Australian Pop Artist KESMAR Takes Listeners on a Roadtrip With New Song + Video “Change My Name”
December 2, 2022 BY Jason Currell
Today, Australian songwriter and producer KESMAR (aka Nathan Hawes) unveils the new single + video “Change My Name” via Nettwerk. The sunshine pop song juxtaposes a swinging backbeat, bouncing piano lines, and an anthemic chorus with somber lyricism. The easygoing melodies and smooth synths call to mind the best cuts of ‘70s AM radio. Listen to “Change My Name” on all digital retailers (here).
Nathan Hawes explains:
“This song is about not being there for a friend; it took me a while to realize but somewhere along the way I did them wrong. Writing this song was part of the healing experience”
The accompanying music video was directed by Nathan and was shot on 16mm film. It plays out like a classic road trip as he cruises along the majestic Australian highways.
Watch & Share “Change My Name” Official Music Video:
https://youtu.be/iddxKNu7GyA
ABOUT KESMAR:
Basking in the glow of bright analog synths, lush guitars, and organic beat-craft, Sydney-based singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Nathan Hawes strikes a distinctive, infectious, and inimitable balance between yacht rock and D.I.Y. bedroom pop.
After releasing his dynamic second E.P. Forever Holiday in 2021, Hawes planned new recordings with friend and frequent production collaborator Tobias Priddle — but when Australia went under a second lockdown, he decided to take a different and more hands-on route. “I’d stay up all night and read interviews of how classic albums were recorded, and then I’d take those ideas into the studio,” he recalls while discussing the road to self-producing the record. “I started getting closer to the sound that I‘d heard in my head all these years.”
Hawes’ analog approach to recording is an integral element of bringing those songs to life, as he wields musical technologies from the past to craft his utterly timeless sound. “My process of recording and recording on tape is something I practice almost daily at home,” he explains. “It’s a constant cycle — an incredibly simple way of recording that took me many months to learn — but I love the performance element of recording to tape. As I’m recording and playing all the instruments myself, the tape machine is like a second person making me commit to my own ideas.”
This year saw the return of KESMAR. “Out of Luck” showcases an evolution in sound and songwriting that comes with immense personal growth as an artist. There’s a classic feel, with gorgeous melodies steeped in the soft-hued sounds of the 1970s—but equally in step with Hawes’ contemporaries, cementing him as an exciting new voice in modern pop music.
“Day by Day” shimmers with a disco-fied touch, its sparkling sound serving as the perfect compliment to the contemplative lyrics. “It’s a break-up song where I’m telling myself I’m gonna be fine,” he explains.
Stay tuned for more from KESMAR.
