Q&A: cygnets is a Melancholy Sun, Swan Rising, and Warm Moon
WRITTEN BY KIMBERLY MURO
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New Zealand singer-songwriter cygnets connects the past and present in his new single “High Alchemy.” The track’s psychedelic, ritualistic sounds embody the kiwi-goth aesthetic. Also known as “New Zealand goth,” the kiwi goth aesthetic acknowledges colonial history while using surrounding landscapes to visualize emotional states of being.
His work is genuine, raw, and intuitive, focusing on finding beauty in the seemingly mundane and the valuable nature of transformation. “High Alchemy” explores his long-time fascination with alchemy and the endless pursuit of divinity. Previously a part of various bands, cygnets is a solo endeavor focused on blending natural and synthetic aspects of music. At the root of all his work is a distinctly original voice and creative direction, or as cygnets likes to put it, “a real swan.”
Cygnets’ work is especially instinctive; straying away from outside voices and noises when it comes to creating music. Read our conversation with cygnets below.
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LIFE ON JUPITER: Tell us a little bit about cygnets. Who are you? Do you feel a separation between yourself and cygnets?
CYGNETS: I’ve been in bands a lot, and cygnets is like my own solo thing. It's trying to blend that world of the musician, instrumental stuff, with the more synthetic kind of digital stuff, and trying to get my message across. There is a separation between me and the art, but we are one and the same. Maybe Cygnets is like me on steroids, me x100. I’d be doing myself a disservice if I didn’t write from my own experiences.
What is the main message behind cygnets?
CYGNETS: I don’t know, the best stuff comes from within you, you know? I think that we’re all like in the future, and living in a digital kind of world, but you can still put out something meaningful, something heartfelt.
How do you think the media you’ve consumed has affected your own work?
CYGNETS: I love listening to music, even if it’s something really different or something I don’t necessarily listen to, it brings me into that person's world. Even just hearing another kind of view, even if I don’t relate, it's another human's perspective, which is really what we’re here for, right? Trying to get as many aspects of life as possible, and maybe that’s what I’m trying to get to. Life is inherently kind of sad, so it’s nice that even the sad stuff brings a weird happiness with it. It’s like white blood cells, you get the sadness, but you get the happiness that comes in.
What makes music something you want to do rather than just consume?
CYGNETS: I feel like it’s one of the things I'm really good at. Plus, I like the idea that it’s short. Not only to keep up with, but then there’s also something interesting about trying to get a message across. Like a haiku, a certain number of syllables, a certain number of lines.
Do you have any big artistic inspirations, music-wise?
CYGNETS: I kind of grew up on the internet, so I think I get inspiration from everything. I love the rock stuff, I love The Pixies, and television. I do love Bjork, Death Grips, that kind of thing. I think I like stuff that people either really hate or really love. I don’t wanna be middle of the road. I really like the lyricism of Sun Kil Moon, Alex G, and stuff. Even though my stuff doesn’t necessarily sound like them.
Is there anything you feel like you really struggle with in music?
CYGNETS: Maybe trying to get out what I really want to say. Trying to keep away from outside influences, and remember you already have what you need. It's hard to hear different sounds and subcultures move so fast now, trying not to get too caught up, catching the wave. Trying to make your own waves, that kind of thing.
How do you keep yourself motivated in the face of these struggles?
CYGNETS: I like to challenge myself. When I’m struggling with something, out of principle, even if I don’t wanna keep working on something, I try to finish it. Just because I feel like I’ll end up somewhere I wouldn’t be otherwise. If you just keep doing what you're good at, that's the point.
Tell us a little bit about your new single, “High Alchemy.”
CYGNETS: The title is a reference to Runescape, an old, early internet, point-and-click game. I grew up playing that kind of thing. High alchemy is the whole idea of turning rubbish into gold. I got obsessed with that idea that it started as like a scientific thing from back in the day, but got developed into something that is more mysticism, turning yourself into gold. The whole idea of sort of purifying, making something beautiful out of nothing.
You have a couple of singles out right now. What’s the process for you working on these things and then putting them out?
CYGNETS: I’m always working on stuff. I start with a sound and a feeling, words come later. That usually takes me a while; words really matter to me. Sometimes, the clouds open up, and they just come to you. Most times it's wrestling with yourself, digging in there. It’s hard to know when something is ready to go out, but I think you just have to put it out there. You gotta be able to live with that doubt and uneasiness.
Would you say the work you have out right now has stuck to one genre?
CYGNETS: I don't know, maybe more like a feeling. It's kind of like an “it’s my own world” thing, and if people relate to it, then cool. If you get it, this stuff is for the freaks. I want people to feel anything. I could be saying one thing, but you know if you like it, then I'm glad it resonated. Maybe if you hear my stuff and you’re like “I could probably do that,” then I hope you do.
We’ve seen the phrase “a real swan” over a couple of your social media accounts. What does this mean to you?
CYGNETS: I think it's a mantra I’ve been living by. I'm really the real deal. Not that I’m trying to say I'm better than anyone, or put anyone down, but a lot of people get into music for different kinds of reasons, but I’m really in this for me, trying to better myself.
What does the dreamscape for cygnets look like? Where would your music sound the best?
CYGNETS: I wanna say like, in heaven. Let’s say you’re in heaven, maybe a weird part of it. Like a parking lot, the parking lot of a retirement home in heaven. It’s night, with some friends. You’re all kind of sad, maybe.
What is the overarching theme of everything you’re doing right now?
CYGNETS: There is definitely a through line in my work of melancholy and everything. It’s definitely all me, though, part of the world, part of the sound, part of the feeling. If you like it, I'm glad you like it. I'm glad you can find solidarity with my stuff.
What three words would you use to describe your work?
CYGNETS: I’m gonna say, melancholy, swan, and warm. That's my rising, moon, sun.