Artist Interview: Chay Swan
In this interview, we chat with emerging artist Chay Swan to discuss the creative process behind his debut single, "Kayfabe," the influence of professional wrestling, and his approach to independent music production.
Tori: Your debut single Kayfabe draws inspiration from professional wrestling and explores themes of split personalities. What drew you to this subject, and how did you translate it into music?
Chay: It’s been such a huge interest since I was a kid, everything about it. I had all the games on Xbox when I was young and went to see it live as an adult. I wanted to write a song about it but also kinda hide it and make it subtle at the same time. I wrote it as I went along recording it like I do with most of my music, it just came sorta naturally and didn’t have much planning I suppose.
Tori: You handle every aspect of your music production—from recording to mastering—on your own. How does working in isolation shape the emotional tone and imperfections in your sound?
Chay: Doing everything alone allows me to not overthink everything and worry about pleasing people around me. I feel like if I was working with other musicians or engineers I’d be way too shy and anxious so it allows me to express myself comfortably which is really rewarding. Most imperfections happen to me being prone to mistakes and retaking all the time. It’s either a massive hindrance or helps create a nice happy accident.
Tori: The lo-fi aesthetic often embraces imperfection. How do you balance the raw, unsettling qualities of your music with the desire to communicate deeply personal emotions?
Chay: I also do all the mixing and engineering in my work. I keep it very minimalist to keep everything natural and sometimes harsh to keep it all conceptually cohesive. I’m not a great singer but if I used auto tune for the rest of my life I’d not be able to connect with my music.
Tori: Your music combines chopped samples, layered vocals, shoegaze guitars, and ambient synths. How do you approach blending these diverse elements into a cohesive sonic identity?
Chay: My approach is always less is more. I like everything to feel like it has a purpose and not there for the sake of it. I spend a stupid amount of time searching through every preset, sample and tone I can get to make sure it all sounds great together, only to probably scrap it minutes later and redo it again but it’s fun.
Tori: You’ve mentioned influences ranging from Elliott Smith to The Beach Boys. How do these artists inspire your songwriting and production choices?
Chay: A lot of what inspires me I only recently discovered and gave a chance. Elliot Smith and Pinegrove inspired me to make more guitar based music again, something I was deeply afraid of whereas I gave more time to The Beatles, The Beach Boys and a lot of The Microphones for production styles. “The Glow pt 2” definitely pushed me forward onto trying something new and different experimental.
Tori: What does “catharsis” mean to you in the context of your lyrics and overall creative expression?
Chay: Like providing a release. It’s very therapeutic. I was writing a lot of my music when I had so much going on I was so stressed. The first song I wrote for the album (I think it’ll be on it at least) has a verse where I’m just screaming so loud. I closed my curtains and did it in near darkness and it felt oddly good. I spent an hour blowing my voice out for 30 seconds of music. My neighbours hate me as you can imagine.
Tori: How has your move from the Scottish Borders to Edinburgh influenced your music and artistic outlook?
Chay: I never felt connected to the borders. Not to shit talk anybody or anything there but it’s just not for me. It doesn't have a huge scene there but it’s getting better with indie venues like MacArts doing good work. Being in Edinburgh helped me go to concerts and navigate new music easier. I’ve been able to discover a lot more of the hardcore scene which influenced a lot more of the angrier aspects of my music.
Tori: Can you walk us through your creative process when writing a song like Kayfabe? Do you start with lyrics, melody, samples, or something else?
Chay: There’s no process, it's extremely chaotic. It just flows naturally. The only consistent thing is that I never start with lyrics. Recently I’ll start with a small drum loop and then write some chords over it with my guitar and then just let it go from there where it needs to. It’s very unorganised but it makes it more fun and independent. Can take anywhere from 4 hours to 4 weeks to finish a song.
Tori: Your music often feels both intimate and unsettling. How do you hope listeners will connect with those contrasting emotions?
Chay: Honestly not sure, however they want to. I think all art and music and film is always subject to interpretation. Some people might feel like it’s relatable or someone might just discover a new way of seeing something. For example, I really like Eraserhead. I don’t connect with it and have no clue what It’s about but that’s what makes it interesting.
Tori: You’ve described yourself as somewhat of a control freak in the studio. How do you manage that impulse while still allowing space for spontaneity or happy accidents?
Chay: I never plan. I hate the idea of my work feeling contrived. Whenever I have a day off from my normal job I’ll make time for it but that’s it. I’ll sometimes spend hours looking through sample packs hoping to find one thing I like, messing around with guitar tunings and synths knowing I’m not gonna be rushed for time. Most of what I make often comes from happy accidents, if anything I suppose I rely on it.
Tori: What challenges have you faced working independently on all aspects of your music, and how have you overcome them?
Chay: Overthinking mainly. 90% of music I write is sitting somewhere on my hard drive unfinished because I just end up hating it. Luckily I’m learning to be a bit more confident and sometimes share my music with my friends to hear honest feedback. I also live with my partner who also records music and we share with each other what we’re working on regularly which is a fun reflective process and helps motivate me more.
Tori: Your debut single is just the beginning, with a full-length album planned for 2026. What can fans expect from the album in terms of themes, sound, and experimentation?
Chay: I don’t want people who listen to my music to expect anything, always be open minded. Give everything a chance. But I used to make really bad electronic music. I’ll say it’s going to sound completely different in every aspect. My main non musical source this time was Harmony Korine, take from that what you will.
Tori: How do you see your music evolving over the next few years, especially as you develop your debut album?
Chay: I want to find more unique ways to present it rather than a traditional album and experiment with format. I don't want to have to rely on a platform on Spotify every time I release something. Musically wise I’m not sure, I have a lot of interest in other genres like ambient so I’ll find a way to make that work cohesively at some point.
Tori: In a music landscape often dominated by maximalist production, what draws you to the lo-fi, imperfect sound?
Chay: The unprocessed sounds it has is always so unique. I listened to “Don’t Be Scared” an album by Daniel Johnston and I was so moved at how much I felt connected to it despite it being recorded poorly onto a cassette tape in a basement. It kinda helped me focus more on raw honest emotion rather than professional recording quality.
Tori: Finally, what message or feeling do you most want to leave with listeners after they experience your music?
Chay: Stop worrying about being perfect and making things that will please everyone. As long as you are happy with it, nothing else really matters.
Stream Chay Swan here!
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