.
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
Inspiration comes from everything around me. Life itself is constantly feeding me ideas—experiences, conversations, even moments of stillness. A lot of the music I haven’t released yet shows a completely different side of me, one that people haven’t seen before.
My lyrics are deeply personal—they reveal the kind of person I am, what I love, and just as importantly, what I don’t. Writing is my way of processing the world, and every unreleased track feels like a part of my soul waiting to be understood.
What drives me most is connection. When someone hears my music and truly gets it—that’s when I know I did it right. And at that point, the connection feels inevitable.
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
I don’t think I can—or should—control how people receive or interpret my music. It’s always going to be subjective, and honestly, that’s the beauty of it. I’m not here to force a message down anyone’s throat.
What I do believe is this: if something moves me deeply, there’s no way it won’t move someone else. I’m not built from some rare blueprint—I’ve got the same heart, the same brain, the same ears. So if a song I create hits me hard emotionally, that energy is going to translate.
If there’s a message at all, it’s about connection—emotional honesty. Once the music is out in the world, people will make it their own. That’s where the real magic happens.
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced has been the situation involving D Block Europe (DBE), Virgin Records, BBC, and their legal team at Bray & Krais. DBE released Elegant & Gang and sampled my track I Don’t Wanna Die Alone with RNAQ—which was released without proper credit or compensation to us, despite clearly using our work.
We’ve been persistent in our claims, but the process has been slow and exhausting. What’s been especially disappointing is how platforms like Spotify have responded. Even after flagging and claiming the track twice, they’ve continued to prioritize bigger, more established artists rather than doing what’s ethical. That kind of treatment speaks volumes about how the system is set up against emerging voices.
Still, we’re not backing down. Every week that passes is fuel—fuel to refine our craft, learn more about the music business, and become even more resilient. This situation, as draining as it’s been, has only strengthened my commitment to claim what’s mine and stand up for independent artists like us.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
Without a doubt, it’s the ability to connect with people. There’s nothing more rewarding than knowing something I created—something made with my own two hands, filled with love and intention—made someone feel something.
Whether it’s comfort, release, joy, or even pain, the fact that my music can move someone, even for a moment, makes it all worth it. That connection is everything to me.
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
I think flowing is one of the most important things in life. People often use terms like “constantly evolving industry” to mask the fact that much of it revolves around following trends. But the truth is, when you’re authentic to what you do, you will stand out—and eventually, you become the trend.
I believe in flowing into a better version of myself every single day. Every morning I wake up, I try to move toward the next, more refined part of me. My sound evolves with that growth, and my words follow naturally. Staying true to myself isn’t a challenge—it’s the only way I know how to move through this.
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or tours?
I just finished recording my album, and I’m moved myself. This project has been three years in the making, and it carries not just my journey, but the hard work and sweat of so many people who’ve helped bring it to life.
It’s the most honest and complete version of my sound so far—and I truly can’t wait for it to live in your head forever. This one means everything to me.
Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next five years?
I’m turning 22 next month. And honestly, if you told 17-year-old me that I’d have everything I do now, I wouldn’t have believed it.
So I’m not going to try and predict where I’ll be in five years. I’ve learned that life has its own plans. I’m here for the ride—focused, present, and ready for what’s waiting for me.
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Listen to Kaxi’s new single ‘Torture’ below.
